No. 201.] EGYPT. No. 1108. Mr. Cardwell to Mr. Rives. [Extract.] AGENCY AND CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Cairo, Egypt, January 4, 1888. (Received February 1.) SIR: I am in receipt of a note from the minister of foreign affairs for the Egyptian government, asking the adhesion of the Government of the United States to a proposed khedivial decree having for its object partial suppression of the corvée. The corvée, as you know, in Egypt applies to labor on river embankments, canal excavations, and dikes, ditches, etc., as well as to work on public roads. It is a public measure similar to what is in force in almost every State of the Union. Enforced labor is imposed in the United States for usually not exceeding ten days of every year, while the Egyptian law, except in cases of dangerous emergency, requires service for not exceeding thirty days. In a country without rain, where its agriculturists may work in their fields for three hundred and sixtyfive days in the year, and where agriculture could return nothing without public irrigation, as well as public protection against the inroads of floods, this service is, in my opinion, exceedingly proper. For the Government of Egypt to propose to abolish the corvée would entail upon it an expense which would wreck almost any nation. The question has been presented to the world as one in which civilization is involved. The European powers, signing at London, contemplated indefinite abolition of the corvée, probably under pressure of this idea, but some of them have held out against its proposed definite enforcement. France positively refused for a time to sanction the submittal of a decree and Russia showed obstinacy, but the powers are now asked to assent to the proposition to partially suspend the corvée. It contemplates contracts in partial substitution of the corvée, and to make contracts money must be used out of the Egyptian treasury. The proposition is to expend annually 250,000 Egyptian pounds, the equivalent of $1,250,000, in employing voluntary labor by means of contracts in place of enforced labor for the government. Where it is necessary the thirty days' limit will remain in full force and be even exceeded. I am, etc., JOHN CARDWELL. [Inclosure in No. 201.-Translation.] Draught of decree. Whereas it is desirable for the agricultural prosperity of Egypt that the imposition of the corvée tax should be reduced to the lowest possible limits, and that at the same time this should be effected without having any receipts or expenditures which are not shown in the budget; Whereas our government should, from the year 1887, include in the budgetary returns all sums accrning from the purchase of exemptions from the corvée; also all other receipts, whatever they may be, which may be obtained in the future, and that the employment thereof shall be shown in the expenditure account: We, Khedive of Egypt, with the advice of our ministers and the approval of the powers, have decreed and do now decree: ARTICLE 1. From the year 1887 the sum of 5,237,000 Egyptian pounds, the amount fixed for the annual administrative expenses of the government, shall, in accordance with article 18 of our decree of July 27, 1885, be increased in accordance with the conditions which follow: (1) From the sums accruing from the purchase of exemptions from the corvée during the preceding years, conformable to our decree of the 25th of January, 1881. (2) From a sum of 250,000 Egyptian pounds. These credits will be exclusively applied to works actually executed by means of the corvée. Future budgets will be increased by a sum equal to that which has been placed at the disposal of the ministry of public works by the budget of 1887. ART. 2. The Caisse de la Dette shall have power to control all such credits opened at the ministry of public works, so as to insure that such have been properly applied. In regard to the credits of the ordinary budget of the public works, credits which are estimated at 464,623 Egyptian pounds, the Caisse de la Dette shall require as proof of these credits having been properly employed the production of a list, drawn up by chapters and subchapters by the finance ministry, showing that these credits have been entirely expended in payment for public works. For the credits over and above the sum of 5,237,000 Egyptian pounds, that is to say, for the credit of 250,000 Egyptian pounds and for that which will be included in the returns from the purchase of exemptions from corvée, the proper application or employment of the same shall be proved by producing at the Caisse de la Dette all the accounts justifying the expenditnres made. ART. 3. If the credits of the ordinary budget for public works shall be less than the sum of 464,623 Egyptian pounds, or if this sum has not been entirely expended, the increase of the administrative expenditure authorized by the present decree shall be reduced by a sum equal to the diminution of the credits, or to the amount of the unexpended credits. ART. 4. The manner in which the above-named sum of 250,000 Egyptian pounds is to be employed and distributed among the different Moordiriehs shall be determined each year by decree. A fair and equitable distribution of this sum is to be made among the various provinces after the Caisse de la Dette has been consulted. If, in the course of the year it shall be found necessary to execute works to meet special and unforeseen circumstances, a new division or distribution of the sum shall be made by the minister of public works, who shall give notice thereof to the Caisse de la Dette. Our minister of public works shall forward us, at the end of each year, a report, which shall be published in the Journal Officiel, setting forth the exact number of corvée days which would have been required of the population and the profit in the reduction of the same as calculated on the average of the last four years, according to the lists published by the Journal Officiel of June 30, 1886. ART. 5. The administrative expenses, authorized by the decree of July 27, 1885, can be increased by drawing on the sums necessary for the working of the petroleum mines, such increase not to exceed the sum of 40,000 Egyptian pounds in 1887, and for succeeding years the amount yielded by the mines. ART. 6. Our ministers of finance and public works are intrusted, in so far as it concerns them, with the execution of the present decree. Done at the palace By the Khedive: the of 188-. SIR: