No. 530.
Mr. Comanos to Mr. Evarts.
Agency and
Consulate-General of the United States in Egypt,
Cairo, September 3, 1878.
(Received September 28).
No. 258.]
Sir: Referring to my immediately preceding
dispatch, No. 257, I have the honor to inform you that I have received from
Nubar Pasha the formal notice of his appointment by the Khedive as president
of the council of ministers, minister of foreign affairs, and minister of
justice.
With that communication was inclosed a copy of the Khedive’s rescript,
addressed to His Excellency, concerning the organization and attributes of
this newly-instituted council of ministers, and a copy of the Khedive’s
address to Mr. Rivers Wilson, concerning the report of the high commission
of inquiry, of which Mr. Wilson is the vice-president. Translations of these
three papers are herewith inclosed.
The newspapers of the 30th of August last announced officially that by decree
of the Khedive the following appointments have been made: Riaz Pasha,
minister of interior; Ratib-Pasha, minister of war; Aly Pasha Moubarak,
minister of public instruction and of “Wakf” and, ad interim, of public works. “Walf” means real property set apart for the maintenance of the
mosks and other religious institutions of Islam.
Together with the Khedive’s rescript above mentioned, the Phare d’Alexandrie, in its issue of the 31st of August last,
published Nubar Pasha’s reply thereto. A translation of that reply is also
inclosed herewith.
The newspaper La Reforme, published at Cairo, announced in its issue of the
2d of this month that His Excellency Riaz Pasha, minister of interior, has
been appointed minister of finance ad interim, and
that Mr. Rivers Wilson has gone to Europe on a mission, having been
intrusted by Nubar Pasha with the task of contracting the loan which is
necessary for the liquidation of the [acknowledged] “recognized” debts of
the Khedive and of the Daïras. It is generally believed that this will be a
loan of about twelve million pounds, and that Nubar Pasha contemplates
proposing to the Khedive that he appoint Mr. Wilson to be minister of
finance.
One of the first fruits of this new order of things in the government of
Egypt has been the setting at liberty, by Nubar Pasha, in his character of
minister of justice, of one Hassan Moussa el Akkad, an Egyptian subject and
a man of large fortune, who has been detained for many months in the police
prison of Cairo for no known crime and without accusation. This deed has
made a very good impression upon the public mind. Returning to the
subject-matter of the translations herewith inclosed, I solicit your special
attention to that sentence toward the close of the Khedive’s rescript to
Nubar Pasha where His Highness says: “Together with a judiciary organization
extended generally [over [Page 927] all
classes] this institution [i. e. the new council of
ministers] suffices to meet the necessities of our social condition.”
In his letter to me (inclosure No. 1) Nubar Pasha amplifies the Khedive’s
idea. He says, about the middle of his letter: “In consequence of a
judiciary organization extending generally [over all classes], it will no
longer be a part of the population, it will be all the population, which
will enjoy the protection of the law, applied by an independent body.”
Further on in the same letter His Excellency expresses his belief that “the
Government of the United States will with satisfaction see His Highness
entering on this new path, and that its good-will, sympathy, and co-operation will facilitate the task undertaken by
the Khedive, the realization of which the Khedive has intrusted to His
Excellency and his colleagues.” These sentences (taken in connection with
Mr. Farman’s dispatches Nos. 251 and 253, of the 10th and 15th of July
last), refer to the Khedive’s desire for an extension of the jurisdiction
and competence of the reform tribunals so as to cover all classes of
individuals, Europeans and Egyptian subjects, and all classes of cases,
whether civil or criminal.
It is a pet idea of the Khedive to do away entirely and once for all with
what still remains of the right of extraterritoriality attaching to Franks
or Europeans in the land; and it now seems, from the quotations above, that
to Nubar Pasha, the father of the system of reform tribunals, the carrying
out of this wish is to be intrusted. Nothing short of a final breaking up of
the time-honored capitulations is, in my opinion, aimed at. I specially
solicit your attention to this point, because, according to the present
indications, it will not be long before the European governments, and with
them the United States, will be approached by Nubar Pasha with the new plan
for their acceptance, the aim of which will be to put non-Egyptians on a
level with the subjects of the Khedive in all matters pertaining to right,
privilege; and taxation of persons.
I have, & c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
258.—Translation.]
Nubar Pasha to Mr.
Comanos.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Cairo, August 29,
1878.
No. 425.]
Sir: His Highness the Khedive, my august
master, has intrusted me with forming a new ministry. This mission is an
innovation in our governmental habits. Furthermore, His Highness, in an
audience he granted to Mr. Rivers Wilson, took occasion to explain the
construction he put upon it; he marked the character thereof by
pointing, it out as the point of departure of a change of system in his
administration.
In the rescript he lately addressed me, His Highness defines his
conception, and indicates by what means this conception may be applied
and realized.
I have consequently the honor, Mr. Acting Consul-General, to transmit you
herewith copy of the rescript of His Highness and of his words to Mr.
Rivers Wilson.
I have no need, sir, to dwell upon the importance of these papers in
their bearing upon the future of the land. In consequence of a judiciary
organization extended generally [over all classes], it will no longer be
a part of the population it will be all the population, which will enjoy
the protection of the law, applied by an independent body; and as for
the administration, the principles of sound economy will necessarily
prevail with a ministry sure to find in the generous intentions of His
Highness and in its own composition, when its composition shall have
been fixed, the elements of an independence both legitimate and of
salutary effect.
