... 51 The cities were always in agreement with all the countries on this. As for the number of Europeans in each of the Egyptian cities, which is mentioned as being large or small, this stems from a compulsory system imposed upon them, as the current foreign privileges hinder progress. Alexandria, which is almost considered a European city, is an exception to all other cities, not because a municipal council was established there years ago after the Egyptian government had long negotiated with the countries. Municipal councils were not established in other cities except where the inhabitants agreed and imposed voluntary taxes on themselves. The first city whose inhabitants did this was Mansoura, an important city where a mixed municipal council was established in 1896. After that, mixed municipal councils were established in five other cities: Fayoum, Tanta, Zagazig, Damanhour, and in Siyuf, all of which followed the example of Mansoura. Their total expenses for the current year were estimated at £779 E.M., of which £215 E.M. were taken from the government treasury, and the rest from local taxes collected by the municipal officials from the inhabitants with their consent. Each of these municipal councils consists of a president and four European members and four Egyptian members, all elected by agreement. The conditions for electing members of the municipal council are: (1) that they have reached the age of 25 years, or have annual property income of at least two Egyptian pounds, or reside in a house whose annual rent is estimated at at least £24 E.M. (2) that they can read and write, or are the owner of real estate worth at least £500 E.M., or are a representative of an important commercial business or a person engaged in free professions. These mixed councils, assuming they have the funds, require government approval. As for the cities where voluntary taxes are not collected, the government provides the funds needed for their needs. However, it has made considerable efforts to encourage the inhabitants to take an interest in managing their affairs by establishing local commissions in twenty-seven cities. Each commission is headed by the director and includes an inspector from the Arab League, an inspector from the Ministry of Interior, an inspector from the Ministry of Arab Affairs, and four others. The inspectors are appointed to their positions, and the other four are elected by agreement. The conditions for the elected members are the same as those for the inspectors of the mixed municipal councils, except for the acceptance of voluntary taxes, which is obvious. Any elected member may become a member of the local commission. These commissions, whose budgets are prepared and from which funds are disbursed...