This document has just been officially, issued by the Egyptian
government for distribution to the foreign powers. Its principal
features, some of which render it of more interest and importance
than any former firman issued to the viceroys of Egypt, are, 1st, it
confirms the change in the order of succession, fixes the rules
which shall govern the succession, and confirms all the privileges
granted by former firmans; 2d, it provides for a regency in case of
the minority of the new Khedive, and establishes the manner of
electing the regent in case no regent has been appointed by a will
of the late Khedive 53d, it invests the Khedive with full and
unlimited authority to make all internal laws and regulations
necessary for the government of the country; 4th, it authorizes him
to contract loans without the consent of the Sultan, and to enter
into commercial and other treaties with the agents of foreign powers
not prejudicial to the political treaties of the Sublime Porte; 5th,
it empowers him to increase his army and navy to any extent,
forbidding him only [Page 1179] to
construct armored ships; 6th, it confirms the Khedive’s right to
bestow the military grades as high as colonel, and civil grades as
high as bey; and, 7th, it fixes the annual tribute to be paid to the
Porte at 150,000 purses, which is equivalent to about
$3,750,000.
These are the principal features of this important document, which
confers upon the Khedive all the most important prerogatives of
sovereignty. Although complete independence would add to his
political importance, it is a question whether the Khedive would be
materially benefited by its possession. He now enjoys all the
material advantages of a sovereign, and escapes many of its
responsibilities. It would be most fortunate for Egypt if His
Highness would abandon his dreams of political independence and
devote himself to the development of the country’s commercial and
industrial resources. Without the embarrassment of foreign
complications, and with the responsibility of the public defense
shared with the Porte, he might reduce his army to the smallest
force consistent with internal security, and thus, while relieving
the country of a heavy monetary burden, enjoy all the substantial
advantages and escape the gravest responsibilities of
sovereignty.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Imperial firman issued to the Khedive of
Egypt
Imperial firinan of the 13th Rabi Akher 1290.* * * * *
After the usual form, the firman thus continues:
As thou art aware, we have taken into consideration thy demand,
relative to the emanation of an imperial edict, uniting in
detail, and with the modifications which have been deemed
necessary, all the hatts and firmans since granted to the
firman, according the right of succession to the late Mehemet
Ali Pasha, being intended either to modify the form of
succession, or accord fresh rights and privileges in harmony
with the position of the khedivat, and the character of its
people.
The present firman will in future replace all former imperial
firmans; and its orders, hereafter expressed, will forever
remain valid and executory.
The order of succession to the khedivat of Egypt, accorded by the
firman given in our imperial hand, and dated the 2d Rabiul Akher
1257, has been so modified that the khedivat of Egypt passes to
the eldest son of the person who shall find himself clothed with
the dignity of Khedive; from him to his eldest son, and so on;
that is to say, the succession is established exclusively by
order of primogeniture, as we are persuaded that this will be
conformable to the interests and good administration of the
khedivat, and the welfare of its people.
On the other hand, taking into consideration the extent and
importance of Egypt; appreciating thy care and efforts to
promote her prosperity and the improvement of her population;
the fidelity and devotion of which thou hast given me proof, I
have admitted thee to all my confidence and favored thee with my
good graces; to give thee signal evidence of which I have
established as right of succession to the khedivat that the
Egyptian government, its dependencies, together with the
Caïmakamats of Souakum, Massaoua, and their dependencies, shall
pass, as above stated, to thy eldest son, and after him, in
accordance with the rules of primogeniture, to the eldest son of
whosoever may be Khedive.
In case of the Khedive dying without male issue, the khedivat
will pass to his younger brother; and should he not survive, to
his eldest son. This definitively established rule does not
apply to male children by the female line.
In order to assure the maintenance of and the carrying out of
this mode of succession, the regency that will govern Egypt in
case of minority is thus established:
At the death of the Khedive, should his eldest son still be a
minor, (that is to say, under the age of eighteen years,) as he
will still be Khedive, though minor, by his right to the
succession, his firman will be immediately granted.
