File 3372/1916 Pt 2 'Arabia: French and Italian policy' [‎40r] (88/498)

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opinion (telegram of 28th DpppmW iqi
“ interests of the country that mononolv of'sh'' V °'" lje “contrary to the
“ granted to any tirm,” and that “ we shall l, e ‘ ° n , nver sho " 1 ' 1 lj e
“ Mian and British subjects to run steamboats “W to allow -ative
“ suitable guarantees and navmnnt „r ' s !" both rivers subject to
“ Sl,itable Kaarantees and payment of conservancy dues”' 1 ill™ 40
assurances or undertakings should be m,•<>,, ,, i •' , , , Jle 1Ir Sed that no
or anybody else,-that woidd ,, e lice fZZ ‘Z' Inch f a l> e . Messrs. Lynch,
question. piejndice independent consideration of the whole
Tt may he observed, parenthetical I v tP-o
not come into actual operation until after the l )1() P 0S ed concession could
must remain in the hands of h^m htarv l"" 11 ’’ ^ ? 0n1r 1 o1 0Ver ^vigation
Lord Inchcape had in view, b! Xsbi “ 11081111(168 la8 ‘- What
sumablv the general advantage of bem^ iilTrh'tr^ fi*! i 0,,t 'ri' VaS pre "
question was fullv discussed bv the \rbMl rr ,, l ie , p < - ( he whole
Februarv 1918. Opinions werehomewh'f d:^ 1111 the >*h
resolved “ that no .h^ps sLuld be ^00 n, In “ Was ev6n( '> a n y
“ a !'- V , 0ther firm M! 1 the viewTofSirVrcycfxl^d been
Inchcape has since'ooth 6 Alaroh) wlitteif •™a?n <l to 11 f l ! i | 8c " | ssio11 -’’ Lol ' d
the question of a monopoly, but renewing "his requ^'t f, r feion^
establish my organisation at Baghdad now, so that I may lie i. a position
to begin operations as soon as local circumstances permit ” He has been
informed 111 reply that the matter will be discussed with Sir P Cox
11. Banking.^ -Another question of vital importance to the future interests
ol trade is that of .Banking. On this point the following extract from
Lord Inchcape s letter of the ?,0th October may be quoted i—® ' '
At tin S.uiu, time ii is \my desirable that banking development in
Mesopotamia should be in good hands in the genera! interest of
Ultish Hade, and not left too much to small fry such as small Indian
Ban ks, and eventually I contemplate using my influence towards the
establishment ol a powerful Banking Syndicate, in which possible-
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ndiau and Australian interests as well as British might be associated
1 consider this is really necessary, to counter activitv of the German
Banks in I urkev.”
It scorns clear that present banking arrangements in Mesopotamia will
have sooner or later to be strengthened, and Lord Inchcape’s willingness to
interest himself in the matter is a point to be borne in mind in considering
the question of allowing his firm to obtain an immediate footing at Baghdad.
12. I he early establishment of (1) a Commercial Bureau, and (2) an
Agricultural Department in Mesopotamia, as recommended by the Trade
Commissioners, are other points that might usefully be discussed.
Political
department, 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. ,
drd April 1918.
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