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Bagdad [Baghdad] - Basra Railway [9r] (5/10)
The record is made up of 1 volume (5 folios). It was created in 6 Jun 1912. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
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5
Exports from Bagdad.
£
To—United Kingdom - - - 330,061
France - - - - 132,131
Austria-Hungary _ _ _ 14,51)1
Belgium - - - - 3,077
Germany - - - 30,441
United States of America - - - 155,049
India, China, and Japan - - 87,478
The bulk of the British and Indian imports seems to be in cotton
goods, twist and woollens, and that of the exports carpets, wool, opium and
hides.
It is, however, possible that cotton will be grown and pressed in
Mesopotamia and will find its way into eastern markets, and the mineral
resources of the country (especially oil) may also add to the trade eastwards.
But, speaking generally, it does not seem certain that the volume of trade
resulting from the development of Mesopotamia will necessitate the
construction of the Gulf se\ moii if India is not to lose its share, and it is
probable that India will retain her share whether it is built or not.
But, of course, it is not possible to assume that the railway will never
be built. From the difficulty which it is understood that the Germans have
had in disposing of the bonds of the other sections of the Bagdad Railway,
and from their willingness to part with their rights in the Gulf section, it
may, indeed, be inferred that they will be in no hurry to undertake the
latter, while the Turks themselves have neither the money nor the means of
obtaining it. The construction will therefore be postponed, but as the line
is of military and political importance to Turkey—it will eventually be built
In the interval much may have happened in Mesopotamia, as the Viceroy
has reminded us, and it is not easy to foresee the conditions that will then
exist. But, supposing that the railway is worked on commercial lines, and
that the clause precluding differential tariffs is still operative, it does not
appear, from the point of view of our trade, that the fact of our having no
share in it will be a disadvantage. But, of course, it may not be run on
commercial lines. Protected by their kilometric guarantees the Germans
may prefer to let it rust—it would always be available for Turkish military
purposes-- and attract all the tratlic to the Northern section. In that case, too,
it does not appear that, provided the river were kept free, we should be any
worse off commercially than if the line did not exist at all. Politically, no
doubt, we should be, because the Turkish consolidation would be effected,
and if the railway were built under German auspices, German influence
would be brought very near to the Gulf. But provided that we can ensure
that the line will not be carried beyond Basra or, if so, only on terms
agreeable to Great Britain, and provided that we have in the meantime
consolidated our own position in the Gulf, that risk might fairly be taken.
The one serious drawback would be that referred to under head (c) on
page 2--the danger of the extinction of the British carrying trade between
India and Bagdad. Although this disadvantage might to some extent be
compensated by the advantages that might accrue to other branches of trade,
it is a very real one and would have to be faced. (It could only be met,
apparently, by a corresponding intervvorking between steamships and railway
S. 169. B
About this item
- Content
This file is a report written by Sir Frederic Arthur Hirtzel of the Political Department of the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , regarding the Bagdad [Baghdad]-Basra railway scheme.
The report asseses the political and commerical implications of the contruction of the Gulf section of the railway scheme and whether, and in partnership with whom, the British Government should participate in funding it. The report discusses neogtiations between the British and Turkish (Ottoman) Governments and the various proposals offered by either side.
The file is divided up as follows:
I. The present position;
II. The objections to the last proposals made by His Majesty's Government;
III. The view of the Board of Trade;
IV. The importance of the river;
V. Conclusions;
VI. The practicability of obtaining 50 per cent;
VII. The procedure to be adopted now;
VIII. The alternative.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (5 folios)
- Arrangement
The file is divided up into thematic sections as outlined in the scope and content.
- Physical characteristics
The file is contained within a bound volume that contains a number of other files.
Foliation: The foliation for this report commences at f 7, and terminates at f 11, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 7-89; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the bottom right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/B188
- Title
- Bagdad [Baghdad] - Basra Railway
- Pages
- 7r:11v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence