'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)' [‎5v] (10/34)

10
No. 4.
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. to Foreign Office.—{Received August 1.)
THE Under-Secretary of State for India presents his compliments to the Under
secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and, by direction of Mr. Secretary Morley,
forwards herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State, copy of a Secret
despatch to the Government of India, dated the 20th instant, with inclosures, relative
to the relative merits of Kurein and Kathama as terminal stations for a railway from
the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
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. , July 31, 1906.
Inclosure 1 in No. 4.
Mr. Morley to Government of India.
(Secret.)
My Lord, 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. , July 20, 1906.
WITH reference to the letter from the Naval Commander-in-chief on the East
Indies Station to the Secretary to your Excellency’s Government in the Foreign Depart
ment of the 19th May last, I inclose herewith, for the information of the Government
of India, a copy of a letter from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the subject
of the relative merits of Kurein and Kathama as terminal stations for a railway fro n the
Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
I have, &c.
(Signed) JOHN MORLEY.
Inclosure 2 in No. 4.
Admiralty to 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, Admiralty, July 11, 1906.
I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiraltv to forward here
with, for the information of the Secretary of State for India in Council, copy of a
letter which has been addressed to the Indian Government by the Commander-in-
chief on the East Indies Station, stating his views regarding the possibilities of Kurein
and Kathama as terminal stations for a railway from the Mediterranean to the Persian
Gulf.
2. Their Lordships’ views are not wholly in accord with those of the Commander-
in-chief regarding the hydrographic and commercial considerations involved.
Kurein Harbour, as shown in chart No. 3571, possesses the following
advantages:—
(a.) A wharf 1 mile in length, or a series of smaller w harves of that length, could
be constructed, with depths of not less than 25 feet alongside at low water.
(b.) A judicious arrangement of beacons wmuld enable a vessel to use a channel
to this wharf of a depth of not less than 14 feet of water at low-water springs, of
21 feet at high-water neaps, and 24 feet at high-water springs.
(c.) The depth of this channel it would not be difficult to increase to 20 feet at
low-water springs, and it is possible even greater depth could be obtained at
some cost.
(d.) The berths alongside the wharf would be perfectly secure at all times.
(e.) A railway could run down to the wharf, and passengers or goods be embarked
or disembarked without delay.
A rough idea of what is meant is shown on the attached cutting from chart
No. 3571.