Page:The European Concert in the Eastern Question.djvu/140

 the facts, the general relations, the condition and the nature of the country, as well as the disposition and the customs of the inhabitants, the Khedive of Egypt is authorized to make internal regulations and laws as often as it may be necessary.

He is also authorized to renew and to contract (without interfering with the political Treaties of my Sublime Porte) Conventions with the Agents of foreign powers for customs and trade, and for all relations which concern foreigners, and all the affairs of the country, internal or otherwise, with the object of developing commerce and industry, and to arrange the police for foreigners as well as their position, and all their relations with the Government and the population.

The Khedive has complete and entire control over the financial affairs of the country. He has full power to contract, without leave, in the name of the Egyptian Government, any foreign loan, whenever he may think it necessary.

The first and most essential duty of the Khedive being to guard and defend the country, he has full and entire authority to provide for all the means and establishments for defence and protection according to the exigencies of time and place, and to increase or diminish the number of my Imperial Egyptian troops as may be required, without any restriction being imposed upon him.

The Khedive will retain, as before, the privilege of conferring ranks in the military Order up to the rank of Colonel, and in the civil Order up to the rank of Raubci Sanick. The money coined in Egypt should be struck in my Imperial name; the flags of the land and sea forces will be the same as the flags of my other troops; and, as regards ships of war, iron-clads alone shall not be constructed without my permission.

By my Imperial order reproducing the above provisions, I cause this illustrious Firman, headed by my Imperial signature, to be transmitted to thee by my Imperial Divan. This Firman comprises and completes (with explanations and modifications) all the Firmans and Imperial Khats which have hitherto been granted to the Egyptian Government, whether instituting the order of succession and the form of the Regency in case of necessity, or for the civil, military, and