683.003/36: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Egypt (Jardine)

23. Your 22, February 18, 9 a.m. Before issuing instructions with respect to the action which you should take in connection with the Egyptian decree, the Department would wish to receive the following additional information:

1.
Were the articles of the decree approved by the General Assembly as a police measure under the provisions of the Khedivial Decree of January 31, 1889, or as mixed legislation under the terms of the [Page 155] law of January [November?] 11, 1911? As described in your telegram the decree would appear to partake more of the nature of mixed legislation than of a police measure.
2.
If the two articles of the decree were approved under the terms of the law of November, 1911, on what date was such approval given?
3.
Please furnish by telegraph brief rèsumè of text of entire decree and a more detailed statement of nature of French, Italian and Belgian representations as well as the basis thereof. Also indicate what, if any, action has been taken by British High Commission.
4.
Department would also be interested in learning circumstances under which pressure to approve the decree was apparently brought by the Egyptian Government on the General Assembly of the Mixed Courts.

Stimson