File 3531/1905 Pt 1 ‘Mesopotamia:- Euphrates + Tigris S. N. Co.; Mail contract’ [‎320v] (10/148)

penalties under this clause if the default he proved to the satisfaction of
the said Grovernment, or of the said Government officer, to ha\e arisen
from circumstances over which the Company or their servants had not
and could not have had any control. ’
Enclosures No. 6.
Foreign Office to 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. .
Foreign Office,
19th April 1904.
With reference to your letter of 2nd March, I am directed by the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you, to he laid
before the Secretary of State for India, the accompanying copy of a
despatch regarding the possibility of again approaching the Porte for
permission for Messrs. Lynch to use a third steamer on the Tigris.
I am, &c.,
The Under Secretary of State T. H. Sandeeson.
for India.
Annex.
Sir N. O’Conor to Marquess of Lansdowne.
No. 239. Constantinople,
My Lord, 5th April 1904.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship’s
Despatch No. Ill, of the 22nd ultimo, asking my views as to the
possibility of again approaching the Porte for permission for Messrs.
Lynch to" use a third steamer on the Tigris.
I have carefully considered this subject, and I do not think that
anything has occurred which would lead me to alter the views I ventured
to express in my Despatch No. 440, of 4th August last.
The Russians have approached the Sublime Porte with a view to
being granted similar privileges to those enjoyed by Messrs. Lynch, and
the Civil List has just placed its new steamers on the Tigris, and
proposes to place two more in a short time, so that probably the old
argument of congestion of traffic will no longer serve. The existing
privilege is envied by more than one Power as well as grudged by the
Porte, and I do not see any argument likely to prevail, and obtain a
further concession to Messrs. Lynch. Their permission to run tugs was
extracted from the Ottoman Government with the greatest difficulty,
and would have been withdrawn shortly afterwards had it not been for
the determined opposition of this Embassy.
I have, &c.,
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G., N. R. O’Conoe.
&c., &c., &c.
Enclosure No. 7.
Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company to 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. .
3, Salter’s Hall Court, Cannon Street, E.C.,
gj rj 15th June 1904.
We have taken advantage of the presence in England, on leave
of absence, of our Manager in Baghdad, which was already in con
templation when we received your letter of the 25th March, to confer