Should the deceased Khedive have previously appointed a regency,
in a will signed and witnessed by two high functionaries, with a
view to the proper administration of [Page 1180] the khedivat during the minority of his
son, the regent and members of the regency shall immediately
undertake the management of affairs, previously informing my
Sublime Porte and imperial government, who will instantly
approve and confirm, by firman, the regent and members of the
regency in their respective positions. In case of the khedivat
becoming vacant without a regency having been named, the latter
will be formed of persons at the head of the administration of
the interior, or war, finance and foreign affairs, council of
justice, commanders and inspectors of the Egyptian army, and
inspectors of provinces. The regency being thus formed, will
proceed in the following manner to the election of a regent:
These different beads of administration, having deliberated,
will then elect one from among them as regent. This election
will be decided either by unanimity or the majority of
voices.
Should two persons receive the same number of votes, he who
occupies the highest position, commencing with the
administration of the interior, will be selected as regent, and
the other members form the council of regency. They will
undertake with the regent the administration of affairs, and in
giving notice through Mazbatta to my Sublime Porte will be
confirmed in their different functions by an imperial firman.
Whether the regency should have been appointed during the
lifetime of the Khedive or after his death, by election, in
neither case can the regent or members of the regency be
dismissed until the expiration of the term of their mandate.
Should one of the members be removed by death, the survivors
will choose and name another Egyptian functionary to replace
him, or in case of the regent’s death the members of council
will select his substitute from among themselves, and have
another Egyptian functionary in the place vacated by the new
regent.
When the young Khedive shall have attained his eighteenth year he
will be considered of age, and govern alone as his
predecessor.
Such is my will and my imperial decision.
I attach the greatest importance to the prosperity of Egypt, to
the wellbeing, tranquillity, and security of her people, and as
these depend equally on the administration, civil and financial,
of the country, on the development of its interests, material
and otherwise, which are the resources of the Egyptian
government, we shall briefly and simply mention all the
privileges which my imperial government has granted during past
years at the present time to the Egyptian government, that they
may in future be continued in favor of all succeeding
Khedives.
The administration of the country, both civil and financial,
together with its interests, material and otherwise, being in
all their relations the creations of the Egyptian government,
and as throughout the entire country the administration, good
order, and the development of the resources of the land and the
prosperity of the population depend entirely upon the harmony
existing between, and the proper management of, the different
authorities, on the one hand, and the exigencies of the times,
local conditions, and the character and customs of the people on
the other, the Khedive of Egypt is authorized to make all and
whatever laws and regulations the necessity of the” country may
demand.
He is also authorized to contract and to renew with the agents of
foreign powers, without prejudice to the political treaties of
my Sublime Porte, all necessary conventions relating to commerce
and customs, or concerning the internal affairs of the country,
and having for object the development of commerce and industry
and the regulation of foreign police in all their relations with
the government and people. The Khedive has the complete and
entire disposition of the financial affairs of the country; he
has full liberty to contract, without authorization, foreign
loans in the name of the Egyptian government whenever necessary.
The first, most essential, and most important duty of the
Khedive being the protection and defense of the country, he is
fully authorized to procure, establish, and organize such means
of defense and protection as the necessities of time and place
may require, and to augment or diminish, as may be necessary,
and without restriction, the number of my imperial troops in
Egypt.
The Khedive will retain, as heretofore, the privilege of
conferring, in the military service, grades up to the rank of
colonel, and in civil service up to that of Rutbeï Sanie.
The money coined in Egypt will be stamped in my imperial name;
the colors of the troops, both naval and military, shall not
differ from those of my other troops, and it is understood that,
as regards ships of war, ironclads alone cannot be constructed
without my permission.
By my imperial will, I send thee, through my imperial divan, this
illustrious firman, invested with my imperial hatt, and
confirming the above-named dispositions.
This firman includes, elucidates, modifies, and renders more
complete all the firmans and imperial hatts which have, up to
the present time, been granted to the Egyptian government,
either to establish the order of succession, the nature of the
regency in case of necessity, or to regulate the civil,
military, and financial administrations, as well as the material
and other interests of the country. It is my imperial [Page 1181] will that the rules
and principles contained in this firman shall be forever
maintained and observed instead of those named in my former
firmans.
As for thee, in conformity to thy character, full of zeal and
integrity, and to the knowledge thou hast acquired of the
condition of Egypt, thou shalt faithfully execute the conditions
fixed by this firman, and consecrate all thy efforts to the good
government of the country, to assure by every possible means the
repose and security of the people, and thus repay all my
imperial favors and bounties in thy behalf. Thou shalt also pay
the greatest, attention to remit each year, without delay and in
its entirety, to my imperial treasury, the one hundred and fifty
thousand purses of tribute established.
