No. 526.
Mr. Farman
to Mr. Evarts.
Cairo, July 10, 1878. (Received August 1.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the subject of extending the jurisdiction of the mixed tribunals of Egypt to civil and commercial actions in which all the parties are natives is being considered by the Egyptian Government. The question has been submitted by the Khedive to the judges of the court of appeals for their opinion, and they have made their report, which is said to be favorable to the project, though its exact contents have not been made public.
The Khedive is also understood to be in favor of the measure, provided that the jurisdiction shall also be extended to actions between Europeans of the same nationality.
Such an extension would give the mixed tribunals jurisdiction in all civil and commercial actions in Egypt without regard to the question of nationality, and would require a number of additional judges.
The consular courts would then be deprived of all jurisdiction except in cases of the settlement of estates, criminal cases, and those arising under the statut personnel.
Such a change in the judicial system of Egypt would be an important measure of reform, and would undoubtedly be of great benefit to the country. In a conversation with the Khedive on the subject a few days since he expressed himself as believing that the project would be adopted.
I have, & c.,