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'Report and Proceedings of a Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence on the Baghdad Railway, Southern Persia, and the Persian Gulf' [‎6v] (17/332)

The record is made up of 1 volume (162 folios). It was created in Feb 1909. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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VI11
RErORT.
making vigorous endeavours to secure a share in the trade in the Gulf, not primarily
to extend their commerce, but to secure a political status in that region in view of
future developments.
(d.) There are plain indications that this Company is sustaining material losses bv
its operations m the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . There is reason to believe that these losses are
not borne by the Company, but whether they are made good by the German
Government, or in what form, is not clear.
(e.) It seems that these heavy losses, incurred at a time of trade depression in
Germany, are one of the causes of the anxiety which has been recently evinced bv
the Ham burg-Amerika Line to come to some agreement with the British shipping
iinns m the Gulf. 11
(/•) An agreement between the British firms and the Hamburg—Amerika Line
to hx rates would be detrimental to the interests of British exporters, for not only
would British merchants be thereby deprived of the advantage of free competition in
reights, but they would not be guaranteed equality of opportunity with the German
exporters, since the latter might, and probably would, obtain preferential treatment in
v 1 special rates on the German State Railways—a matter which it would be
dimcult to detect and impossible to prevent.
(g.) Hence, should Messrs. Strick and BucknalTs Combine approach His Majesty’s
Government with a request for assistance, the Committee recommend that some support
should be given, which might take the form of a postal subvention, the exact details to
be determined when the occasion arises.
2. Navigation on the Tigris.
(a.) The Committee are of opinion that it is desirable that the navigation of the
igns should be developed, and that advantage should be taken of any opportunity to
encourage British subjects to obtain a Concession for improving the waterway.
( 6 .) The steamer service on the Tigris between Basra and Baghdad is now
conducted by six steamers, owned by the Sultan of Turkey, and two, with a third in
reserve, which are run by a British firm (Messrs. Lynch and Co.), who receive a postal
subsidy of 1,600L a-year from the British Government, under a Concession from the
lurkish Government.
(c.) L o favourable opportunity should be neglected to press for an extension of
the existing British Concession, or to assist a British firm, preferably the British India
Steam Navigation Company, to acquire the Sultan’s steamers.
3. Lighterage.
The evidence shows that trade in the Gulf is much hampered by the
inefficiency of the lighterage services at the different ports, more particularly at
Busin re. There is reason to suppose that the British India Company might be
prepared to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of the lighterage services, and
the Committee recommend that this Company should be approached with a view to
ascertaining if such is the case.
( 6 .) Should the British India Company show a disposition to proceed in the
matter, they should be assured of the diplomatic support of His Majesty’s Government.
Ihe cost should be borne by the shippers and traders concerned.
4. Lighthouses and Buoyage.
it is desirable that, if the British shipowning Companies press for
additional navigational lights in the Gulf, all reasonable steps should be taken to
meet their wishes, yet, in view of the limited volume cf the trade at present, the
Committee do not recommend that any considerable expenditure that could not be
recouped by light dues should be incurred under this head. But they are of opinion
that it would be worth while to incur the expenditure involved in the proposal, now
under consideration, to send a Commission to collect information, consisting of
the bemor Laval Officer, the officer in charge of the Indian Marine Survey, and
an expert to be obtained through the Trinity House. This Commission would also
deal with the question of buoyage. This proposal has the support of the Inter-
Departmental Committee (Foreign Office, 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. , and Admiralty). The cost will
be that of the expert and incidental expenses; the other two officers receiving no
extra pay. ®

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Content

The volume contains the following minutes and proceedings:

  • First Meeting, 2 March 1908. Evidence of Sir Richmond Thackeray Willoughby Ritchie.
  • Second Meeting, 6 March 1908. Evidence of Sir J Mackay.
  • Third Meeting, 11 March 1908. Evidence of Mr Frank Clark Strick and Mr E Lloyd.
  • Fourth Meeting, 17 March 1908. Evidence of Sir Louis William Dane.
  • Fifth Meeting, 19 March 1908. Evidence of Mr P Thomas and Mr G Lloyd.
  • Sixth Meeting, 25 March 1908. Evidence of Mr Henry Finnis Blosse Lynch, and Major J A Douglas.
  • Seventh Meeting, 30 March 1908. Evidence of Sir William Lee-Warner, and Colonel Charles Edward Yate.
  • Digest of Evidence in Order of Witnesses.
  • Digest of Evidence by Subjects.

Appendices:

Maps:

  • Folio 76. Sketch to illustrate positions of Flagstaffs at Elphinstone Inlet and Sheep Island (Musandim Peninsula).
  • Folio 87. Sketches of Approaches to Kuweit Harbour and Shatt Al Arab, compiled from various authorities.
  • Folio 118v. Map of Mohammerah and district prepared in 1850. Shows the proposed Turkish, Persian and mediating Commissioners' lines.
  • Folio 152. Sketch Maps to Shew Railways in Asia Minor.
  • Folio 153. Map showing the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and adjacent countries.
Extent and format
1 volume (162 folios)
Arrangement

A table of contents can be found at folio 4. An index to the minutes of evidence and appendices can be found at folios 154-162.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 164; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence (xi, 297pp, 5 maps).

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Report and Proceedings of a Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence on the Baghdad Railway, Southern Persia, and the Persian Gulf' [‎6v] (17/332), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/263, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100040910242.0x000012> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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