Agreement Between Great Britain and Sweden Relating to the Suppression of the Capitulations in Egypt (1921)

An agreement concluded between the British and Swedish governments in Stockholm on 8 July 1921, in order to regulate legal relations between Swedish citizens and the court system in Egypt. Ratifications were not exchanged for this agreement, since that was not required by its provisions, and the agreement went into effect. It was registered in the League of Nations Treaty Series on 19 July 1921.

Background
The Capitulations system has been introduced into the legal system of the Ottoman Empire and some other Middle Eastern countries as a result of western pressure. This system provides that in case a foreign citizen was charged with a crime, he or she shall not be tried by the local legal system, but be tried by a special court to consist of foreign judges, in accordance with his country's laws.

The Capitulations system also prevailed in Egypt, which was under actual British rule from 1882 onward. Following the First World War, pressure was mounting on the British authorities in Egypt to grant greater freedom of action to the Egyptian government in matters of control over its own legal system. As a result, the British government agreed to modify some legal arrangements.

Terms of the agreement
In article 1, the Swedish government renounced all privileges to its citizens in Egypt in exchange for their protection under the British system. Article 2 stipulated for the abolition of Swedish consular courts throughout Egypt. Article 3 stipulated that Swedish citizens in Egypt shall enjoy the same privileges as British citizens. Article 4 stipulated that Swedish consular agents shall retain their diplomatic privileges as before. Article 5 determined which Anglo-Swedish treaties shall remain valid under the new arrangements.