England and Egypt 301
Moreover, not only has this institution been used as
against Cromerism, but it has also been used against
Zaglulism in the matter already mentioned of the Tribute
debts. Yet all the same, the Mixed Courts have been
heartily accepted by the Egyptian Nationalists, who
advocate the transfer to them of the surviving consular
jurisdiction. Thus, the political programme of the Wafd
(1918) says "We should welcome the enlargement of
the competence of the Mixed Courts over all criminal
cases concerning foreigners/' Which, fortunately, is also
the solution that was suggested by the Milner Mission,
and that seems likely to be generally acceptable. So that,
in view of-this agreement as to a new arrangement in
principle, points of detail should cause no difficulty. Such
details are in dispute over a recent proposal (November,
1926) of the General Assembly of the Mixed Tribunals
for the establishment of another Appeal Court. The pro-
posal has been favourably received by the Government,
but they want to reduce the councillors from five to three,
an economy unwelcome to the Powers.
There is, therefore, no serious difference in respect to
the judicial Capitulations between Egyptian national
idealism and European business interests. And there is
nothing about the judicial Capitulations to require the
retention of a British garrison. Nor has there been as
yet any interference by Egypt with the far less justifiable
fiscal privileges of foreigners. Even if there were it would
be impossible for us to resist proposals for the equitable
and equal taxation of foreigners, seeing that we have our-
selves unsuccessfully sought this reform throughout
our occupation. It was we who advocated the one unim-
portant derogation from foreign immunity—the payment
by foreigners of the '' Ghafir " tax. And this small tax
for police protection is now paid by the British, but by