New-York tribune., 1911-02-27
KHEO|VE'S ADVISER"
Sir Henry Harvey as Such Can
Veto All His Projects.

Uorvrgat iell. by tho Brentwood Company
Sir Henry Harvey recently knighted by
King George, who at the same time be-
slowed upon him the star of the order OF
s.. Michael and ST. George. bears an Of
fetal title that conveys but little idea OF its
importance. He is STYLED the financial ad-
wiser of the Khedive. The fact OF the mat
ter is. however. that he is the de facto
Premier Of Egypt For he not only occu-
pies a seat. eX officio. in the Egyptian
Cabinet and attends all its meetings, but
likewise possesses the power Of veto. He
Is, in one word the representative of the
English government in the Egyptian ad-
ministration. and without his sanction moth
ing whatever can be done by the khedive
or by the latter's ministers. Every minis
terial sct-ofical act-of the Khedivial
government must receive mis- approval be-
fore execution. The khedivial government
is. however, permitted to pay him his SAL
airy OF $4,000 a year and various allow
ences, and, theoretically. he is first and
foremost in the service OF the khedive.
The financial adviser OF the Khedive is
usually supposed 10 take his instructions
from the British Minister Plenipotentiary
and Resident in Cairo. But there have been
some Of them who have struck out a more
independent line for themselves and who
have declined 10 sacrifice the interests OF
Egypt TO those Of England. when the two
happened to come into conflict. With the
possible exception of Sir Vincent Corbett,
who made some unfortunate mistakes. they
have all been men Of mark. beginning with
Sir Auckland Colvin, one of the ablest men,
bers Of the official hierarchy Of British In
dia: Sir Edgar Vincent. Sir Edwin Palmer
and Sir Eldon Gorst. Gorst. who is now
the British Minister Plenpotentiary in
Egypt. was followed by Sir Vincent Cor
bett, and after the latter had made himself
impossible and had been relegated 10 one
Of the minor legations Of South America,
Sir Henry Harvey was appointed TO the
place
Sir Henry, after a most distinguished
scholastic career at Rugby and at oxford.
whence he was graduated with first class
honors. Joined the English Civil Service, as
clerk in the War Department. and when
Lords Lansdowne was at the head thereof
acted as his private secretary throughout
the Boer war. Afterward he was appointed
by the British government as its represent
Athens, on Greek finance. and subse-
quently filed a similar Office on the in
ternational commission for the control of
Macedonian finances. In both OF these
positions he displayed so much tact sa-
gacity and capacity for dealing with those
intrigUes which are so common in South
eastern Europe, and indeed throughout
the Levant. that when Sir Vincent Cor
bett was obliged TO resign the post of
financial adviser TO the Khedive he was
at once pitched upon as the most suitable
successor.
When in Macedonia he was appointed to
the rank of Councillor Of Embassy in the
diplomatic service and is still carried on
the Foreign Office list as such, although
he is actually the de facto Premier Of
Egypt, with, as / have said above, the
right Of vetoing not only the acts of his
exclusively native colleagues in the Egyp-
tian Cabinet. but even those Of the Nhe-
dive himself. Lady Harvey is a daughter
Of Colonel Edward Persse a distinguished
cavalry officer. owning considerable
landed property in County Galway.