مجموعة مختارة من الوثائق القانونية والتاريخية والجغرافية التي قدمت لمحكمة التحكيم لتأييد وجهة النظر المصرية
(تابع) الموفق رقم (9) الإرادة الإمبراطورية الصادرة من السلطان العثماني في 11 سبتمبر 1906
"وزارة الخارجية المصرية، الكتاب الأبيض عن قضية طابا، القاهرة، 1989، ص 167 -170"

Sir N. O'Conor to Sir Eduard Grey. - (Received September 12.)

(NO.175)

          SINAI boundary delimitation.
          Referring to my despatch No. 624 of the 6th September, sent in telegraphicfrom.

          An Imperial Irade was issued yesterday to the following effect by the Sultan:-

        1. The starting-point of the line on the Gulf to be Marashash
          2. Such commanding positions of Nagb-el-Akaba as are necessary to Akaba from a strategic point of view are to remain on the Turkish side, while Mofrak is to be left to Sinai

          3. Sinai is to retain possession of Mugdabba, Kossaima, Mayeni, Ain Gedeirat, and Ain Kadis on the understanding, however, that in case of necessity, the right of procuring water from the springs-which are left by this arrangement on the west side of the line-is to be enjoyed by Turkish gendarmes and soldiers as well as by the tribesmen

          4.The boundary-line suggested by the Egyptian Commissioners is to be applied to the ground, subject to the observance of the three conditions enumerated above. By this is meant that the frontier line is to be laid down subject to such alterations of minor importance as topographical and other considerations may render necessary.

          The Turkish Commissioners have been sent telegraphic instructions in the above sense.

          The high point in the immediate vicinity of Karekra, as marked upon the Turkish large scale survey map of Nagb-el-Akaba and neighbourhood, is the strategic position referred to in condition1, to which the Turks attach most importance. It is obviously impossible for us to settle in Constantinople the details of the line as was,(suggested by Captain Owen (see Mr. Findlay's telegram No.243 of the 28th August), more especially as the Turkish map does not quite tally with our own. In view however, of the instructions mentioned above, which have been sent to the Turkish Commissioners, the fixing of that part of the boundary should present no difficulties for the senior Egyptian Delegate.

The Joint Commission is to draw up a final proces-verbal, presumably in French in which the second part of condition 2 is to be included, and it might therefore be possible for Captain Owen to insist that the following wording shall be used: "Droit .de se faire procurer de l'eau,"implying that the water is to be fetched by the natives. Our objections to the Turkish gendarmes crossing over the boundary or camping on the west side of the line would be met by the insertion of such a clause

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