File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎235r] (478/799)

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tend to deter the German Company from prosecuting its plans for further railway
development in that region. ^ It is clear that if the Euphrates Valley Railway reaches
Hit before the German Railway reaches El Badj, the former Company will be in a
^position to offer terms which could be accepted by no one else.
^ 11. As the possession by the Germans of the Aleppo-Alexandretta section would
injure the westward traffic along^ a Euphrates valley railway, so the possession of the
Sadija-Khanakm branch would injure all British trade with Persia. It is therefore
most impoi tant that we should obtain control of this section if possible. The control of
the Bagdad—Keibela—Bussorah section is not so important commercially if there is an
alternate line on the other bank of the Euphrates, but the control of this section is
required on political grounds which have many times been discussed.
12. Sii William Willcocks has represented to the Minister for Public Works the
necessity which exists for the lurkish Government to retain freedom of action in the
matter of the Aleppo—Alexandretta Railway. Sir William has also written a “private”
Memorandum containing his views on this railway. I inclose a copy of this document as
Appendix No. 3. I believe that Sir William has sent a copy of this document to some of
his capitalist friends in England with a view to stimulating their interest in a scheme
which he intends to urge on the attention of financiers when he visits England this
summer.
13. The arguments which I have tried to develop may be briefly summarized as
follows :—
(1.) The regeneration of Turkey depends upon financial assistance to be obtained
from Mesopotamia.
(2.)^ The success of irrigation works in Mesopotamia depends upon direct railway
communication with the Mediterranean.
(3.) If the Germans obtain the management of the Aleppo-Alexandretta line they
will be able to reap large profits, which fairly belong to the irrigation works.
(4.) If the port of Alexandretta is also in their hands their position will be even
more dominant.
(5.) Neither the German nor the French Concessions make it impossible for the
Turkish Government to make a railway from Aleppo to Alexandretta, which can be
under British management.
(6.) There is nothing to prevent a direct Bagdad-Aleppo line.
(7.) The Germans in possession of the Khanakin-Sadija branch will be able to tax
our trade with Persia.
(8.) The Germans in possession of the Bagdad-Bussorah section will be able to tax
all our trade with India and our sea-borne trade with Europe unless we have an alternative
line on the left bank of the Euphrates.
(9.) Until improvements are made, steamer freights are not likely materially to
decrease.
(10.) The irrigation of Mesopotamia will be a protection for India against famine.
(11.) This Report is only written from the commercial point of view.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. RAMSAY, Lieutenant-Colonel, 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.
in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. , and His Britannic Majesty’s
Consul-General, Bagdad.
Appendix No. 1.
Notes of Information contained in the Evidence recorded, by the Select Committee.
Surveys then Existing.
Q. 48-50.—Colonel Chesney surveyed the whole route from the Mediterranean to
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; he surveyed and mapped the country from the Mediterranean to the
Euphrates on the scale of 2 inches to the mile, and these surveys were then in possession
of the Admiralty.
Q. 376.—In 1857 and 1865 Mr. Telford McNeill surveyed the harbour of Seleucia,
and for a railway from there to Aleppo via Antioch.
Q. 668.—Mr. Thomas K. Lynch presented to the Geographical Society a map of
the country between Hilla and Meshed (Nedjef), he thinks in 1845.
Page 61, Appendix 4.—Mr. W\ J. Maxwell was sent out in 1870 to make surveys.
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