Page:The European Concert in the Eastern Question.djvu/134

 In proclamation of which this my Imperial Firman, dated 5 Sefer, 1284 (8th June, 1867), is now addressed to thee.

Firman addressed by the Sultan to the Khedive of Egypt, relative to the levying of taxes in the name of the Sultan, and to contracts for foreign loans being submitted to the Sultan for approval, 29th November, 1869.

(After the usual titles.)

''It is superfluous for me to say how much I have at heart the prosperity of the important Province of Egypt, and the increase of the well-being and security of its inhabitants. While giving serious attention to the maintenance intact of the internal privileges granted to the Egyptian administration, it is, at the same time, my duty to look to the strict accomplishment of the obligations of that Administration, whether towards my Crown or towards the inhabitants of the province.''

For this reason, I have accepted the explanations which thou hast given, and the engagements which thou hast taken relative to armaments and ships of war, as also resptecting the external relations of the province, in the letter of the 10th Djemazi-ul-Ewel, 1286, which thou hast written in answer to that which my Grand Vizier had addressed to thee on the 18th Rebi-ul-Akhir, 1286, by my sovereign order.

Still, as the financial question is a vital one for every country, if the rate of the taxes is beyond the means of the tax-payers, or if the yield of these taxes is absorbed in fruitless expenditure, instead of being employed for the real requirements of the country, there is undoubtedly a risk of losses and incalculable dangers.

''For this reason the Sovereign of the country has the sacred and unimpeachable right anxiously to watch over this important object; and in order that there should be no doubt or misunderstanding in this respect, I have decided to give thee the following explanations, which shall also be made generally known. According to the fundamental conditions, then, which form the basis ''