File 3846/1910 'Mesopotamia: Baghdad affairs. Miscellaneous.' [‎201v] (411/536)

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doubt a wealthy man. The syndicate also includes three British subjects, viz.
Haji ’Ali Muhammad (Shushtari), Haji Muhammad Nabi, and Abdul Karim
(Kanguui). These capitalists desire permission to run steamers between Basrah
and Baghdad and Basrah and Kufah, and to obtain a partial monopoly —viz to
the extent to which they are able to provide steamers—for navigation on the
upper Tigris between Baghdad and Musal.
(4) Tenders for the establishment of electric tramways and the installation of
electric lighting at Baghdad were invited in the local official journal “ Zaura ”
* See xi i suvra. of the 22nd Ma ^ ( a M * Viollet, already
mentioned above,* is believed to have
tendered for both schemes, and Haji Ibrahim, Jajjo, a Baghdadi Turkish subject
who has lived long at Paris, for the lighting arrangements only. A group headed
by Mahmud Shahbandar have also made offers for both works, and in some quarters
it is believed that the terms of this group have already been accepted : it seems,
however, that there is still some question about a payment of £T. 4,000 a year which
the Local Government would have them make to the Baghdad Municipality. Their
draft concession (or concession) is for 75 years ; and under it they would receive
5 per cent, annually on their capital outlay, after which any additional profits
remaining would be divided between themselves and the Baghdad Municipality in
the proportion of 3 to 1. The tramway should be completed by them within two
years on condition that the opening up of the new street through the city is
finished within six months.
D /
(5) Hamdi Bey, Babanzadah, the member of the Committee of Union and
+ gee V, 12 , supra. Progress already mentioned,f is reported
to have obtained a contract of the convey
ance of the Turkish mails weekly by motor-car between Baghdad and Damascus,
and Damascus and Baghdad. The term of the contract is five years, and the subsidy
to be paid is £ T. 550 a month. Hamdi Bey is to make a reconnaissance of the
intervening desert within 1J months, after which he will be allowed to resign the
contract if he considers the service impracticable.
(6) There are other projects in the air of starting tram or motor services between
Baghdad and Ba’qubah, Baghdad and Khaniqin, Karbala and TaWarij, &e. None
of these are sufficiently definite or strongly supported to merit detailed mention at
present. They are encouraging, however, as indications that some opening up of
the country is likely to take place by degrees.
(7) On the 29th of June about 80 merchants and others assembled at the Sarai
on the invitation of the Wali, who proceeded to expound to them a plan of his own
for the formation of a General Development Company, Turkish of course, with a
capital of £T. 100,000 divided into 100 shares of £T. 1,000 each. He explained
how the existence of such a company would enable Turkish subjects to exploit the
country themselves by means of steamers, tramways, etc., and he added that,
if his suggestions were not acted upon, the Government would be justified
in continuing to give contracts, concessions, etc., to foreigners at their discretion.
The Wali’s proposals seem to have fallen flat; and the meeting at the Sarai was at
length adjourned in order that the prospectus of the proposed company, which
had been prepared in Turkish only, might be translated into Arabic and printed.
Native merchans themselves state that they have not enough confidence in one
another to embark together on so large an undertaking as that suggested.
Before this His Expellency had been proclaiming, more or less publicly, that
in future no concessions would be given to foreigners, but that Ottoman concession-
naires would be allow'ed to take foreign capitalists into partnership.
(8) On the 17th of June Nazim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. informed me privately that he had
placed an order for three large motor-boats with an English firm and that it had
been accepted. These are the vessels already
i See m ’ L s “P ra ’ mentioned! above ; and it seems that they
will have a length of 50 feet and a speed of 12 knots, and will carry 60 passengers
each. I understand from Commodore Hikmat Bey that the firm employed are
Messrs. Thornycroft of London. On the 24th of June Nazim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. told Mr.
Nersessian, my First Dragoman, that he had ordered two more similar motor-boats
which he meant to run on the Euphrates between Basrah and Maskanah.