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File 3047/1909 'Railways: Asiatic Turkey; railway construction in Asia Minor' [140r] (284/368)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty s Governme nt.]
^ fa
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA.
[October 4.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 7.
[36614] No. 1.
Sir G. Lowther to Sir Edward Grey.—{Received October 4.)
(No. 791. Confidential.)
Sir, Therapia, September 29, 1909.
I HAVE the honour to submit the following information, obtained from an official
in the Ministry of Public Works, concerning railway concessions, a loan for the con
struction of roads, and the interference of the Grand Vizier in the work of the various
departments of State.
Count Vitalis’ scheme for the Homs-Tripoli (Syria) railway will be put through,
and matters are already fairly far advanced. He is also to have the concession for the
Demir-Hissar-Djouma-Bala line, which the Turks are anxious to have built. *
The Government are not, however, pressing for the building of the Drama-
Cavalla line—another of Vitalis’ schemes—as it is not felt to be a matter of immediate
necessity.
Count Vitalis is also interested in the Samsoun-Sivas line, aud, in order to over
come any difficulty which may be raised by Russia, he has interested Russian capital
in the scheme. The official from whom this information was obtained saw no reason
why this scheme should not succeed.
The department had not even examined Colonel Schaeffer’s project for the
Alexandretta-Suleymanieh line, as the greater part of the country through which the
line is to run comes within the Baghdad Railway zone, and, until the Germans put
down their final “trace,” the department think it useless to study the scheme, which,
in the opinion of the above-mentioned official, has no chance of success.
Colonel Schaeffer has also put forward a scheme similar to those of Messrs. Glasgow' \
and Chester. Both the latter are at present in suspense.
The German application for a concession for the Rayak-al-Arish line (Egyptian
frontier) has fallen through.
The department is negotiating, in conjunction w T ith the Treasury, a loan of
ten millions for the construction of roads ; the preliminary work on this subject has
just been commenced.
Much dissatisfaction is felt in the department at the interference of the Grand
Vizier. His Highness is said to be endeavouring to control all the departments on the
lines of the old regime, and this is causing friction.
I have, &c.
GERARD LOWTHER.
[2400 d—l\
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 View the complete information for this record
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File 3047/1909 'Railways: Asiatic Turkey; railway construction in Asia Minor' [140r] (284/368), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/166, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030544746.0x000055> [accessed 23 April 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/166
- Title
- File 3047/1909 'Railways: Asiatic Turkey; railway construction in Asia Minor'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:67v, 69r:138v, 140r:148v, 154r:157v, 159r:170v, 175r:181v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence