The late Sir Eldon Gorst spent the best years of his life and exerted his great abilities to increase the welfare and prosperity of this country. He held various positions, including Financial Controller, Undersecretary of Finance, Advisor to the Ministry of the Interior, and Financial Advisor, and achieved brilliant success in these roles. When Lord Cross left Egypt after a long and arduous service, Sir Eldon Gorst was naturally chosen to succeed him in this agency, where he worked tirelessly until his death. It has been said in his eulogy and his virtues in this country and our country have been praised to the extent that there is no room left in this report for further praise of his distinguished service, and indeed, to prolong it would be superfluous.

After eleven years in Egypt, during which I served for a long period in military and quasi-military positions, I was greatly pleased upon my return to renew my acquaintance with many Egyptians with whom I had long-standing friendships. I was able to perceive the progress and change that Egypt has undergone, perhaps more so than those who have remained resident there for that period. It is therefore right that I should congratulate His Highness the Khedive, his ministers, and all the officials of the government departments and their various branches on the success of their efforts to improve the condition of the people and provide them with ease and welfare. However, a country like Egypt still naturally requires much effort, even if it has now become easier than it was in the past. The credit for this facilitation goes to the counsel of wise and prudent individuals who prevailed over others and established the country's finances on a solid and prosperous foundation. The sound judgment and firm resolve in financial matters demonstrated by both Lord Cross and Sir Eldon Gorst were of great value in providing the means for future welfare and the advancement of the country.

Almost upon my arrival in Egypt, the political situation in the East was thrown into considerable turmoil by the unexpected actions of Italy, which declared war on the Ottoman Empire and launched an attack on Tripoli and Cyrenaica. It is not surprising that this war stirred strong feelings of sympathy in the hearts of the Egyptians towards the people of those lands fighting against Muslims. This is natural given the geographical proximity of those lands to Egypt and the strong ties and connections.