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File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎274r] (558/799)

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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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APPENDIX No. I.
Notes of information contained in the evidence recorded by the Ssle t Committee.
Surveys then existing.
(Q. 48—50.) Colonel Chesney surveyed tlie 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 two inches to the mile, and these surveys were then in possession of the Ad
miralty.
(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, App. 4. Mr. W. J. Maxwell was sent out in 1870 to make surveys. He was
employed by Mr. Telford McNeill and by Messrs. Cutbill, Sons and DeLundo. On the
Euphrates did not apparenty go south of Belis.
(Q. 58.) Mr. Latham made a reconnaissance survey from Alexandretta to Basrah.
(Q. 502.) Captain Felix Jones, at the time of the Persian Expedition, made a survey of
the Basrah Bar. J
Q. 1347.) Mr. Andrews stated that existing surveys of the difficult (ne., Alexandretta-
Aleppo) portions of the line were sufficiently detailed to enable a contractor to make an cffer.
(Q. 2069.) Sir R. Burton says that an American, Colonel Romer, made a survey of the
country to Tyre and Tripolis.
(Q. 2109.) This survey was contradicted by a survey made for the Due deLuynes, but
Sir R. Burton believed in Colonel Romer’s work.
Estimated cost.
(Q. 432.) Mr. Telford estimated the cost of a 4' 8 ' gauge railway, including stations, roll
ing stock, etc., at—
Alexandretta to Aleppo
Aleppo to Euphrates
Euphrates to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
£
10,000 a mile.
6,500
8,000
The last item to include two bridges on the Euphrates. It seems that Mr. McNeill had
never seen the site of the lower bridge.
The estimates were said to be both careful and generous.
A landing stage at Alexandretta would cost £ 50,000.
(Q. 831.) Sir John McNeill said he would make a three-foot gauge line from Alexandretta
to the Gulf for 6|- millions, including rol ing-stock and interest on capital during construction.
(Page 59.) Sir John McNeill gives details of his scheme and says that he will work as
engineer and take payment in shares at par.
(Q. 1966.) Mr, Robert Fairlie describes his idea of a railway which could be made for five
millions.
Prospect of Returns.
(Q. 150.) Colonel Chesney thought that the railway would give a certain return.
(Q. 750.) Mr. Lynch said that the country on the right bank of the Euphrates only wants
water to make it productive; the Arabs find water at 12 feet.
(Q. 415.) Captain Felix Jones says that if the railway was under British management, the
country would at once become populous. Exp esses this opinion in spite of Sir H. Rawlinson’s
opinion to the contrary, because from Babylon to Belis there are the remains of large irrigating
works, which time has scarcely ruined in any sense, showing that the country must have had
enormous population.
(Q. 487.) Considers Tigris less well-cultivated than Euphrates Valley.
(Q. 8.) Sir H. Rawlinson was against the Euphrates line, because he said the country
could never be rich.
13 F. D,

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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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File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎274r] (558/799), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/57, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026492733.0x00009f> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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