I am persuaded that the government of the United States will with
satisfaction see His Excellency entering, of his own accord, upon this
new path, and that its good-will, sympathy, and co-operation will
facilitate the work the Khedive has undertaken, the realization of which
he has confided to my colleagues and myself. The Khedive has [Page 928] been pleased to intrust to me
the presidency of the new ministry, along with the conduct of foreign
affairs and of justice. I am indeed happy at being, through these
functions, his organ in the relations of his government with the agency
and consulate-general the management of which is confided, sir, to you;
and I take pleasure in believing that you will be pleased to cherish
toward me the sentiments of good-will that I have in times past met with
in your consulate-general.
Be pleased to accept, sir, the expression of my high consideration.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
258.—Translation.]
The Khedive to Nubar Pasha.
Palace of
Gizeh, August 28,
1878.
My Dear Minister: I have ripely reflected upon
the changes brought about in our situation, both internal and external,
by recent events, and, while you are occupied with the mission I have
confided to you of forming a new ministry, I wish to confirm to you my
firm determination of placing the rulers of our administration in
harmony with the principles that govern the administrations of
Europe.
Instead of a personal power, which is actually the principle of the
government of Egypt, I want a power which impresses, it is true, a
general direction upon affairs, but which finds its equilibrium in a
council of ministers.
In one word, I wish henceforth to govern with and by my council of
ministers. In this order of ideas, I think that, in order to apply the
reforms I have already announced, the members of the council of
ministers ought to be all jointly and severally* bound one toward the other. This point is essential.
The council of ministers will discuss all important questions of the
land; the opinion of the majority will carry along with it that of the
minority. Decisions will hence be taken by majority, and, in approving
them, I shall consequently sanction the opinion that shall have
prevailed.
Each minister will apply the decisions of the council sanctioned by me
and concerning the administration which is confided to him.
The appointment of mudirs, governors, prefects of police, will be
discussed between the minister under whom they stand and the president
of the council, and will be submitted for my approval by the president
of the council. The minister who shall have under his immediate orders
the above-mentioned functionaries shall have the right to suspend them
from their functions only after coming to an understanding with the
president of the council. Their change or dismissal cannot take place
save after an understanding between him and the minister president of
the council under my sanction.
The ministers will choose the high personnel of
their administrations and will submit their choice to my approval. As
for secondary offices, a simple ministerial letter or decision will
suffice. The action of each minister will be exercised within the limits
of his attributes, and the functionaries or employés of each branch of
administration shall not have to receive orders but from the chief of
the department whereof they are a part, and must obey none but him.
The council of ministers will sit under your presidency, since to you it
is that I have given the charge and responsibility of this new
organization.
I think that the institution of a ministry possessing these attributes is
not outside of range of our customs and our ideas, and is, on the
contrary, in conformity with one of the precepts of the holy law.
Together with a judiciary organization extended generally [over all
classes], this institution suffices to meet the necessities of our
social condition and permits the realizing of my firm intentions.
I put all confidence in you for applying the reforms that I have decided
upon, and which I hope will give to the land all the guarantees that it
has a right to expect from my government.
Believe, my dear minister, in my sentiments of high esteem and sincere
friendship.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
258—Translation.]
Speech of Sis Highness the Khedive to Mr. Rivers
Wilson, vice-president of the high commission of
inquiry.
I have read the report of the commission of inquiry over which you have
presided. It is full of details, and if time has lacked you for going to
the bottom of several [Page 929]
questions, I do not the less heartily thank you and your colleagues,
whose departure I regret, because I should have liked to thank thorn
also by the living voice. I hope you will be pleased to convey to them
my best thanks.
As for the conclusions at which you have arrived, I accept them; it is
quite natural that I should do it; it is I who have desired this work
for the good of my land. The thing actually to be done is now for me to
apply these conclusions. I am resolved to do it seriously; of this yon
can be sure. My land is no longer in Africa. We form actually a part of
Europe. It is, therefore, natural for us to abandon old errors in order
to adopt a new system adapted to our social condition. I believe that in
a future not far away you will see considerable changes. They will be
more easily brought about than one thinks for.
It is at bottom nothing else but a simple question of legality, of
respect for law. Above all, one must not rest satisfied with words, and
as for me, I am resolved to seek the reality of things.
In order to begin and show to what point I am in earnest, I have charged
Nubar Pasha to form for me a ministry.
This innovation may seem of little importance; but, seriously viewed, you
will see that out of this innovation proceeds ministerial independence,
and this is no small thing, because this innovation is the point of
departure of a radical change of system, and is, in my opinion, the best
assurance I can give that I am in earnest in my intentions regarding the
application of your conclusions.
You are going to leave us; I hope that you will soon return, but I want
you to take along with you the conviction that, if you have had a
difficult and trying task, your efforts will not remain fruitless, for
you know everything sprouts and ripens fast on this old soil of
Egypt.
[Inclosure 4 in No.
258.—Translation.]
Nubar Pasha to the
Khedive.
Monseigneur: In conformity with the orders of
Your Highness, I have the honor to submit for the approval of Your
Highness the following list for the composition of the new ministry:
- Presidency of the council of ministers, minister of foreign
affairs and of justice, Nubar Pasha.
- Minister of interior, Riaz Pasha.
- Minister of war, Ratib Pasha.
- Minister of wakf and of public instruction and ad interim of public works, Aly Pasha,
Moubarak.
I beg Your Highness to authorize me to leave vacant, for a little time
longer, the so important ministry of finance; this administration will
continue under the direction of those actually in charge of it until
such time as I shall be in a position to submit for your highness’s
approval the name of a person who I know enjoys the esteem of your
highness and possesses the confidence of the public.
The council will be called to take action upon the ministry of
agriculture and commerce; it will decide whether this ministry ought to
exist or be transformed into two divisions to be incorporated with one
or two ministries. In case your highness approve the composition of this
ministry, I pray your highness to be pleased to give your orders
accordingly.
I have the honor to be, with most profound respect, Your Highness’s most
humble, most obedient, and most faithful servant and subject.
