File 3846/1910 'Mesopotamia: Baghdad affairs. Miscellaneous.' [‎60v] (129/536)

No. 861, dated Baghdad, the 27th September 1910 (Confidential).
J'rom-J. G. Lobimer, Esq., C.I.E., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. and His
Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General, Baghdad,
To-The Officiating Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign
Department.
I have the honour to submit, for the information of the Government of
India, a copy of my despatch No. f, dated 27th instant, which I have addressed
to His Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople.
2. The last reference to this subject is my letter No. 831, dated 21st
September 1910. -- —
No. 8 - dated Baghdad, the 27th September 1910 (Confidential).
50 >
From-J. G. Lorimeb, Esq, C.I.E., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. and His
Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General, Baghdad,
To -His Excellency the Bight Hon j ble Sir Gerard Lowther, K.C.M.G.,
C.B., His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador, Constantinople.
I have the honour to report, in continuation of my despatch No. 830-47 of
the 21st September, that the demolition of Sajjad ‘Ali Khan s arch and upper
storev at Kadhimain has been commenced and will no doubt be completed.
The Wall’s Political Secretary called on me to-day and conversed with me
on the sub ect ; and I understood him to say that the policy of condemnm|
build ill's as dam-erous, and demolishing them without compensation instead of
Sroprfatin^e ownhs, had been deliberately adopted by the M.layat as the
most inexpensive method of carrying out necessary municipal improvements
He stated P so far as I could follow him, that £ T. 20,000 had aWy been s^ d
bv resorting to this expedient m the case of buildings^ owned by luikish
subjects ; and he said that the object of the Wilayat in negotiating wit
Messrs Stephen Lynch & Co., as they are now doing with reference to a
law-suit threatened by that firm, was to avoid, if possible, the establishment of
a precedent which might encourage Turkish subjects to claim compensation
under the expropriation laws. I understand, however that Messrs. Lynch
are most unlikely to agree to any settlement which does not include
pecuniary compensation. ” I told the Political Secretary that many ^sem
which the owner, being a British subject, was willing to settle direct with the
Wilayat I should have no objection at all; but that, where he was not willing
and sou o, lit my assistance, I could not but support bis just claims. u i ,
think, be admitted that it is impossible to allow British subjects to be robbed o
their property by artifice merely m order to facilitate the spoliation of Ottoma
subiects by their own Government. . _ , , An , w
Prom M. Eram Bey’s remarks on this occasion I can only conclude tnat
sooner or later it will be necessary to decide, in all the cases mentioned m my
despatch No. 776-42 of the 5th September 1910, bow the claims to compensa-
tion of the British subjects effected are to be enforced. There is not the
slightest use in my continuing to press the matter here ; and I therefore sobcit
the favour of Your Excellency’s taking such action at Constantinople as may
seem to Your Excellency to be proper and sufficient
I may add that the question of a new mam street and three cross stieets
in Baghdad town, which has been mentioned more than once m my montmy
Summaries of Events, is expected to enter on the practical stage short y
the conclusion of the Ramadhan. The Municipal Engineer (M. C^anis, a
Erench subject! informs me that the mam street, 20 metres wide, will be ma
bv cutting through the solid town for distance of three kilometres ; an
480 houses none of them fortunately belonging to British subjects, will e -
troved in whole or in part. Erom another source I learn that the align mm
of this projected street has been altered lately so as to carry it through t
poorer quarters where the proprietors are less able to offer opposition,
money-saving principle indicated by M. Eram Bey is adopted m the case of
this street to any great extent, 1 anticipate that notwithstanding the poverty
of the owners, the Wilayat may encounter some difficulties.
I would beg Your Excellency to regard my conversations with the I olit
Secretary and the Municipal Engineer as confidential.