File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎112r] (232/799)

cellency would recognize that under the old regime British trade and
en erprise in Turkey had met with marked hostility on the part of
Uie ialace. Since the institution of the new regime requests for
Concessions for railways, for navigation, and for working petroleum
had been submitted to the Sublime Porte by His Maiesty’s Em-
assy at Constantinople without the imposition of terms which
could in any way be regarded as onerous or disadvantageous to
ui ey. he Ottoman G-overnment had in this manner an oppor
tunity of repairing the injustice inflicted on British trade in the
past, and, in view of the support which His Majesty's Government
durin^Yim ^°- ? le „“® w r ®o im ? fronl the very first, and especially
wnnhf 1 I 8 ’ 8 / th , e t ? aSt y mter ’ the ^ h °P ed tllat tllis opportunity
Id not be lost, and that the Ottoman Government would now be
a InV 0 g i ra ^ "T 16 . re( l I P rocit y o f treatment. I added that the
wnn flT >y the m 0rte , ? f ? favou rable attitude towards these matters
in tlll 6 C0BSlde ’’ a f , f e influence with His Majesty’s Government
increase ” tual deCIS10n 011 the fluestion of the 4 per cent.
i r Slr Lo 'v tller was authorized to discuss the question of the customs
tX M ~ dUm a " d 0t e verba! statement made
Meanwhile there were signs that the Turkish Government had been
mpressed by the British application to build an independent railway from
tlmSa^ 7 Izier oomplained of the expense Sir G. Lowther,
-ba^dacl it ail vi ay to the Turkish Exchequer, and talked of haying only No. 839,
a nairovy-gauge line built. He expressed himself in favour of an arrant 0ct ober n, 1901
ment being come to between the Germans and the English for the con-
stiucdon of the remaining sections, and said he had instructed Mahmoud
Shefket Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to approach the German Ambassador on the subject
M. Isvolsky at a later date communicated to Sir A. Nicolson some infor
mation he had received to the effect that Hilmi Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had really not been
favouiably impressed by the British project, though he admitted that it
would piobably be pleasing to the Turkish Parliament, in view- of the fact
ha no guarantees were required. He had, in order to block an exclusively
British pioject, suggested to the German Ambassador whether the German
Railway Company would not be disposed to form a combination for the
BaL 86 MaLf n -f 1 w 7 i"’ 11 ! 1 Z 1 ' 611011 and En S lish concessionaires.
Baion M, rscliall said that he had no objection to such a combination,
piovidea that no further difficulties were raised in regard to the Boulgourlou-
4i i_ section.^ He would he prepared in such circumstances to recommend
the combination which Hilmi Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. suggested.
In October Sir W. Willcocks arrived in Constantinople from Mesopo
tamia, and, m an official report to the Minister of Public Works, advocated in
the strongest terms the construction of a railway from Bagdad to Hit
Hamascus, and Inpoli as the best means of developing Mesopotamia. On
reaching London later on he explained his views and reasons for advocating
the Hit line to Sir C. Hardmge, and, though His Majesty’s Government saw
no reason to alter the attitude they had adopted in the matter two months
earlier, it is possible that Sir W. M illcocks’ strong support of this project
may have disposed the Bagdad Hailway Company to British participation by
presenting to them the possibility that His Majesty’s Government mi Hit be
compelled to throw their whole weight into the Hit line.
While in Constantinople, Sir W. Wiilcocks informed the Turkish
Government in writing that the irrigation works proposed in Mesopotamia
might m five or ten years’time have the result of making the Euphrates
and Tigris rivers non-navigable. This statement had a serious effect on the
Lynch negotiations then pending, and the possibility contemplated made it
tue . mo . re ur gent for His Majesty’s Government to secure adequate partici
pation in the railway schemes of Mesopotamia.
^. n ^ ie October the Grand Vizier informed His Majesty’s Charge
a Affaires that the Germans were willing to admit British participation “on
the basis of equality of representation on the Board,” and a w'eek later
[2577 ee —1] q
Sir A. Nicolson,
No. 610,
November 16,
1909.
Sir G. Lowther,
No. 849,
October 15, 190i
Mr. Marling-,
No. 348,
Telegraphic,
November 2,
1909.
Lynch Conces
sion.
Mr. Marling,
No. 346,
Teleg'raphic,
October 31, 1909