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XV.

The Royal Officer of Affairs in London to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Il R. Incaricato d’Affari a Londra al Ministro degli Affari Esteri)

Mr. Minister,

The Marquis of Harcourt went to Lord Derby to understand his intention regarding the nomination of the English commissioner and to discuss the objections that the Chief Secretary of State could make against the involvement of England in this position. Lord Derby, in fact, is not in favor: he told the ambassador of France not to be persuaded about the position that the commissioners would have, if the Khedive were not sincere, nor regarding the consequences that could arise from it, and he seemed worried that the concerns and susceptibility of the other unwilling powers could not be lifted, so these powers can now act alone, whose focused interests in the Mediterranean Basin exceed those of other powers. The Count of Derby ended the conversation by stating that the Queen’s Cabinet wanted to await the return of Mr. Cave, nor would he make a decision until he had heard from him. May it please you, etc.

Signed: De Martino

Page 12 of the Book

XVI.

The Royal Officer of Affairs in London to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Il R. Incaricato d’Affari a Londra al Ministro degli Affari Esteri)

Mr. Minister,

Yesterday in the House of Commons, in response to an interrogation by Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Disraeli said that the nomination of a commissioner for the National Bank of Egypt was denied since it could involve the government of the Queen in trade relations with the planned organization. He added that, if a proposal had been made to name a commissioner to receive some of Egypt’s revenue and apply them to the debt redemption, this proposition would have been taken into consideration. Profiting from the third reading of the bill regarding a way to obtain the capital for the purchase of the shares in the enterprise of the Suez Canal, Mr. Gladstone made a speech which, after having approved the denial of nominating a commissioner for the aforementioned Bank, began to examine the dangers and the difficult position of a commissioner who was elected to receive and allocate the Egyptian earnings. In his response, Mr. Disraeli argued against the way his opponent discussed the subject, and he restricted himself in declaring that the government of the Queen would not send commissioners to Egypt or in any other country, except when a provision was recognized to be advantageous to the public interests. May it please you, etc.

Signed: De Martino