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File 3047/1909 'Railways: Asiatic Turkey; railway construction in Asia Minor' [‎80r] (164/368)

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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V
/q,
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
connection with this subject.
Previous to his departure for St. Peters burgh, Count Bench endorff, the Russian
Ambassador here, received Colonel Massy and myself, and was good enough to promise
us that he would write to the Foreign Minister at St. Petersburgh regarding Colonel
Massy’s mission, to which he wished every success. Colonel Massy went to St. Peters-
burgh and remained there nearly three weeks. He was successful in forming a group
of four or five very highly placed Russian gentlemen, who have combined for the
purpose of obtaining the concession of the Samsun-Sivas Railway in combination with
the Euxine-Marmora Syndicate.
Previous to his departure from St. Petersburgh he had an interview with the
Russian Ambassador and told him everything that had taken place, and he understood
from his Excellency that he himself would speak to M. Stolypine in this connection as
soon as opportunity might offer. Colonel Massy speaks in terms of warm gratitude of
the kindness and consideration shown him by his Excellency.
Since Colonel Massy’s return we have had a telegram from the Russian gentlemen
in question, stating that they had received from M. Stolypine assurances of the support
of his Government, and that they had arranged on Wednesday, the 6 th April last, to
visit the British Ambassador and to inform him as to what had occurred.
The two gentlemen in question, Prince Galitziue (brother of Prince Boris Galitzine),
and M. Moltchanoff, who is the head of the Russian commercial fleet, have now
telegraphed that they propose arriving in London in connection with this business
next week. They will presumably be officially credited to their own embassy in
London. They intend, after leaving London, to proceed at once to Constantinople, and
to endeavour there by diplomatic agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. to obtain the definite granting of the
concession for their group and for ours in combination.
This is the state of affairs as it exists at the present moment, and if Sir Charles
Hardinge or yourself would like to see Colonel Massy to receive from him an account
of what had occured, he would at any time call at the Foreign Office. Would you
kindly also inform me if the two Russian gentlemen in question would be received at
the Foreign Office, their visit of course being arranged through the ordinary official
and diplomatic channels.
With reiterated thanks for the goodwill that has been shown to the Euxiue-
Marmora Syndicate.
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA.
[April 12.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 2.
[12459]
Sir C. Euan Smith to Foreign Office.—(Received April 12.)
My dear Mr. Mallet, April 9, 1910.
51, South Street, Park Lane, London,
April 9, 1910.
THE Foreign Office has displayed so much kindness and consideration to the
Euxine-Marmora Syndicate, of which I have the honour to be the chairman, that my
board are anxious that the Foreign Office should be fully informed of everything
connected with their proceedings regarding the concession of the Samsun-Sivas
Railway, in connection with which we have already had the honour of addressing you.
I therefore write to inform you that Colonel Massy has just returned from St. Peters-
burgh from a special mission on which he was sent by the board for the purpose of
ascertaining the real situation of affairs in that capital as far as he possibly could in
I am, &c.
C. B. EUAN SMITH.
$ 7K 0
/€.
[2710 /a— 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' [‎80r] (164/368), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/166, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030544745.0x0000a5> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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