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'File 73/7 I (D 19) Status of Kuwait & Baghdad Railway, and Anglo-Turkish negotiations 1911' [‎23r] (63/631)

The record is made up of 2 volumes (334 folios). It was created in 28 Jan 1911-19 Jan 1912. It was written in English and French. 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. .

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{Tteceived on the 12th February 1911 with ^Political Secretary*s letter No. 4 }
dated the 27th January 1911)
EASTEKN DEPARTMENT. [6th January.]
SECRET SERIES. Section 3,
[637]
No. 1.
Sia H. Babington Smith to Sir A. Nicolson —(Received 6th January 1911).
Ban que nationale de Turquie,
Constantinople,
SOth December 1910.
(Extract.)
I saw the Grand Vizier yesterday, and I enclose a memorandum of our
conversation.
Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , in the course of our conversation, dwelt a good deal on the
Baghdad question and on the situation in Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
He stated distinctly that he thought the railway on its present footing must be
made as far as Baghdad. This is significant in connection with the reports
which are current, that negotiations have been begun for the early construction
of the line between Helif and Baghdad, and also in connection with the para
graphs in Djavid Bey's budget statement, in which he refers to the Baghdad
question, and points out that in five years' time, the earliest date at which the
line could be completed, the surplus of the debt revenues will probably have
increased sufficiently to provide the guarantee as far as Baghdad, and that the
Germans, therefore, will lose nothing by abandoning their lien upon the
proceeds of the increased customs duties. The Grand Vizier also stated
distinctly that it would be necessary to arrive at some arrangement satisfactory
to England about the section between Baghdad and the Gulf, and expressed
his readiness to bring pressure to bear on the Germans, if necessary, in this
direction. I do not know whether the general political situation as regards
Germany makes it any more likely now that they would be prepared to come
to terms; but it is evident, in the first place, that we have no means of
preventing the German line from reaching Baghdad, and, in the second place,
that friction is likely to become more and more acute unless some settlement is
reached. Such a settlement would, in itself, improve our relations with the
Turks also, and I confess I do not see why we should not at the same time give
the Turks some satisfaction regarding Koweit, if we obtain binding engage
ments regarding its alienation or use as a " port de guerre."
I will not, however, write more on this subject, as I hope I may have the
opportunity of seeing you shortly in London.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum of Interview with Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Grand Vizier, on 29th December 1910.
I informed Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. that I was leaving for London in a few days,
and that it would be necessary to arrive at a decision regarding the future of
the National Bank. As he was aware, recent events had raised grave doubts
as to whether the bank could with advantage continue its operations. The
decision of this question would depend, in great measure, upon the prospect of
obtaining active and practical support from the Government. The bank would
never have been started unless the invitation of the Ottoman Government and
the attitude of the British Government had given it expectation of support from
both.
Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that in England there appeared to be a mistaken idea
that, because a concession had been given for the Bagdad Bailway, the ground
1757 F. D.

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Content

The volume contains correspondence, memorandums, and newspaper cuttings relating to a proposed Baghdad to Basra railway, an extension of the German Berlin to Baghdad Railway. Much of the correspondence has been forwarded to the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. by the Foreign Department of the Government of India and is between Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Francis Bertie, British Ambassador to France, Louis Mallet, Assistant Under-secretary of State for Near and Middle Eastern Affairs, Charles Marling, British Ambassador to Persia, Arthur Nicolson, Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Henry Babington Smith, President of the National Bank of Turkey, Gerard Lowther, British Ambassador to Constantinople, Rifaat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Edgar Speyer, railway financier, George Buchanan, British Ambassador to Russia, Edward Goschen, British Ambassador to Berlin, Henry Cumberbatch, British Consul General in Turkey, George Barclay, British Minister to Persia, the Board of Trade, and William Graham Greene, Permanent Secretary to the Board of Admiralty. There is also correspondence between Percy Cox, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Bushire, Rear-Admiral Edmond Slade, Stuart Knox, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain, and William Shakespear, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Kuwait.

The volume covers the discussions prior to formal negotiations between Britain and the Ottoman Turks brought about by the Baghdad Railway and its proposed extension to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The issues and subjects involved are:

  • the proposed route of the railway;
  • control and ownership of the section between Baghdad and Basra;
  • location of the terminus, and who will control it, including Slade's report (ff. 64-74) on the suitability of Basra;
  • a proposed increase to customs duty in the region;
  • irrigation of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers;
  • the contract to transport rail materials by the rivers;
  • the status of Kuwait, particularly regarding Turkish and British suzerainty and influence.

Throughout the volume there are newspaper cuttings from English periodicals that relate to the Baghdad Railway and negotiations around it.

Folio 47 is a rough sketch map of the peninsula Ras Tanurah. Folio 230 is a fold-out map of the proposed route of the railway and irrigation of the rivers.

Extent and format
2 volumes (334 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged chronologically. At the beginning (folios 2-5) is a subject index. It is in no particular order and organised under a few broad headings. The numbers refer to folio numbers of the secondary, earlier sequence.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The file consists of two volumes (parts one and two) and the foliation runs through both. The main foliation sequence commences at the title page of part one and terminates at the fifth folio from the back of part two; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and can be predominantly found 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. A second foliation sequence runs between ff. 8-291A; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence. There are the following irregularities: 7 and 7A; 13 and 13A; 15 and 15A; 16, 16A and 16B; 17 and 17A; 18, 18A and 18B; 20, 20A and 20B; 21, 21A and 21B; 52, 52A, 52B, 52C; 53, 53A, 53B and 53C; 54, 54A, 54B and 54C; 55, 55A and 55B; 56, 56A and 56B; 57 and 57A; 290 and 290A.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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'File 73/7 I (D 19) Status of Kuwait & Baghdad Railway, and Anglo-Turkish negotiations 1911' [‎23r] (63/631), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/610, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023839674.0x000039> [accessed 18 May 2024]

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