File 1808/1912 'Bagdad Railway. Navigation of the Tigris & Lynch's Agreement with the Company for the transport of railway material.' [‎58v] (121/514)

4
Memo
randum
(Annex 5).
ol trade and the maintenance of peace in a region which, but for long-sustained British
intervention, would have remained the scene of continual piracy and bloodshed.
16. They feel persuaded that the Ottoman Government will not oppose the
continuance of the political status quo of a hundred years, and they look forward
confidently to a complete adjustment of the questions enumerated, and to the improved
relations which cannot fail to ensue.
17. As the Ottoman Government are aware, there is a question which has caused
some concern to His Majesty’s Government in recent months, that of the frontier
between Turkey and Persia in the region of Mohammerah. When His Majesty’s
Government addressed their memorandum of July 1!)11 to the Ottoman Government
that question had been dormant for sixty years, and His Majesty’s Government had
no desire to raise it. Now howeeer that it has been raised, by circumstances beyond
their control, they feel that no settlement in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. could be complete
which did not provide for this question, and they regard a satisfactory adjustment of
it as an essenti^ part of the present negotiations. They have the honour to
submit a separate memorandum on the subject for the consideration of the Ottoman
Government.
(iii.) An increase in the Turkish customs duties.
18. If the Ottoman Government are prepared to conclude an agreement in the sense
of this memorandum, and to concur in the removal of the existing veto on the
borrowing powers of Egypt, then, subject to the assent of the other Powers, His
Majesty’s Government will consent to the maintenance for a period of seven years,
counting from six months after the date of such agreement, of the increase in the
general rate of customs duty leviable on British goods on importation into the Ottoman
Empire from 8 per cent, to 11 per cent, ad valorem which was agreed to in 1907, and
also to the further increase of this general rate of customs duty from 11 per cent, to
15 per cent, ad valorem for the same period.
Foreign Office, July 18, 1912.
Annex 1.
HIS Majesty’s Government wish to mention a question to which they attach great
importance, but to which they have not referred in this memorandum.
His Majesty’s Government desire to secure that the duties leviable upon certain
classes of cotton yarns and manufactures shall in no case exceed certain rates to
be agreed upon.
His Majesty’s Government will furnish the Ottoman Government, with the least
possible delay, with a schedule specifying these classes of goods and the duties to be
applied to them.
Foreign Office.
Annex 2.
Draft Articles for a Convention between the British and Ottoman Governments in
respect of Railways in Asiatic Turkey.
Article 1.
NO discrimination of any kind shall be exercised on any portion of the railways
connecting Bagdad with other places in Asiatic Turkey, or on any of the branches
thereof, in respect of traffic passing over the said railways, whatever may be its origin
or destination.
The w r ord “ traffic ” in this and the following articles shall apply to passengers and
their luggage, goods, animals, and things conveyed on the railways, and carriages,
waggons, and other vehicles adapted for running on the railways.