Interest;
to join together what could not improve apart - these are the objects which,
history will pronounce, have justified the enterprise.
The advantage to Great Britain is no less clear to those who believe
that our connection with Egypt, as with India, is in itself a source of
strength. The grasp of England upon Egypt has been strengthened twofold by
the events of the war. The joint action and ownership of the two countries
in the basin of the Upper Nile form an additional bond between them.
The command of the vital river is an irresistible weapon. The influence of
France over the native mind in Egypt has been completely destroyed by the
result of the Fashoda negotiations; and although she still retains the
legal power to meddle in and obstruct all financial arrangements,
that power, unsupported by real influence, is like a body whence the soul
has fled, which may, indeed, be an offensive encumbrance,
but must ultimately decompose and crumble into dust.
But, apart from any connection with Egypt, Britain has gained
a vast territory which, although it would be easy to exaggerate its value,
is nevertheless coveted by every Great Power in Europe. The policy of
acquiring large waterways, which has been pursued deliberately or
unconsciously by British statesmen for three centuries, has been carried
one step further; and in the valley of the Nile England may develop
a trade which, passing up and down the river and its complement the railway,
shall exchange the manufactures of the Temperate Zone for the products of
the Tropic of Cancer, and may use the north wind to drive civilisation and
prosperity to the south and the stream of the Nile to bear wealth and
commerce to the sea.
APPENDIX
TEXT OF THE SOUDAN AGREEMENT OF THE 19TH OF JANUARY, 1899,
AND OF THE DECLARATION OF THE 21ST OF MARCH, 1899
AGREEMENT BETWEEN HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF HIS HIGHNESS THE KHEDIVE OF EGYPT,
RELATIVE TO THE FUTURE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SOUDAN
WHEREAS certain provinces in the Soudan which were in rebellion against
the authority of His Highness the Khedive have now been reconquered by the
joint military and financial efforts of Her Britannic Majesty's Government
and the Government of His Highness the Khedive; AND whereas it has become
necessary to decide upon a system for the administration of and for the
making of laws for the said reconquered provinces, under which due
allowance may be made for the backward and unsettled condition of large
portions thereof, and for the varying requirements of different localities;
AND whereas it is desired to give effect to the claims which have accrued
to Her Britannic Majesty's Government, by right of conquest, to share in
the present settlement and future working and development of the
said system of administration and legislation;
AND whereas it is conceived that for many purposes Wady Halfa and Suakin
may be most effectively administered in conjunction with the reconquered
provinces to which they are respectively adjacent:
NOW, it is hereby agreed and declared by and between the Undersigned,
duly authorised for that purpose, as follows:-
ART. I.
The word 'Soudan' in this Agreement means all the territories South of the
22nd parallel of latitude, which:
1. Have never been evacuated by Egyptian troops since the year 1882; or
2. Which having before the late rebellion in the Soudan been administered
by the Government of His Highness the Khedive, were temporarily lost
to Egypt, and have been reconquered by Her Majesty's Government and the
Egyptian Government, acting in concert; or
3. Which may hereafter be reconquered by the two Governments acting
in concert.
ART. II.
The British and Egyptian flags shall be used together, both on land
and water, throughout the Soudan, except in the town of Suakin, in which
locality the Egyptian flag alone shall be used.
ART. III.
The supreme military and civil command in the Soudan shall be vested
in one officer, termed the 'Governor-General of the Soudan.' He shall be
appointed by Khedivial Decree on the recommendation of Her Britannic
Majesty's Government, and shall be removed only by Khedivial Decree,
with the consent of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.
ART. IV.
Laws, as also Orders and Regulations with the full force of law,
for the good government of the Soudan, and for regulating the holding,
disposal, and devolution of property of every kind therein situate,
may from time to time be made, altered, or abrogated by Proclamation of the
Governor-General. Such Laws, Orders, and Regulations may apply to the whole
or any named part of the Soudan, and may, either explicitly or by necessary
implication, alter or abrogate any existing Law or Regulation. All such
Proclamations shall be forthwith notified to Her Britannic Majesty's Agent
and Consul-General in Cairo, and to the President of the Council of
Ministers of His Highness the Khedive.
ART. V.
No Egyptian Law, Decree, Ministerial Arrete, or other enactment
hereafter to be made or promulgated shall apply to the Soudan
or any part thereof, save in so far as the same shall be applied by
Proclamation of the Governor-General in manner hereinbefore provided.
ART. VI.
In the definition by Proclamation of the conditions under which Europeans,
of whatever nationality, shall be at liberty to trade with or reside in
the Soudan, or to hold property within its limits, no special privileges
shall be accorded to the subjects of any one or more Power.
ART. VII.
Import duties on entering the Soudan shall not be payable on goods coming
from Egyptian territory. Such duties may, however, be levied on goods
coming from elsewhere than Egyptian territory; but in the case of goods
entering the Soudan at Suakin, or any other port on the Red Sea Littoral,
they shall not exceed the corresponding duties for the time being leviable
on goods entering Egypt from abroad.