Your dispatch No. 201 of the 4th ultimo reports that you are "in receipt of a note from the minister of foreign affairs of the Egyptian government, asking the adhesion of the United States to a proposed Khedival decree having for its object partial suppression of the Corvée." Your explanation of the nature of compulsory service for public works, known in Egypt as the "corvée," and of the intent, scope, and effects of the projected legislation for its partial suppression, suggests that, like other Egyptian municipal measures to which the Khedival government has heretofore invited the adhesion of the United States, it does not directly concern this Government or its citizens, nor does it seem to call for any expression of approval or disapproval on our part. I may, therefore, repeat, in this instance, the substance of the instruction sent to you on March 31, 1886 (No. 28), when our "adhesion" was asked to a Khedival decree permitting the temporary investment of certain trust funds at interest for the benefit of the Egyptian treasury, that while the Government of the United States has no practical concern in the subject-matter of such decrees, except to see that no discrimination against American citizens is proposed, and is not prepared to advocate the measures, and could not join in their enactment, yet as the withholding of adhesion on our part might embarrass the Khedive's government and prevent its carrying out a domestic reform in its own interest, the Government of the United States, at the solicitation of that of the Khedive, gives this qualified assent, which you will properly make known to the minister for foreign affairs. In this relation you may also consult the Department's instruction No. 13, of January 7, 1886, concerning a decree for the levy of a house tax. If anything in the foreign minister's note to you or in the terms of the decree relative to the corvée should appear in your good judgment to conflict with the execution of this instruction, you will advise the Department accordingly and await further instructions. I am, sir, etc., No. 1110. T. F. BAYARD. No. 209.] Mr. Cardwell to Mr. Rives. [Extract.] AGENCY AND CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Cairo, Egypt, February 12, 1888. (Received March 5.) SIR: In my No. 207 incidental reference was made to the presence of a large number of American voyageurs in Egypt this winter. The great increase in their numbers over previous years deserves special notice. During the winter of 1884-'85 there were not exceeding a dozen Americans visiting Egypt. In the winter of 1885-'86 there were not exceeding one hundred and twenty-five. That of 1886-'87 saw the number increase to not exceeding seven hundred, while the present winter brings very nearly thrice the last named number. Up to this date there have been over seventeen hundred of our people who have put in their presence at Cairo since the beginning of the present winter, and there will be three hundred more before the tourist season closes. It is estimated that the Americans are this season spending $1,500,000 in Egypt. In return they are reaping the richest rewards in viewing a land of strange customs and antique wonders, while they enjoy a winter climate of unsurpassed loveliness as well as purity. There being no large American colony in Cairo, as at most of the European capitals, amid which information desired by strangers may be obtained, they naturally and even necessarily turn to the representative of their Government for many things which his position suggests to them he understands, and for friendly offices, which in this country he should, as I think, readily accord. I make it a rule that, whenever properly approached, even the unofficial wishes and pleasures of my countrymen shall have consideration. There is a very strong disposition evinced in certain native circles to gratify these strangers. In this connection I may be permitted to refer to higher Egyptian officials, and notably to His Highness the Khedive, who always expresses the warmest friendship for them, and who evinces a readiness to comply in most pleasing style to my requests. The season here is so pleasing to Americans that I look to great augmentation of numbers in the future. Very many of them make the Nile voyage, spending weeks, often months, in Upper Egypt and Nubia. SIR: Your dispatches numbered 202 to 209 are received. Referring to the last, dated February 12, I have to remark that the Department observes with much satisfaction your intelligent efforts to promote the interests of your fellow-countrymen in Egypt. I am, sir, etc., G. L. RIVES, Assistant Secretary. No. 1112. Mr. Cardwell to Mr. Rives. No. 212.] AGENCY AND CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Cairo, Egypt, March 10, 1888. (Received April 2.) SIR: Having made reference more than once to the importance of the American missions in Egypt as an educating agency, and to the propriety of extending this interest the most perfect protection, I beg to call your attention to a publication, herewith inclosed, which dem onstrates its importance and magnitude. I am, etc., JOHN CARDWELL. [Inclosure in No. 212.] American Mission, Egypt, 1887. This mission was begun in November, 1854, by the Rev. T. McCague. Its present staff of foreign missionaries consists of 11 ordained missionaries, 1 physician, 10 unmarried female missionaries, 10 married ladies; total, 32. The mission carries on its work in three departments, which may be called the evangelistic, the educational, and the book distribution. This mission only keeps in its depots books for its own needs and does not do a general book business. The cost of the department is much more than the proceeds of sales. Total boys and girls enrolled in mission schools.. Pupils in 71 native schools tanght by teachers trained in American mission schools and under Protestant influence, all of which are self supporting Boys.. Girls.. Pupils. 311 450 111 134 1,006 69 253 537 101 160 1, 120 2, 126 2,823 639 3, 462 Total number of pupils.... 5,588 Of this number 1,759 are girls and 3,829 are boys. The religions of these pupils are as follows: 966 Protestants, 3,443 Copts, 717 Moslems, 45 Roman Catholics, 116 Greeks, 144 Jews, 157 of various other sects. As to nationality, 5,308 are Egyptians and 280 of other nations. The pupils paid for boarding about £510 and for instruction £2,130. The number of pupils who paid something was 3,882; free, 1,806. H. Ex. 1, pt. 1— 103 |