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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fenris" data-source="post: 6255982" data-attributes="member: 2820">"As of this moment, only the French are denied access to the canal. It is in everyone's interest to abide by the conditions of access that will be enforced by the Egyptian Canal Authority. The Ottoman Empire has also given us assurances of additional naval support to maintain the canal solely under Egyptian authority. So as you see General, there is no need for a British base in Egypt. The Ottomans are particularly interested in ensuring that the British make no incursions into the eastern Mediterranean. Therefore aside from the Egyptian desire to have no foreign military bases, we cannot permit one on our soil as it would be seen as an escalating act between the British and Ottoman Empires, with Egypt in the middle, a position, we do not desire.Lastly, the British Banks. Last I knew sir, you served the Queen, not bankers. I understand your previously stated position regarding the stability of the banks. However, this plan of actually charging ships to use the canal, allows the Egyptian government to actually pay off the usurious rates present in the contract, a contract that is so blatantly disastrous that I have to question what leverage or deception was used to force the King to sign it. In any case, the banks will this way get their principle and interest on time. You cannot rob Athena to pay Apollo after all General.  I am quite willing to renegotiate the terms of the contract with the bankers if they wish. I wonder when dealing with a man of business, how well they might try to pull off deception. However, there are three choices when it comes to the Canal General. A, the terms I have set forth; namely full rates for all ships with a ten-year exception for British military ships. B, a full renegotiation of the contract, with me on, behalf of the Egyptian government and all everything and all issues are on the table for that, not a revision, a new contract whole cloth. Or C, the Egyptian government declares the contract illegal, and seizes full control of the canal and the British bankers will have a very large write off for their depositors."</blockquote>

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