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File 3047/1909 'Railways: Asiatic Turkey; railway construction in Asia Minor' [‎33r] (70/368)

The record is made up of 1 volume (182 folios). It was created in 1908-1911. It was written in English and French. 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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3 053
[Thi s Dccuiiiesi ;, ss t as i Toperty o f His Britannic Majesty s Government.]
VIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA. [January 10.]
CONFIDENTIAL. 15^31911 Sbctiox 2.
[1074] No. 1.
Ruxine and Marmora British Development Syndicate to Sir A . Nicolson.—(Received
January 10.)
Finsbury Pavement House, London,
Dear Sir Arthur Nicolson, January 7, 1911.
YOU may remember that when I recently called on you with regard to this
syndicate, and when you kindly said you would write to our embassy in Spain with
reference to the concessions we are endeavouring to obtain there, I told you that the
syndicate had originally been formed for the purpose of trying to obtain the concession
of the Samsoun-Sivas railway from the Turkish Government.
You subsequently were good enough to write and say that you had heard the
Turks were going to make this railway themselves. The Turkish Government did
announce this as their intention, and then the Russian group with whom we are working
took action, and his Excellency M. Anatole de Moltchanoff, who is the leader of that
group, proceeded to obtain from his Government a definite promise of their support
for our Anglo-Russian group, combined in the syndicate. He went to Constantinople
about six weeks ago and saw the Russian Ambassador there, who had previously been
supporting a French group represented by a M. Salandrouse de Morny, but on receiving
formal instructions from his Government he withdrew this support and transferred it
to us. Thereupon the French group immediately left Constantinople, and with the
exception of an American group, represented by a Mr. Chester, ours is now the only
serious applicant in the field. We are informed that the proposals of the Chester
group are not to the liking of the Turks, and that Chester has no chance of getting the
business.
With regard to the Turks making it themselves, we are informed that this is pure
“ blague.” They advertised for tenders for the work, but the Government engineer
who drew up the conditions of contract deliberately put in such terms that nobody
tendered. The day after the tenders were due, an advertisement appeared saying the
time was up, and that tenders were going to be examined, and then, in spite of the
fact that there were no tenders, another Government notice appeared soon after, about
the 17th December, intimating that the Government engineers were about to leave for
the spot. M. de Moltchanoff has just been to London and informed us that the Turks
have no intention at all of attempting to make the railway, but that they have a genuine
desire that the railway should be made, as so far the Young Turks have absolutely
nothing of this sort to show for the three years they have been in office. We are
informed that there is, therefore, an excellent chance of our being able to get the
concession to build the line if we are well supported by our embassy. We are assured
of vigorous support from the Russian Embassy. Unless in the next week or so there
are changes in the Turkish Ministry—which are fully expected—and which may make
it desirable to delay matters for three or four weeks, I propose to arrive at
Constantinople about the 24th January to represent the syndicate and make formal
application along with M. de Moltchanoff.
I should be greatly obliged if you would be good enough, to instruct the British
Embassy to give us all the support possible. It will be an important piece of business,
involving about 3,000,000k, and would bring excellent orders to our manufacturers of
railway material.
Believe me, &c.
DENBIGH.
[1851 k—2]

About this item

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to the construction of railways in Asiatic Turkey, 1908-1911, as well as oil concessions in Mesopotamia.

Correspondence outlines the proposal to develop a railway from Tripoli via Homs and Deir and along the Euphrates to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , to compete with the Baghdad Railway. The company was designated 'The Anglo-Syrian Tripoli - Homs Railway and Tripoli Harbour Improvement Company'.

Correspondence also discusses the different consortia bidding for oil concessions in Mesopotamia and the relative significance of French, Russian and German involvement. Included in the volume is a letter (folios 49 - 153) from William Knox D'Arcy giving a 'List of Turkish concessions connected with oil now being sought'.

The principal correspondents in the volume include the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey) and the Ambassador to Constantinople (Sir Gerard Lowther).

Extent and format
1 volume (182 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 3047 (Railways: Asiatic Turkey) consists of 1 volume,

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 178; 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.

The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 3047/1909 'Railways: Asiatic Turkey; railway construction in Asia Minor' [‎33r] (70/368), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/166, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030544745.0x000047> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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