Office of the Historian

No. 640.
Mr. Farman to Mr. Evarts.

Agency and Consulate-General of the United States in Egypt,
Cairo, April 8, 1880. (Received May 3.)
No. 388.]

Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 372, of the 8th of March last, and also to that of April 5, No. 381, I have the honor to inclose herewith, in [Page 1006] French and in an English translation, the Khedive’s decree of the 5th instant, appointing the members of the commission of liquidation, and the declaration of the 31st of March last made by the consuls-general of Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Great Britian, and Italy, in relation to the said commission.

I have already reported upon the composition of the commission of liquidation and upon the object aimed at by the declaration of the live consuls, in my dispatch No. 372, mentioned above, to which I beg to call your special attention.

I have, &c.,

E. E. FARMAN.
[Inclosure in No. 388.—Translation from the “Phare d’ Alexandrie,” April 6, 1880.]

news of the day.

We publish here below the decree appointing the members of the commission of liquidation instituted by the decree of March 31.

decree.

We, Khedive of Egypt:

Considering Our decree of the 31st of March, 1880, instituting a commission of liquidation:

We decree—

Article 1. The following are appointed members of the commission of liquidation: Sir Rivers Wilson, president, Messrs. Baravelli, Bellaigue de Bughas, Colvin, De Kremer, Liron d’Airoles, De Treskow.

The government delegates Boutros Bey Ghali to represent it before the commission.

Art. 2. The deliberations of the commission of liquidation shall be taken by a majority of votes.

Done at the palace of Abdin, this 5th day of April, 1880 (25th Rabi-el-Akher, 1297.)

MEHEMET TEWFIK.

By the Khedive:

The President of the Council of Ministers:
Riaz.

declaration.

Whereas by a decree dated March 30, 1878, a special commission was intrusted with opening an inquest upon the financial condition of Egypt and with gathering together the elements for a general regulation; and whereas, by a new decree, the text of which is hereto annexed, His Highness the Khedive proposes to constitute a final commission of liquidation composed of German, Austro-Hungarian, French, English, and Italian members; the governments of Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Great Britain, and Italy have agreed to give their assent to the said decree.

The aforenamed governments consequently engage to accept as obligatory and without appeal the decision that shall be given concerning the obligations and debts of the Egyptian Government, as well as concerning those of the Däiras Khassa and Sanieh, by the commission of liquidation established by virtue of the said decree.

They thus consent to this that the decisions of the commission constituted by virtue of this decree be recognized by the tribunals of the Reform as an obligatory law as soon as they shall be officially published by the government of His Highness the Khedive.

The Governments of Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Great Britain, and Italy engage, furthermore, to collectively bring this declaration to the knowledge of the powers who have taken part in the establishment of the mixed tribunals instituted in Egypt and to invite them to adhere to it.

The undersigned, M. Jean Antoine, Baron de Saurma-Jeltsch, councillor of legation, consul-general of His Majesty the Emperor of Germany; M. Ignace Chevalier de Schaeffer, minister resident, agent, and consul-general of Austria-Hungary; M. Maximilian Napoleon Theodore, Baron de Ring, minister plenipotentiary, agent, and consul-general [Page 1007] of France; M. Edward Baldwin Malet, minister plenipotentiary, agent, and consul-general of Her Britannic Majesty; M. Joseph de Martino, agent and consul-general of Italy, furnished with the necessary powers, declare by these presents that their respective governments take, one toward the other, the engagements related here above.

In faith whereof the undersigned have signed the present declaration, and have hereto affixed the impression of their arms.

Made in live original documents, at Cairo, on the 31st day of March, 1880.

  • A. J. SAURMA.
  • SCHAEFFER.
  • N. de RING.
  • EDWARD B. MALET.
  • J. de MARTINO.

A true copy.

Cairo, April 4, 1880.

The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (of Egypt),
[l. s.]
TIGRANE.