'PERSIAN GULF AND GULF OF OMAN. RESOURCES AND COAST DEFENCES. 1903.' [‎41r] (88/120)

APPENDIX.
75
interests were, and therefore it was not surprising that other
couniries should be unaware of what we considered to be our
interests. In this case, however, there could be no mistake.
2. —The Baghdad Railway Company.
Notes on the Proposed Railway to connect Asia Minor with the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . (See Plate 2.)
A concession to construct a railway in prolongation of the
existing line of the German Anatolian Railway Company
through Asia Minor to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. was secured by "a
German syndicate connected with that company in January
1902.
The provisional terms of that concession are not given here as
subsequent negotiations have modified the original plans and
conditions.
In March 1903 a convention was signed by which the Anatolian
Railway Company agreed to establish a special “ Baghdad
Railway Company,” with a share capital fixed provisionally at
15,000,000 francs (600,000/.) and to commence work as soon as
possible on the new line, commencing at Konia, the B, terminus
of the Anatolian Railway.
In April and May 1903, an endeavour was made by the
German promoters of the scheme to secure the co-operation of
British, French, Austrian, and Swiss capital; the conditions,
however, attaching to this participation left the effective control
in German hands, and on these terms British capital could not
be obtained. (See Appendix, p. 68, for the attitude of the
British Government in the matter.)
Notwithstanding this check, negotiations were continued with
the other parties interested, and in June 1903 an agreement
was drafted by which German and French Syndicates were to
subscribe 40 per cent, of the capital each, whilst the remainder
was to be left to Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland ;
and the construction of the first section of the railway (Konia-
Eregli) was to be commenced at once.
To this agreement the French Government refused its sanction,
and the German Company then decided to commence the first
section (Konia-Eregli) without further delay. Construction was
begun on 27th July 1903.
Up to the present (September 1903) there is no further
information as to the participation of international capital.
The main line is to consist of 10 sections of about 200 km. The proposed
(125 miles) each, the total length being about 2,000 km. (1,250 line,
miles). This, however, does not include the projected branch
lines.
The following table shows the route of the existing railway
from Haidar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. (opposite Constantinople) to Konia, and the
route at present proposed for the extension to the Persian
G ulf.