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File 3047/1909 'Railways: Asiatic Turkey; railway construction in Asia Minor' [‎131r] (266/368)

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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j
[This Decument is the F ro perty jof^His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
/ ^ATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[November 2.]
Section 2,
[40277]
No. 1.
v/
Mr. D'Arcy to Foreign Office.—(Received November 2.)
^ n- 1 Bylaugh Park, East Dereham,
Dear Sir Charles, October 30, 1909.
I AM troubling you with this letter to tell you that my friends and I have been
seriously considering the practicability of joining hands with Mr. Harms worth and his
friends in respect of the Turkish oil concession. I have had considerable correspon
dence and a long interview with Mr. Harmsworth on the business, and I venture to
enclose you a copy of my last and final letter to Mr. Harmsworth on the subject, so
that you may know our reasons for having to go on alone.
With many apologies, yours, &c.
' W. K. D’ARCY.
P.S.—Pray do not let this occasion you the trouble of an answer.
W. K. D'A.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Mr. D'Arcy to Mr. Harmsworth.
Bylaugh Park, East Dereham,
Dear Mr. Harmsworth, October 29, 1909.
I HAYE now Jiad an opportunity of discussing the Turkish business with my
friends and of showing them your letters, including the one last received.
In the course of our discussion it soon became clear that the objects which you
and we have in view are utterly divergent. You told me that your idea was, if you
acquired the concession, to float a company in respect of a piece of territory at
Mendate, and then another company in respect of another piece of territory and so on.
Given successful flotation, it is obvious that there is money to be made in that way by
the concessionnaire ; but the question of whether these different companies could work
at a profit is a different one. It is a question which our experience leads us to answer
in the negative, and no man can possibly say into whose hands their control and
management will fall.
We, on the other hand, are seeking the concession to work ourselves as oil
producers, refiners, and sellers, and we have no intention of floating any company nor
of parting with any portion of the concession. Nor do we intend to form any
companies other than such as may be required (if any) by the Turkish authorities.
For these reasons it was decided that it would not suit us to join hands with any
group.
Thanking you for giving me the offer of joining you, yours, &c.
W. K. D’ARCY.
[2489 6—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' [‎131r] (266/368), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/166, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030544746.0x000043> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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