'Persian Gulf précis. (Parts I and II)' [‎38v] (76/120)

4
Bntish Memorandum, dated 29tli
July 1911.
(5) Turkey must therefore re
nounce all claim to the whole penin
sula of Katar including El Bida.
(c) Definite renunciation of
Turkish claims to Bahrain and adja
cent islands.
(d) Kuwait.
Complete autonomy but recogni
tion of Turkish suzerainty. Recog
nition by the Porte of validity of
certain agreements between Great
Britain and Kuwait, inclusion of
Warba and Bubiyan within Kuwait
limits and withdrawal of Turkish
military posts.
(e) Riverain commission for Shatt-
el-Arab.
Turco-British Commission.
Porte's reply, dated loth April 1912.
(a) & {h) Absolute claim to Katar.
(c) Admits British claim to Bahrain
subject to condition as to Consular
protection.
(d) Forte evades a direct answer, but
claims Kuwait as part of the Ottoman
Empire more or less conditionally.
(e) Ottoman Commission with
British Engineer on it in the service of
Turkish Government, object being to
avoid appearance of internationalisa-
tion.
(/) Porte desires to undertake
pilotage, &c., in Turkish waters and is
silent as to the Gulf.
(g) Claim with Great Britain to joint
policing of the Gulf.
(/) Pilotage, &c., in Gulf. Turkish
recognition of British right to
control, surveying, lighting, buoyage,
pilotage and quarantine.
fer) Policing of the Gulf.
Turkey to recognise British right
to police waters of Gulf.
6. The effect of the Turkish counter-proposal to distribute the capital
I. Baghdad Railway. Alternative proposals in the Baghdad-Basrah SCCtion CCjUally
consequent on the Porte's reply. between Turkey, France, Germany and
England, in the proportion of 25 per cent, each, the chairmanship and casting
vote being reserved to Turkey, was to place control in the hands of the Turco-
German group. The British proposal contemplated the inclusion of France
and Russia. To Erance, Turkey made no objection, but strongly objected to
the inclusion of Russia. If Russia insisted on participating in the event of
Erench participation, while Turkey accepted the latter but not the former, the
result would be a deadlock, of which the only solution was the elimination
of both. The Turkish counter-proposal afforded an opportunity for reverting
to the original idea of 50 per cent. British participation, the balance being
divided between Turkey and Germany.
In supporting this proposal, which it was considered would practi
cally ensure against differentiation in rates. His Excellency the Viceroy
urged that, while endeavouring by every means to consolidate our position
and establish a lien for the future, no concession in Mesopotamia or elsewhere
should be permitted to weaken our predominant position in the Gulf.
Further consideration, however, proved that it would be difficult, if not
impossible, to obtain Turkey's consent to a 50 per cent, participation and His
Majesty's Government inclined to the opinion that in the circumstances it was
preferable to stand out altogether giving Turkey a free hand on the railway
and the increase in her customs duty in return for—
(1) full settlement of all Gulf and river questions including the aquatic
and land boundary in the region of Mohammerah;
(2) convention against differential rates on the whole Baghdad Railway
system;
(3) continuation of railway to Gulf by arrangement with His Majesty's
Government;
(4) agreement to ensure that competition by river shall not be blocked
by Turkish Government in favour of railway traffic.
i.