File 3047/1909 'Railways: Asiatic Turkey; railway construction in Asia Minor' [‎173r] (350/368)

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This Document is the Property of His Bntaimic Majesty’s Government
Syria, and the construction of an Anglo-Syrian Kailway from Tripoli to Homs, a distance
of 50 miles.
2. The present owner of the Tripoli—Homs road is M. Ezzidine, residing in Tripoli,
who would sell the road to the Homs—Tripoli Railway Company when formed.
He is responsible for the details of the Memorandum.
3. I have approached Messrs. Erlanger and Co., British bankers and financiers, of
20, Bishopsgate Street, and they have consented to investigate the scheme in detail, and
to send out an engineer and accountant to make a survey and estimate with a view to
forming a British Company if satisfactory. Baron d’Erlangcr is probably known to you
in connection with the Liberian Loan, &c.
4. The Company will be British, under London management, with head-quarters in
the city. The estimated capital is from 350,000/. to 400,000/., and will be raised in
Syria and in London, with possible Paris assistance.
5. The contractors will be English (Messrs. Pauling and Co.).
6. Local labour would be employed to the fullest extent possible, and M. Ezzidine,
w ho owns property along the proposed railway, would assist in local contracts.
7. Some French capitalists have expressed a desire to co-operate, and if satisfactory
arrangements can be made their assistance might be accepted, but on no account will
any German assistance be sought or German interference permitted!!
8. The present constitution is solely Anglo-Syrian, and, as British representative, 1
am most anxious to obtain a Concession from the Turkish Government for the laying of
rails on the present road, and making the necessary alterations in curves, gradients, &c.
9. Under the above conditions I have the honour to request, on behalf of the
Anglo-Syrian Syndicate whom I represent in England (Foreign Office letter of the 24th
September, 1908), that the British Government will grant the scheme the privilege of
its support, and such assistance in obtaining the Concession as is consistent with
existing regulations and customs.
scheme being taken up by German capital!
[ have &c
(Signed) ’ CHARLES CAMPBELL,
Vice-Admiral {Retired).
THE town of Tripoli, over 3,000 years old, is situated on the coast of Syria on the
a natural one, and known as the best on the Syrian coast, and the largest vessels can
anchor there.
The town of Tripoli lies in a wide valley, which is the entrance to the lands
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[November 28.]
Section 1,
[41597]
No. L
Vice-Admiral Sir C. Campbell to Foreign Office.—{Received November 28.)
Sir,
November 27, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to bring to your notice the detail (Inclosure) of an
8, Foulis Terrace, Onslow Gardens, London,
• \T 7 £-v r'k/xo
undertaking which has for its object the improvement of Tripoli harbour on the coast of
My anxiety for a speedy solution re Concession is to prevent the possibility of the
Inclosure in No. 1.
The Tripoli-Homs Railway in Syria (Asia Minor).
Geographical Description of Tripoli.
foot of the Lebanon, about six hours’journey by steamer from Beirout. Its harbour is
beyond the Lebanon and anti-Lebanon, and forms the outlet of a broad plain w r hich
lies betweenThe Lebanon and anti-Lebanon known to be most fertile.
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