'MEMORANDUM RESPECTING THE NAVIGATION OF THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES.' [‎47r] (94/284)

77
Tweedl ^No ^lS, hiiYe the Caiial fllled "P* 14 ma y here be ^en-
Commercial, tioned, for convenience, although having no con-
October, 31,1890 .J nection with the Dujailah Canal incident, that
works were shortly afterwards undertaken, under
the superintendence of French engineers, for the
improvement of the navigation of the Euphrates,
and were designed to render it navigable at all
seasons. These works included the cutting of
the Hillah Channel and the erection of the
Hindieh Canal barrage.
Schemes for the navigation of the Euphrates
by Turkish vessels had been mooted from time
Consul-General to time, and in 1890 the Porte were reported to
Tweedie ISfo 11
Commercial, ' under consideration a project for the
July 29,1890. establishment of a regular Turkish steam-ship
# service on that river. Early the following year
Mr. G. Mackenzie, ^r. Mackenzie (afterwards Sir G. Mackenzie)
February >, 1891. submitted to the Foreign Office a draft conces
sion, which he stated had been approved privately
at Constantinople, for the exclusive right of
working river steamers and barges on the Tigris
and Euphrates to any navigable point, as well as
on the Shatt-el-Arab. It was proposed that a
Turkish company should be formed to work the
concession and that the ships of the company
should fly the Ottoman flag and be manned by
Turks, though officered by Englishmen. Sir W.
Sir W. White, White remarked, in reference to this concession,
' 4 ' orr ion n that it was in accordance with the Turkish design
February 27.1891. _ 0
to drive the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Naviga
tion Company's steamers off the river. In the
following year the company referred to the
reported formation of a Turkish company at
Bagdad, whose shares were to be exclusively
held by Ottoman subjects. In view of the re
strictions placed upon the employment of their
two steamers, the Euphrates and Tigris Steam
Navigation Company considered that they would
be at a disadvantage in competing with the vessels
of the new company, and feared that they would
not be able to carry on their service. They
asked, therefore, that the Porte should be
urged to remove those restrictions, specified as
follows:—
1. Restriction to use of two steamers only.
2. Prohibition of navigation of the Euphrates
and of the Tigris above Bagdad.
3. Prohibition of towing of barges.
They also desired permission to employ a small
steamer or " bateau mouche " (see vizierial letter
[163—1] X
Euphrates and
Tigris Steam
Navigation
Company,
August 9 and
September 27,
1892.