Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎33r] (65/176)

I
combattue. La protection des communications imperiales, que les conversations
de Tan dernier avaient donnee pour seul objectif a la presence d une force
militaire en Egypte, ne saurait justifier cette solution. Alors qu il eut ete
suffisant de determiner, dans la region du Canal, une zone on seraient localises,
^ et les voies et moyens des communications imperiales et la force qui les
protegerait, le pro jet con fere a la Grande-Bretagne le droit de maintenir des
forces militaires en tout temps, stir n'importe quel point du territoire egyptien,
et met a ses dispositions tons les moyens et voies de communications du pays.
4 C’est la 1’occupation pure et simple qui detruit toute idee d'independance et qui
supprime jusqu’a la souverainete interieure. Dans le passe, 1 occupation
militaire, qui n'avait pourtant qu'un caractere temporaire, a suffi pour assurer
a la Grande-Bretagne un controle absolu stir I'administration tout entiere sans
que besoin fut d’aueun texte de traite, d aucune determination de pouvoir
quelconque."
The last sentence seems to indicate the reason why agreement was impossible.
It suggests that His Majesty's Government were endeavouring to secure by way of a
treaty the formal acquiescence of Egypt in a state of affairs to which she had from
the first objected but which she had been and was still compelled by force majeure to
tolerate. The phrase not only indicated the difficulty of dealing with the Egyptian
problem by way of a treaty, but induced the reflection that w T hat the British Govern
ment had done in the past they could do again, and, by means of their predominant
power and prestige in the world, deal with Egypt in accordance with their own
policy, without asking the Egyptians to agree to what they could only regard as a
permanent state of servitude and, in practice, the annexation of their country.
14. The other question upon which the success or failure of the negotiations
largely hung was that of the control of Egypt’s foreign affairs. The delegation
claimed full foreign representation abroad, and, for the protection of British
interests, suggested that Egypt should undertake not to conclude political treaties
prejudicial to Great Britain while retaining an entirely free hand in the matter of
the conclusion of economic and commercial treaties. His Majesty 's Government were
e prepared to agree to the restoration of an Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs and
to the appointment of Egyptian diplomatic and consular representatives in London
and elsewhere abroad; they desired to be represented in Egypt by a High
Commissioner entitled to an exceptional position and taking precedence over the
* representatives of other countries; they stipulated that the Egyptian Government
should not enter into any political agreement with foreign Powers without consulta
tion with His Majesty’s Government through the British High Commissioner; and
they declared that they would continue to conduct the negotiations for the abolition
of the existing Capitulations wuth the various capitulatory Powers and accept the
responsibility for protecting the legitimate interests of foreigners in Egypt. They
undertook to confer with the Egyptian Government before formally concluding these
negotiations. The Egyptian delegation took the view that the concession contained
in these proposals was so hedged about with restrictions that it was largely illusory.
They affirmed that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs would be unable freely to assume
its responsibilities if it were formally bound to remain in close touch with the High
Commissioner and in fact be subject to his direct control in the conduct of foreign
affairs; that the obligation to obtain the consent of Great Britain to all political
agreements, even to those which were not incompatible with the spirit of the
anticipated alliance, gravely prejudiced the principle of external sovereignty; and
that the title of High Commissioner, which it was not customary to confer upon
diplomatic representatives in independent countries, was further evidence of the
character of the political status proposed for Egypt. As regards the Capitulations,
Egypt, as the party principally interested, claimed the right to treat direct with
foreign Pow r ers, with the diplomatic assistance of Great Britain. This question,
like the military problem, was then adjourned, pending a discussion of other points.
s 6. Minor Questions Discussed at the' Conference.
15. Besides these two major questions, the other matters discussed at the
conference were :—
* (1.) The employment of foreign officials by the Egyptian Government.
(2.) Protection of British and foreign interests in Egypt, involving—
(a.) A measure of British control of Egypt’s finances; and
(6.) British control of legislation affecting foreigners.
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