File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎305v] (625/799)

The Bagdad Railway contract contains every stringent condition imaginable, except
that of a monopoly. On the contrary, the Company is forbidden by Article 29 to exploit
the section from Bagdad to Bussorah, even if it were built, until the principal line from.
Konia to Bagdad is completed. Otherwise the only sphere absolutely reserved to the
Company is that from the trunk line to the sea-coast between Mersina and Tripoli.
1 u s down the Th^iis from Mosul to Bagdad, and
thence across the narrow part of the Jezire to KerbaJa, and then out into the desert on
the west. This leaves the lovyerpart of the Jezire (Irak Arabi) untapped, and Sir William
Willcocks observes that this is exactly the region through which the line ought to have
run, as it is most fertile, and with a few quite simple irrigation works ought to surpass in
richness even the valley of the Nile. It is probable that a line will be necessary for the
construction ot the irrigation works, for the purposes of which Sir William Willcocks’
services have been engaged.
In the evidence collected in the Secret Report of March 1907 Colonel Newmarch
is alone m the opinion that the swamps in the Jezire would present a serious difficulty to
railway construction. ‘ J
All the other authorities consulted recommend railway rather than river com
munication : they consider that the marshes are no serious obstacle, a great part of
eni bemg dry, except at high river, and that the irrigation works proposed would
rapn iy improve the conditions, and they are in favour of a line going east after passing
Bagdad towards Erbd, Kerkuk, and Khanikin, where there are alleged to be prospects
°f rn l et f 0l r^ & ^ and ° f a verj considerable tr ade. It is observed that the trade
oi tne wnole Bagdad Railway passes a commercial watershed at Mosul, all streams of
that town flowing down towards the Gulf, while Mr. Consul Crow’s Report shows the
gieat value of the trade and shipping at Bussorah and Bagdad. In combination with
these prospects, Sir J. Mackay s proposal for a Government guarantee of 3 per cent, on
the capital expended on the line ought to be sufficient to induce a Company to come
forwmd and the question suggested by the last paragraph of the Foreign Office
Office Memorandum is whether there is such a Company ready to undertake the work
Sublime P t W ° U d bG Premature t0 make an inti “ a tion of the nature suggested to the
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