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File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎172v] (353/799)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (391 folios). It was created in 1908-1910. 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. .

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further in the matter. Sir Edward Grey had hitherto not said anything to the German
Government, except that he felt compelled to make his consent to the increase of the
customs duties dependent on an agreement in regard to the Bagdad Railway, and that
one of the difficulties in the way of the participation of Great Britain in the schema
lay in the necessity for an agreement with Russia and France on the subject. He ha
said, however, that he would endeavour to discover a solution, and he had at once
communicated with M. Isvolsky.
Sir Arthur Nicolson was further instructed to remind M. Isvolsky that the belief
as to the terms to which Germany might be disposed to agree was not derived from
negotiations with the German Government, as no such negotiations had taken place,
hut was based on information obtained through unofficial channels.
Sir Edward Grey considered that it was essential that the Russian Government
should arrive at a decision as to the conditions on which they would be prepared to
participate in the construction of the line north of Bagdad Such conditions had not
yet been communicated to His Majesty’s Government. His Majesty’s Government had
always demanded that the control and construction of the railway south of Bagdad
should be in their hands, and they could not be satisfied with less than this.
The matter had become one of the greatest importance to British interests. The
Turkish Government were commencing irrigation works south of Bagdad, and it was
probable that as a result of these works the rivers would become un-navigable from
want of water. The transpoit by river of the trade with India, which had been in
British hands for over fifty years, would consequently be rendered impracticable and,
until the railway was built, no other means of transport would be available. It seemed,
moreover, a matter of absolute certainty that the railway would be built at some future
time whether England and Russia participated in its construction or not. His
Majesty’s Government must, for the above-mentioned reasons, give close consideration
to the present situation and the offer which they had received. They desired, however,
to learn the views of the Russian Government before taking any further action in the
matter.
Paris, November 24, 1909.
In closure 2 in No. 1.
Fuither Memorandum communicated to French Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
HIS Majesty s Government have as yet returned no reply to the German proposal
put forward by Mr. Gwinner, the substance of which has been communicated to the
rench and Russian Governments. This proposal represents the minimum which could
be accepted as a satisfaction to public opinion in Great Britain and as a safeguard to
British interests. His Majesty’s Government would be willing to waive their interests
m le me to t e north of Bagdad if, by so doing, they could arrive at an agreement in
regard to the .southern portion, although the British group interested in the railway
have urged them to endeavour to obtain a concession for the construction of a branch
line to connect Bagdad with Khanikin. His Majesty’s Government realise, however,
that such a line, terminating as it would at a locality on the limit of the Russian sphere
ot interests m Persia, might affect Russian interests, and, though they would be glad to
secure a concession for such a line or to participate with Russia in its construction and
control they have so far not given any support to such a proposal, and they will
retrain from doing so unless they are assured of the concurrence of the Russian
Government.
I? -i ihe ^ erman Government are cognisant of the proposals made by the Bagdad
Railway Company, but His Majesty’s Government are disposed to leave it to the
English group interested to conduct the negotiations in regard thereto on a purely
commercial basis. r j
His Majesty’s Government have been informed of the views of the Russian
overnmen in regard to their participation in the railway, but the matter is somewhat
urgent, as a decision m regard to the question of the increase of the Turkish customs
u ies . cai }T at . e delayed indefinitely. Ihe refusal of the German Government to
recognise die interests of Russia in the Russian sphere of influence in Persia caused
rr 6 tW ° yearS ago of the I{llssian negotiations with Germany. Though
His Majesty s Government would naturally raise no objection to the withdrawal by

About this item

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, newspaper cuttings, maps and notes, relating to negotiations over the proposed Berlin to Baghdad Railway in the period 1903-1907.

The discussion in the volume relates to the economic, commercial, political and military considerations impinging on British strategy for the international negotiations over the development of a railway to Baghdad in particular.

Further discussion surrounds the motivations and strategies of British competitors in the area; included in the volume are four maps.

The principal correspondents in the volume include the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Lord Lansdowne, Sir Edward Grey), His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople (Sir Nicholas O'Connor), the Under Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Charles Hardinge, Sir Thomas Henry Sanderson), and for India (Earl Percy, Sir Arthur Godley), the Viceroy of India (Lord Curzon of Keddleston), the Secretary to the Political and Secret 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. (Sir Richmond Richie) and the London Manager of the Imperial Bank of Persia (George Newell).

Extent and format
1 volume (391 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 2764 (Bagdad Railway) consists of five volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/56-60. The volumes are divided into five parts with each part comprising one volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 392; 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 329-358; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. The foliation sequence does not include the front cover.

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English in Latin script
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File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎172v] (353/799), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/57, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026492732.0x00009a> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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