Office of the Historian

File No. 883.00/51

The British Ambassador (Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State

British Embassy,
Washington, December 18, 1914.
[Received December 19.]

No. 434]

Sir: I have the honour under instructions from my Government to communicate to you, Sir, for your information the accompanying [Page 153] copy of a telegram stating that His Majesty’s Government consider that the suzerainty of Turkey over Egypt is terminated and that they have advised the King to place Egypt under his protection.

I have [etc.]

Cecil Spring Rice

[Enclosure—Telegram]

The British Foreign Office to the British Ambassador at Washington (Spring Rice)

You should communicate the following to Government to which you are accredited.

  • In view of the state of war initiated by Turkey against Egypt His Majesty’s Government consider that the suzerainty of Turkey over Egypt is terminated, and they have advised His Majesty to place Egypt under his protection and to order the adoption of all measures necessary for the safety of the inhabitants, the defence of the country, and the protection of the many and various important interests existing there. Official notifications to this effect have been issued in London and Cairo. The unprovoked nature of the Turkish aggression has prevented any discussion of this matter with the powers beforehand but His Majesty’s Government have no intentions of impairing foreign interests and wish to act in harmony with the powers in making those changes affecting their interests which are rendered unavoidable by the aggression of Turkey.
  • Meanwhile the Egyptian Government will arrange for the issue of a Khedivial decree providing that the consular and other foreign courts shall continue to exercise in Egypt their accustomed jurisdiction to the extent to which the arrangements which will have to be made by the military authorities for the maintenance of public order are not inconsistent therewith. You should add that His Majesty’s Government have appointed a High Commissioner for Egypt who will also be the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Egyptian Government, and His Majesty’s Government would therefore ask that the Government to which you are accredited will be so good as to instruct their representative in Cairo to address all his official communications in future to the High Commissioner as Minister for Foreign Affairs.