The provincial councils were granted 1,000 Egyptian pounds for the construction, furnishing, and equipping of schools. If these councils follow the advice of experts and do not get involved in projects driven by greed, the illiteracy of the fellahin will soon be a thing of the past.

However, the provincial councils were preoccupied with spreading education, neglecting other duties imposed upon them for the welfare of the people of the provinces. Some negligence occurred in this regard. It is imperative that they do not forget the necessity of also attending to the well-being of the people of the provinces and making the necessary arrangements for it. There is no doubt in my mind that improving these conditions, including improving transportation, repairing roads and bridges, establishing cotton presses, and filling in ponds and swamps that harm the health of the people, and perhaps also cleaning the secondary canals – these and similar beneficial works for the welfare of the people will one day become an important part of the work of the provincial councils and will receive their increased attention.

If we move from the issue of education to others, I will mention two important matters that hinder the progress of educational policy in this country. The first is attention to commercial education. The lack of knowledge of Egyptians who studied commercial principles in their country has closed many doors to them for positions that bring dignity and profit.

The second is a civil reform that has not yet been implemented, which is to establish examinations that qualify students for government service. The aim of this reform is to ensure that employees are of a higher intellectual caliber and that any suspicion of favoritism or nepotism in appointments is eliminated.

As for the Legislative Council, it has performed its duties well, and I believe its members genuinely desire to improve the conditions of the people. However, given the method of their election and the composition of the council, the extent to which the people of all classes are truly represented is limited, especially in matters that are subject to debate and require consideration and research before a decision is made.

I have extensively detailed the obstacles to progress in Egypt due to foreign privileges, to the point that I have neglected to mention the delay by foreign powers in the progress of this country. As for the need that Egypt expressed at the last International Health Conference, which was to alleviate the burden of this guardianship that still weighs on Egypt, that need was well received by the delegates who were gathered at that time.

These days, regarding the mixed government, such a government...