No. 646.
Mr. Evarts to Mr. Farman.
Washington, June 28, 1880.
Sir: The project of a commission of liquidation to take control of the finances of Egypt has had careful consideration in view of your dispatch No. 372 of March 8.
This government has been approached by that of France, in the sense of obtaining our adhesion to the scheme, but without any favorable respéonse. I have, in fact, replied to the representations of Mr. Outrey, the French minister, that this government could not agree to accept, in advance, as binding upon our citizens, the action of a commission in which we were to have no part.
I have now to instruct you to say to the officers of the Khedive’s Government with whom you may have occasion to discuss the matter, that, although it is not considered necessary, for the protection of American interests, that this government should participate in the organization of the commission and be represented therein by an American commissioner, yet it is regarded as proper to leave undecided, for the present, the question of the acceptability of such action as that commission might hereafter take, so far as concerns its operation upon the rights of citizens of the United States. Not, therefore, being disposed to accredit, by anticipatory action, the dispositions of a mixed administration, in which we have no share, and which may yet affect the material interests of their citizens, the United States reserve their relations to the Egyptian Government in the matter in case they should have any interests to protect calling for diplomatic representation.
Your telegram, informing me that the Russian Government has made a somewhat analogous reservation of right, has been received. You may, if it should appear necessary, make, in like manner, formal notification to the Government of His Highness the Khedive, of the present reserve maintained by the United States, as above explained to you.
The clause of your recent telegram, received on the 21st instant, relating to this subject, has been duly considered. With every disposition to favor the wishes of the Khedive in any matter important to Egyptian interests, it is not perceived that the position above taken should be regarded as interfering with the entire freedom of that government to make any administrative adjustment of its financial relations with nations which are represented in such administration. If the Government of His Highness should point out to you any such embarrassment, I shall be ready to consider it with the most favorable disposition towards the Egyptian Government.
I am, &c.,