تقارير وأوراق للجنة الإدارة المصرية [و‎‎٥‎١] (١٠٨/١٠١)

Trade, and itself on commercial questions^ l£y suggestion
is for a not incomparable, although not closely analogous
co-operation with the India Office on-Moslem questions. The
Committee would consist of the head of the new foreign Office
Department and the Permanent Under Secretary of the foreign
O-iice, together vmth the Secretary of the Political Department
of the India Office as essential permanent officials; and the
politicians there would be the Secretary-of State for foreign
Affairs and the Secretary of State for India as essential
politicians. (l use the word "essential" because I do not
v.xsh to exclude any others who may be suggested). This is in
rough outline, as coherently dictated as I can on board ship,
Lhu 3chcme that 1 haTe in rnind, and which I would dedicate
to the particular notice of Lord Curzcn, who has interested
himself so valuably in these matters, and to the Cabinet
generally.
I-erhaps I may add, by v;ay of postcript, that it is quite
ciear to mo that there are national aspirations and desires
.or autonomy in Egypt as there are in India, fomented by
extremists but existing to a greater or less degree, nascent
or vigorous, in the minds of many, many people in Egypt. I am
certain - and I think Sir Reginald Wingate woul« agree with
me - that this problem win have to be faced in Egypt'in the
future. That it will be as difficult as the Indian question
is perhaps not probable. Such education as exists is probaKLy
less isolated and more evenly distributed than it is in India.
The better social relationship - (I spsak with no certainty
on this subject) - which seems to exist in Egypt leads to the
absence of one of the complications of the Indian situation,
for it has always seemed to me that political pride in India
has arisen largely from social conditions. And, finally and
mainly, the greater homogeneity of the Egyptian population