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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)' [‎6r] (11/34)

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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11
3. With regard to Kathama, it is to be observed—
(a.) That a depth of 20 feet at low water is about f mile or upwards from the
shore ;
(b.) That it would he a much more expensive work to construct a wharf, alongside
which vessels could moor, at Kathama than at Kurein ;
(c.) There would be, however, plenty of room for vessels to anchor in an area of
30 feet depth and upwards at low water, about a mile off shore.
4. The whole tendency of traffic in the present day is to bring vessels alongside
wharves or into floating docks, with railway communication alongside, so that tran
shipment to small vessels, lighters, or boats is avoided, and it is especially necessary to
study the convenience of passengers.
5. The question of the expense of fitting a terminal port for traffic is small in
comparison with the expense of a railway, and the advantage of a railway is greatly
reduced if a convenient terminal port cannot be constructed. Such a convenient
terminal port couid be made at Kurein at probably a very much less cost than at
Kathama.
6. In placing the above considerations before the Secretary of State, my Lords do
not wish it to be understood that they advocate the construction of a harbour either at
Kurein or Kathama at the present moment.
This is a question of policy which involves much wider issues.
As, however, the subject is engaging the attention of the Government of India,
Mr. Morley may think it desirable that they should be in possjssion of the facts set forth
above, which are material to a full consideration of the question.
I am, &c.
(Signed) EVAN MACGREGOR.
Inclosure 3 in No. 4.
Vice-Admiral Foe to Government of India.
f Confidential.)
“ Hermes,” at Kurrachee, May 19, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to submit the following remarks on the inner harbour at
Kurein just to the south-west of Koweit, for the information of his Excellency the
Viceroy and Governor-General in Council. I did not refer to this matter in my
recent report on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. of the 26th ultimo, as I did not attach much
importance to it; but, in view of the opinion expressed in paragraph 25 of
Confidential Memorandum of information regarding external affairs in the Persian
Gulf for the month of March last by the Captain of the R.LM.S. “Investigator,’'
“ that the anchorage in question is the real harbour of Koweit, and that the adjacent
foreshore would be the proper site for a railway station, shouM a railway ever come to
Koweit,” I feel bound to represent that I do not concur in this opinion, for the reasons
stated hereafter.
2. The deep-water anchorage off Kurein is shown in our old Admiralty chart, but
the recent survey by the “ Investigator ” has increased our knowledge very greatly, and
has therefore drawn attention to it.
3. While there is no doubt that at Kurein there is a narrow stretch of deep water
and good anchorage carrying an average depth of about 25 feet for a length of about
1 mile (2,000 yards) and of about 21 to 22 feet for a further distance of 3 cables
(600 yards), the width of the anchorage between the 3-fathom lines is nowhere more
than 2| cables (500 yards), and is more generally only 2 cables (400 yards), and to
enter this anchorage there is not more than 13 feet at low water, and that' only in a
very narrow channel, and 23 feet at high-water springs, and this channel is nearly a mile
(1,800 yards) long.
4. Bearing these facts in mind, and that a railway from Bagdad to Koweit, or
any other deep-water terminus in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , would only be practicable as a
commercial transaction if there was a vastly increased amount of produce to be
disposed of, and that this could only be the result of a gigantic scheme of irrigation;
and, further, considering that, if this vast increase of produce should become °a tact’
small steamers would be of no use to remove it, the whole tendency of the time being

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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)' [‎6r] (11/34), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B166a, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026639614.0x00000c> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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