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11. The distance from Ismailia to El Kantara is 21 miles, and from Ismailia to Chalouf is 44 miles. The front to be protected by a force of about 900 rifles is thus 65 miles long.
Taking into consideration the possible strength of the enemy and the wide extent of front to be guarded, it is evident that the small force available from the peace garrison of Egypt is quite inadequate for the purpose.
Arrangements have accordingly been made for the reinforcement of the garrison of Egypt by two battalions from Malta, which should arrive within three days of the issue of the order for their despatch, and two further battalions which should arrive from the same place about eighteen days later. Further reinforcements should arrive within from three to six weeks of the issue of the order for their dispatch.
III.--Defence of Suez Canal Line as affected by Treaty Engagements.
12. The purely military problem of the defence of Eastern frontier of Egypt is complicated by the disabilities imposed upon us by the peculiarity of our position in Egypt and by our Treaty engagements.
13. Under Article VI of the Declaration respecting Egypt and Morocco, which formed part of the Anglo-French Agreement of 1904, His Britannic Majesty's Government declared that they adhered to the stipulations of the International Convention of the 29th October, 1888, respecting the free navigation of the Suez Canal, and that they agreed to their being put in force.
Under Article 1 of this Convention it is provided that the Canal "shall always be "free and open in time of war, as in time of peace, to every vessel of commerce or of war without distinction of flag. Consequently the High Contracting Parties agree "not in any way to interfere with the free use of the Canal in time of war as in time "of peace. "}
The preservation of the neutrality of the Canal is thus an international obligation shared by all the signatory Powers of the Convention of 1888. Responsibility for taking military measures with this object in view rests equally upon all of them. Our special position in Egypt confers upon us no privileges as regards naval or military action on the Canal. Great Britain, in common with other signatory Powers, may interfere with force sufficient to insure the preservation of the neutrality of the Canal for the benefit of the world at large. But any isolated naval or military action on our part that resulted in interference with the free navigation of the Canal would be a violation of the Convention of 1888. In the event of immediate action in the neighbourhood of the Canal being forced upon us by imminent danger, we should be bound as soon as possible to invite the co-operation of the other Signatory Powers.
14. Responsibility for the internal tranquillity of Egypt and for its protection from external aggression on the other hand rests primarily upon us in consequence of our military occupation of the country. In time of disturbance the Powers would no doubt hold us responsible for the safety of their subjects resident in the country and of their capital invested there in its industries and developinent. But so long as the neutrality of the Canal is not in danger we should have no right to undertake naval or military operations on the Canal for the protection of Egypt from external aggression. It is, therefore, important to distinguish clearly between military operations the sole object of which is the preservation of the neutrality of the Suez Canal, and those undertaken for the protection of Egypt herself from attack by Turkey.
It is with military operations for the protection of Egypt from aggression by Turkey that the Defence Scheme under consideration deals.
15. It is extremely improbable that Turkey would undertake a raid on Egypt such as is here contemplated without the diplomatic support of one of the great Powers. It might in certain eventualities be to the interest of one of the Powers to instigate such a forward movement by Turkey either with a view to creating disturbances in Egypt or to compelling us to reinforce our troops in Egypt and so diminish our power of offensive action elsewhere. In such circumstances it is certain that any diplomatic weapon available would be used to cause us embarrassment.
16. Under Article 8 of the Convention of 1888 it is laid down that the Agents in Egypt of the Signatory Powers shall be charged to watch over the execution of the
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