611.8331/11: Telegram
The Chargé in Egypt (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 16—3:02 p.m.]
50. Your 35, August 6, 6 p.m. With another Egyptian matter as a pretext for calling, I have discussed with my principal colleagues the general situation and the proposed new tariff regime.
The general tendency is, I find, to consider the Egyptian tariff thesis open to serious question if capitulatory principles are applied strictly.
[Page 958]The British Acting High Commissioner and the French Minister note that the reestablishment of 3 percent ad valorem import duties, in force formerly in the old Ottoman Empire, might be required by the suggested strict interpretation.
Although admitting the weakness of the Egyptian position, the Italian Minister recalled that the powers for some three years have been on notice regarding establishment in 1930 of a new tariff. Their tacit approval might almost be considered to have been shown by their intervening silence and by the generally sympathetic attitude toward reform proposals.
They all believe in a practical meeting of the situation and seem to be willing for the conclusion of modus vivendi to accept the new tariff provisionally for a limited period. However, before taking a definitive stand, they wish to examine the promised customs law and tariff schedules.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Owing to the anticipated provisional nature of the new tariff regime, my colleagues generally feel, I find also, that it would not be wise to make an issue of the tariff question, in the light of the general situation and of the more important proposals to act upon capitulatory reform as envisaged by the recent understanding between Egypt and Great Britain.35 I deem this position to be essentially sound.
[A printed copy of the Egyptian draft customs law in French was enclosed in despatch No. 307, December 19, 1929, from the Minister in Egypt (611.8331/14). An English version of the draft customs schedules was enclosed in despatch No. 313, January 4, 1930 (611.8331/16)].
- See Great Britain, Cmd. 3376, Egypt No. 1 (1929): Exchange of notes relating to proposals for an Anglo-Egyptian settlement.↩