'File 73/7 V (D 38) Status of Kuwait, Anglo-Turkish Convention' [‎42v] (97/216)

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absolutely indispensable that British participation in the ports should be fixed
in precise terms in the convention itself at 40 per cent, of the whole, and that
German participation in the navigation should be expressly limited in the con
vention itself to a stated maximum ; they are further of opinion that the real
facts of the agreement would have to be revealed eventually in Parliament
and that no object would therefore be gained by their temporary obscuration.
If, however, the German Government are anxious to maintain a spectacular
parallel, perhaps the wording of article 4, clause {b) oi the counter-draft now
enclosed might serve the purpose in view. In agreeing not to oppose German
participation, to the extent indicated, in the Eiver Navigation Company, His
Majesty v s Government take formal note of the assurances contained in the
German Ambassador's communication of the 16th July, 1913, to the effect that
the German Government does not aim at any combination which could endanger
effective British control of the navigation and that the German Government
would therefore be prepared to receive favourably any proposals about voting
arrangements which would seem to His Majesty's Government desirable in
order to assure the effective British control of the Kiver Navigation Company.
It will be observed that clause (c) (i) of article 4 has been amended in form,
and that the time limit of five years is re-inserted. His Majesty's Government
attach cardinal importance to a specific limitation in the duration of the rights
of the Baghdad Railway Company under article 9 of the convention of 1903 ;
they must, in pursuance of section 3 of the memorandum of the 7th May, 1913,
continue to press for such a limitation, which is not moreover inconsistent with
the term of agreement between the Baghdad Railway Company and either the
" Societe de Transports fluviaux " or Messrs. Lynch Brothers.
Sir E. Grey would add that he understands that Messrs. Lynch Brothers
are prepared, so far as they are concerned, to conclude an arrangement such
as that contemplated under article 4, clause (c) (ii).
The changes in article 5 (h) have already been explained in substance
in Sir E. Grey's memorandum of the 25th November, 1913 ; slight verbal changes
have since been made with the object of greater precision.
His Majesty's Government, after the most careful consideration, are not
able .to agree to stipulations such as are contained in articles 5-A and 7 of the
German counter-draft of the 3rd November; but they would be willing to agree
that article 6 of the British counter-draft should be interpreted, so far as possible,
in the light of the recommendations of the 9th September, 1913, and that these
recommendations should be embodied in the explanatory note : they understand,
however, from Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. that the specific revenues named in section II of
those recommendations have already been earmarked by anticipation for another
purpose a subject upon which Djavid Bey may pobsibly be able to throw more
light.
While resolutely opposed, for the practical reasons explained in Sir E Grey 's
memorandum of the 18th September, 1913, to the system of dual control which a
comite de surveillance would entail. Hi 1 , Majesty's Government have made a
considerable modification in the wording of article 6 in order to meet the criti
cisms of the German Government, and they earnestly trust that the draft in its
present form will be acceptable. A copy of the Anglo-Turkish declaration, re-
closed 18 enjoyed by the nationals of the Treaty Powers in Turkey, is em
In order that the document which formed the enclosure in Sir E. Grey's
ZTi^r 0f ^ f * NoveinW ' 191 3 3 may exactly correspond with the pre
sent British counter-draft, a revised version is transmitted herewith.
comDlet^alTX: a^w.'' 6 expr ^ sin g the ^P 6 that t^se negotiations may be
Hi" Maiestv's P a 0 " erman Convention signed in the course of next month,
enimen to Vhe ZfrT nt ^ uI o again dTaw ^e attention of the German Gov-
with on a svmrwtlipHf 8 a 'i i, 6 ^"J^na-Aidin Railway Company, which, if dealt
bute to the nhWf K fi/ 0 ?; u aSIR WOuld ' the y C0n fidently believe, contri-
Sway systems! ^ b0th of the Smyrna-Aidin and the Anatolian
Foreign Office,
Ikcemher 15,1913..