No. 571.
Mr. Willamov to Mr. Evarts.
Washington, July 9–21,
1880.
Mr. Secretary of State: By order of my
government I have the honor herewith to transmit to you a copy of the
communications received by us from the government of France and that of
England relative to the appointment of a commission of liquidation for
the regulation of the finances of Egypt, together with a copy of the
reply which the imperial cabinet has just addressed to the ambassadors
of those powers at St. Petersburg.
I avail myself, &c.,
Note from Mr. de
Giers to Lord Dufferin (present),
dated St. Petersburg, June 8,
1880.
With your note of the 5th–17th instant your excellency transmitted to
us, by order of your government, the decree of the Khedive* appointing a
commission of liquidation for the regulation of the Egyptian debts,
together with a collective declaration of the powers constituting
that commission. Your excellency was instructed at the same time to
invite the imperial cabinet to adhere to that declaration, which
recognizes
[Page 886]
the decisions
of the commission of liquidation as having the force of law without
appeal, and proclaims them as binding upon the reformatory tribunals
as soon as they shall have been officially published by the
government of His Highness the Khedive.
The imperial cabinet not being among the number of the governments
which formed that commission of liquidation, declared from the
outset that it reserved the privilege of forming an independent
opinion concerning its decisions so far as they might affect the
rights recognized as belonging to the mixed courts in whose
organization Russia took part.
It cannot depart from that strictly legal attitude by pledging itself
in advance to consider as binding and without appeal decisions
rendered without its participation, even though they should be in
contradiction with the duties incumbent upon it, both in view of the
interests of Russian subjects and the general interests which the
appointment of the mixed courts was designed to secure.
The imperial cabinet consequently deems it its duty to maintain its
full liberty of judgment with regard to the decisions of the
commission of liquidation, within the limits prescribed either by
the protection due to its citizens, or by the rights with which the
mixed courts have been invested. While reserving this liberty, it
will by no means lose sight or the considerations which have induced
the powers to form this commission with a view to protecting the
interests of their creditors and to improving the finances of
Egypt.
Begging your excellency to be pleased to bring the foregoing to the
notice of your government, I avail myself, &c.
Note from Mr. de
Giers to General Chanzy.
St.
Petersburg, June 8,
1880.
With the dispatch of M. de Freycinet of the 28th of April last, a
copy of which your excellency was pleased to send us, the French
Government transmitted to us the Khedive’s decree appointing a
commission of liquidation for the settlement of Egyptian debts,
together with a collective declaration of the powers constituting
that commission. At the same time Mr. de Freycinet invited the
imperial cabinet to adhere to that declaration, which recognizes the
decisions of the commission of liquidation as possessing the force
of law, without appeal, and proclaims them as binding upon the
reformatory courts, as soon as they shall have been officially
published by the government of His Highness the Khedive.
The imperial cabinet not being among the number of the governments
which formed that commission of liquidation, declared from the
outset, that it reserved the privilege of forming an independent
opinion concerning its decisions so far as they might affect the
rights recognized as belonging to the mixed courts in whose
organization Russia took part. It cannot depart from that strictly
legal attitude, by pledging itself, in advance, to consider as
binding and without appeal decisions rendered without its
participation, even though they should be in contradiction with the
duties incumbent upon it both in view of the interests of Russian
subjects and the general interests which the appointment of the
mixed courts was designed to secure.
The imperial cabinet consequently deems it its duty to maintain its
full liberty of judgment with regard to the decisions of the
commission of liquidation, within the limits prescribed either by
the protection due to its citizens, or by the rights with which the
mixed courts have been invested. While reserving this liberty it
will by no means lose sight of the considerations which have induced
the powers to form this commission with a view to protecting the
interests of their creditors, and to improving the finances of
Egypt.
Begging your excellency to be pleased to bring the foregoing to the
notice of your government, I avail myself, &c.
