File 2764/1904 Pt 5 'Baghdad Railway: Anglo-Turkish negotiations; concessions proposed in respect of Kowait; negotations with Hakki Pasha in London; Anglo-Turkish agreement.' [105v] (221/536)
The record is made up of 1 volume (254 folios). It was created in 1912-1914. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
SSSSgpfir
ment therefore desire to lay before the Ottoman Government the following proposals and
considerations :— i i • i x- ,
3. For convenience of reference the several proposals under consideration may be
dealt with under three distinct headings :
(i.) The Bagdad Railway question. .... ^
(ii.) The respective interests of Great Britain and Turkey in the region of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
(hi.) An increase in the Turkish customs duties.
Draft Con
vention
(Annex 2).
Draft Con
vention
(Annex 3).
¥ •
(i.) The Bagdad Railway Question.
4. The interest which Great Britain must take in a railway which is to traverse a
region where British-Indian trade amounts to some 60 per cent, of the total exports and
imports is indeed so obvious as to call for little comment. His Majesty’s Government
have on repeated occasions dwelt upon the importance of that trade and the manner in
which it has been steadily consolidated since the foundation, upwards of two and a-half
centuries ago, of the first English
factory
An East India Company trading post.
at Bussorah; they have recalled that
no less than 96 per cent, of the steam tonnage entered at the port of Bussorah was
British ; and they have consistently maintained that a satisfactory settlement of the
Bagdad Railway question was a necessary condition of their assent to an increase in
the Turkish customs duties.
5. The magnitude of Great Britain’s manifold interests clearly renders it desirable
that some satisfactory agreement as to British participation in the southern section of
the Bagdad Railway should, if possible, be reached. His Majesty’s Government find,
however, that the question of participation on terms acceptable to them is likely to
cause the Ottoman Government some embarrassment, and that the views held on
this point by the two contracting parties are difficult to reconcile. In these circum
stances His Majesty’s Government, anxious to prove to the Ottoman Government the
sincerity of their desire to reach a comprehensive understanding without delay or
controversy, are prepared to withdraw their request for British participation in the
railway from Bagdad to Bussorah, if a satisfactory agreement is arrived at on the other
points enumerated in this memorandum.
6. It would be impossible to reconcile British public opinion to such a step unless
His Majesty’s Government were at the same time able to show that British interests of
whatever character were fully safeguarded. HLs Majesty’s Government consequently
feel bound, apart from the territorial arrangements proposed, to lay down the following
conditions as essential to that end :—
(a.) An arrangement, as set forth in the accompanying draft convention, for the
exclusion of differential treatment on all railways in Asiatic Turkey.
(b.) The admission of two British representatives, approved by His Majesty’s
Government, to the board of whatever company may undertake the c instruction or
working of the railway from Bagdad to Bussorah.
(c.) The terminus of the railway to be at Bussorah.
(d.) No railway to be continued beyond Bussorah in the direction of the Persian
Gulf without prior agreement with His Majesty’s Government, and on conditions
acceptable to them.
(e.) A convention to be signed, on the basis of the accompanying draft, for the
future conservancy of the Shatt-el-Arab. This convention must be read in conjunction
with the accompanying memorandum (Annex No. 5) on the subject of the frontier of
Mohammerah.
(/.) Permission to be given for three British steamers to navigate between Bagdad
and Bussorah in addition to the number already allowed.
(ii.) The respective interests of Great Britain and Turkey in the region of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
7. His Majesty’s Government note with satisfaction that the Turkish Government
renounce their claims to Bahrein on conditions which there should be no difficulty in
accepting, but they have learnt with disappointment the attitude of the Imperial
Ottoman Government in regard to El Katr and Koweit; nevertheless they do not
doubt that the Ottoman Government will appreciate the important sacrifice made by
About this item
- Content
The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, newspaper cuttings, maps and notes, relating to a negotiations over the proposed Berlin to Baghdad Railway in the period 1912-1914.
The discussion in the volume relates to the economic, commercial, political and military considerations impinging on British strategy for the international negotiations over the development of a railway to Baghdad and an extension to Basra. In particular the correspondence focuses on:
- Anglo-Turkish negotiations;
- concessions proposed in respect of Kuwait;
- negotiations with Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. in London;
- the Anglo-Turkish convention and declaration signed by Sir Edward Grey and Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , 15th December, 1913.
The principal correspondents in the volume are the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey); the Secretary to the Board of Trade (Louis Mallet); the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department, Simla (Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry McMahon); the 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 the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox).
Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (254 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
The subject 2764 (Bagdad Railway) consists of five volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/56-60. The volumes are divided into five parts with each part comprising one volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 256; 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.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 2764/1904 Pt 5 'Baghdad Railway: Anglo-Turkish negotiations; concessions proposed in respect of Kowait; negotations with Hakki Pasha in London; Anglo-Turkish agreement.' [105v] (221/536), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/60, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048418271.0x000016> [accessed 17 April 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/60
- Title
- File 2764/1904 Pt 5 'Baghdad Railway: Anglo-Turkish negotiations; concessions proposed in respect of Kowait; negotations with Hakki Pasha in London; Anglo-Turkish agreement.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:4v, 9r:22v, 25r:31v, 38r:38v, 40r:42v, 47r:63v, 65r:68v, 73r, 77r:78v, 87r:88r, 90r:106r, 108r:108v, 111r:146r, 150r:159v, 162r:164r, 166r:212v, 215r:255v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence