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.' [252r] (528/536)
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.
Exports from Bagdad. '
To—United Kingdom
France -
Austria-Hungary
Belgium
Germany
United States of America -
India, China, and Japan
The bulk of the British and Indian imports seems to be in cotton
goods, twist and woollens, and that of the exports carpets, wool, opium and
hides.
It is, however, possible that cotton will be grown and pressed in
Mesopotamia and will find its way into eastern markets, and the mineral
resources of the country (especially oil) may also add to the trade eastwards.
But, speaking generally, it does not seem certain that the volume of trade
resulting from the development of Mesopotamia will necessitate the
construction of the Gulf section if India is not to lose its share, and it is
probable that India will retain her share whether it is built or not.
But, of course, it is not possible to assume that the railway will never
be built. From the difficulty which it is understood that the Germans have
had in disposing of the bonds of the other sections of the Bagdad Railway,
and from their willingness to part with their rights in the Gulf section, it
may, indeed, be inferred that they will be in no hurry to undertake the
latter, while the Turks themselves have neither the money nor the means of
obtaining it. The construction will therefore be postponed, but—as the line
is of military and political importance to Turkey—it will eventually be built
In the interval much may have happened in Mesopotamia, as the Viceroy
has reminded us, and it is not easy to foresee the conditions that will then
exist. But, supposing that the railway is worked on commercial lines, and
that the clause precluding differential tariffs is still operative, it does not
appear, from the point of view of our trade, that 1 he fact of our having no
share in it will be a disadvantage. But, of course, it may not be run on
commercial lines. Protected by their kilometric guarantees the Germans
may prefer to let it rust—it would always be available for Turkish military
purposes-- and attract all the traffic to the Northern section. In that case, too,
it does not appear that, provided the river were kept free, we should be any
worse off commercially than if the line did not exist at all. Politically, no
doubt, we should be, because the Turkish consolidation would be effected,
and if the railway were built under German auspices, German influence
would be brought very near to the Gulf. But provided that we can ensure
that the line will not be carried beyond Basra or, if so, only on terms
agreeable to Great Britain, and provided that we have in the meantime
consolidated our own position in the Gulf, that risk might fairly be taken.
The one serious drawback would be that referred to under head (c) on
page 2 -the danger of the extinction of the British carrying trade between
India and Bagdad. Although this disadvantage might to some extent be
compensated by the advantages that might accrue to other branches of trade,
it is a very real one and would have to be faced. (It could only be met,
apparently, by a corresponding interworking between steamships and railway
£
330,361
132,131
14,591
3,077
30,441
155,049
87,478
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
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.' [252r] (528/536), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/60, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048418272.0x000081> [accessed 17 April 2024]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100048418272.0x000081
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100048418272.0x000081">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.' [‎252r] (528/536)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100048418272.0x000081"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000365.0x000391/IOR_L_PS_10_60_0528.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000365.0x000391/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
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