"الإجراءات الإيطالية على الساحل الأفريقي المُطل على البحر الأحمر" [ظ‎‎٣‎٨] (٣٢/٢٨)

28
not recommend the exercise of that right by their
immediate disembarkation, inasmuch as it might
provoke complications which might be avoided by
further discussions/ i. e., as was explained in a
Despatch to Mr. Cookson (No. 158, of 1st Septem
ber) between the Governments interested.
In communicating (3rd September) this advice to
the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr. Cookson ob
served that the Italian Government having declared
that they had never claimed, and did not intend to
claim, Raheita as a dependency of Assab, had vir
tually disavowed the language reported to have
been used by Captain Frigerio, by which the place
was claimed as belonging to Italy, and that this
declaration ought to satisfy the Egyptian Govern
ment as to any fear that their abstention from
landing troops might be interpreted as a surrender
of their territorial rights.f
With reference to the true relations between the
Egyptian Government and the Sheikh of Raheita,
Eakhry Pasha said that, up to the end of 1880, that
personage was receiving pay from the Egyptian
Government, who held his receipts for it, though he
had recently come to be entirely under the influence
of the Italians at Assab, and had even taken refuse
in their ship. The Egyptian Government could
not, therefore, admit the right of this Sheikh to
make treaties with a foreign Power, still less to bind
Egypt by them.
Mr. Cookson added, as instructed, that there
seemed reason to hope that, if the Egyptian Govern
ment now abstained from taking the step which
had been objected to by Italy, further negotiations
might lead to a more satisfactory understanding on
the question at issue between the two Govern
ments ; and he pointed out, as he had done before,
the danger of forcing the hand of the Italian
Government, which stood in a somewhat delicate
position in regard to public opinion in Italy itself.
lakliry Pasha gave Mr. Cookson to understand
that he would follow the advice given, but that in
consequence of the pretensions raised by the De
spatches of M. Macchiavellif it would not be possible
to make any formal engagement not to exercise
their full rights on the coast of the Red Sea. This
Mr. Cookson told His Excellency he understood
was also the opinion of Her Majesty’s Government.
Later in the day Mr. Cookson received a visit on
behalf of Eakhry Pasha, from Tigrane Bey, the
Secretary General for Foreign Affairs, who showed
him a Note which had been presented by M. Mac-
chiavelli toFakhry Pasha. This Note was without
signature when handed in, but His Excellency re
quested M. Macchiavelli to sign it, and it was left
without any conversation having taken place. The
Note stated the view which the Italian Government
would take of the proposed disembarkation of
troops at Raheita if it were effected. It com
mented in strong language upon what it called the
derisory result of the late inquiry at Beilul, ac
cusing the Governor of Massowah, one of the
* From Foreign Office, 1st September;
No. 634.
| Mr. Cookson to Lord Granville, 3rd
September 1881; No. 227.
From Foreign Office, 16th September;
No. 679.
t The Italian Agent.