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 Highness the Khedive, dated the 13th March, 1884, respecting the house tax, with this modification: the foreign members of the Commissions and Councils of Revision instituted by Articles 4 and 5 of the said Decree shall be selected by the Consul in the event of the elections having no result, or in the event of the Delegates elected not appearing. If the Delegates selected by the Consul should not appear, then the Commission or Council of Revision shall be empowered to proceed in their absence.

They equally declare that they accept the application to their subjects, in the same manner as to natives, of the stamp tax and licence tax, and they engage to undertake immediately, in concert with the Egyptian Government, the study of the draft Laws establishing these two taxes.

III. Whereas the Powers have agreed to recognize the urgent necessity for negotiating with the object of sanctioning, by a Conventional Act, the establishment of a definitive regulation guaranteeing at all times, and for all Powers, the freedom of the Suez Canal:

It has been agreed between the seven Governments above named that a Commission composed of Delegates named by the said Governments shall meet at Paris on the 30th March, to prepare and draw up this Act, taking for its basis the Circular of the Government of Her Britannic Majesty of the 3rd January, 1883.

A Delegate of His Highness the Khedive shall sit on the Commission, with a consultative voice.

The draft drawn up by the Commission shall be submitted to the said Governments, who will then take measures to obtain the accession of the other Powers.

The Undersigned, Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, Russia, and Turkey, furnished with the necessary powers, declare by these presents that their respective Governments mutually engage to observe the foregoing stipulations.

In witness whereof the Undersigned have signed the present Declaration, and affixed thereto the seal of their arms.

Done at London, the 17th March, 1885.