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'Collection of papers respecting the attitude of His Majesty's Government in regard to the Bagdad Railway and the Purchase of Land at Koweit (amended version)' [‎5r] (9/34)

The record is made up of 1 file (17 folios). It was created in Sep 1907. 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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9
the measures which will be required in order to ensure the maintenance of law and order
in those districts. We anticipate that, when once definite construction has commenced,
a more or less gradual process of interference by Germany will ensue in the administra
tion of those portions of the Turkish Empire through which the railway will pass. In
time this process can have but one result, namely, the consolidation of German influence
throughout this vast and important territory, and the eventual passing into German
hands of all real power in this particular zone. For the maintenance of order local forces,
doubtless officered and controlled by Germany at the expense of Turkey, would have to
he kept up, and in this connection the political importance of the existing Haidar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. -
Eregli line merits serious attention. By means of this line the greater part of Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey.
is brought within the German sphere of influence, and the Osmanli inhabitants of this
region, who are capable of being converted into fighting material of unrivalled value,
would doubtless form the basis of the forces which would be recruited for the purpose of
maintaining order. The rapid extension of the Hedjaz Railway, and its linking up with
the Bagdad line, would enable the Turkish troops to be concentrated either on the
western or easlern frontiers of the Sultan’s dominions, and our position in Egypt and at
Aden, and even the Red Sea route to India, would be threatened, while it would be more
difficult for the Arabs to make head against the power of the Porte.
I*. The Government of India cannot regard with equanimity the possible creation
of a situation such as that sketched above. With the concentration of so much power
in German hands, and with the shadow of an eventual Russo-German alliance looming
in the distance, there would be ground for serious apprehension, and a large increase to
the military expenditure of the United Kingdom would be inevitable.
14. These considerations have led us to the opinion that in the interests of India it
is necessary that we should no longer confine ourselves to an attitude of passive expecta
tion in the hope that the progress of the line may be stopped by natural, political, or
financial obstacles; that it is hopeless to attempt to block the scheme by any action
within our power; and that it is therefore obligatory to secure such an interest in the
undertaking as may minimize the risks of its falling under the control of a single Power,
or being utilized as a means of overthrowing our present predominant position in the
Gulf and of menacing India.
15. His Majesty’s Government have no doubt already considered in what manner a
share in this great enterprise may be secured, if this is still practicable. In time of
peace the control of the south-eastern portion of the line would materially add to our
prestige in the Gulf. In the event of future war, however, it would certainly not provide
us with a guarantee of protection while, on the other hand, there would be nothing to
prevent our particular section from being used by their enemies at their will. In our
opinion, our interests can be most effectively safeguarded by some arrangement that will
enable the British Government to take part in the scheme as a whole. By the adoption
of such a course w r e should, among other things, pave the way for the employment of
British officers for the maintenance of order, and the pre-eminent faculty which English
men possess for the management of Asiatics might be expected soon to secure tor us
the predominant share of these duties in the regions traversed by the line. ^ It has been
proved again and again that Englishmen can work in climates where Germans can
barely exist, and we have the great advantage of being able to draw on India for cheap
military material.
Ifi. We would therefore, in the event of no decision having as yet been arrived at
on the subject of British participation in the railway, venture strongly to recommend
that every effort should be made to obtain the largest possible share in the whole project
from Eregli onwards. As an alternative, but only in the event of this proving impracti
cable, we would advocate that control of the Bagdad-Bussorah Gulf section and of the
port upon the Gulf should be secured for the British Government.
We have, &c.
(Signed) MINTO.
KITCHENER.
A. T. ARUNDEL.
DENZIL IBBETSON.
H. EilLE RICHARDS
E. N. BAKER.
C. H. SCO IT.
C. L. TUPPER.

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Content

The document, printed for the use of the Foreign Office, is a collection of letters and dispatches from 3 March 1904 to 16 September 1907, between 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. and the Government of India on the purchase of land in Kuwait for the Baghdad Railway.

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1 file (17 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at f 84, and terminates at f 100, since it is part of a larger physical volume; 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 the bottom right-hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. These numbers are written in pencil, but are not circled.

Pagination: This section of the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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'Collection of papers respecting the attitude of His Majesty's Government in regard to the Bagdad Railway and the Purchase of Land at Koweit (amended version)' [‎5r] (9/34), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B166a, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026639614.0x00000a> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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