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File 2764/1904 Pt 4 'Baghdad Railway: Anglo-Turkish negotiations; proposals of Turkish Govt; status of Kowait' [‎71r] (146/674)

The record is made up of 1 volume (333 folios). It was created in 1911-1912. 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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BAGDAD RAILWAY.
i;/ ■ ' .' '* • ’
PRIVATE TELEGRAMS.
I^rom Secretary of State to Viceroy, 2nd March 1911.
Private. ^ our foreign Secret telegram of 23rd February. Koweit. I
am addressing Foreign Office officially, strongly supporting your views.
P>ut terms are pretty stiff and contingency must be faced that rather than
accept them r I urks will choose Basrah as terminus. Would you abate any of
your conditions, if necessary, to avoid this, and, if so, which ? Foreign Office
express opinion that it is highly improbable that we shall in any case secure
control of Gulf section, but that it may nevertheless be worth while to
participate.
From Viceroy, 7th March 1911.
Private. Koweit. Your telegram of 2nd instant. It would be far better
in my opinion that terminus of railway should be at Basrah than that we
should accept anything that might weaken our position and that of the
Sheikh at Koweit. To do so would have far reaching consequences in the
Gulf, where it is absolutely necessary that our predominance should be
assured. The only abatement of our conditions that 1 can suggest is a
40 per cent, instead of a 60 per cent, participation in the Gulf section.
Although this presents some danger if the Turks have a nominal 40 per
cent, and the German 20 per cent, interest in the line.
From Secretary of State to Viceroy, 31st March 1911.
Private. Bagdad Railway. Following counter-proposal under considera
tion. Gulf section to be undertaken by Company nominally Turkish, but in
fact half British, half German. Terminus and port to be at Koweit on our
land which we will sublet to Company on conditions that would secure our
strategic interests, and one of which would be that we alone should police
port. Turkish suzerainty over Koweit to be recognised, but complete
autonomy to be guaranteed by Turks to Sheikh, though Turkish Customs for
through trade might be necessary. What are your views ? Board of Trade
consider 50 per cent, share sufficient protection against differential rates on
Gulf Section, while as regards main line, sanction of increased Customs
duties for fixed period would be conditional on satisfactoi^ assuiances in this
respect, and we should try to get one or two directors on Bagdad Railway.
How would Koweit be affected, and what precisely would you suggest bhouid
be conditions referred to above ? Adjustment of all Lurkish claims m Gu
would be part of settlement on these lines.

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Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, newspaper cuttings, maps and notes, relating to negotiations over the proposed Berlin to Baghdad Railway in the period 1911-1912.

The correspondence concerns three broad topics:

  • Anglo-Turkish negotiations
  • proposals of the Turkish Government
  • the status of Kuwait.

The discussion in the volume relates to the economic, commercial, political and military considerations impinging on British strategy for these international negotiations.

Further discussion surrounds the Draft Report of the Standing Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence.

The principal correspondents in the volume include Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ,and John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley, Lord President of the Council.

Extent and format
1 volume (333 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 2764 (Baghdad 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 335; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 2764/1904 Pt 4 'Baghdad Railway: Anglo-Turkish negotiations; proposals of Turkish Govt; status of Kowait' [‎71r] (146/674), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/59, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100055625144.0x000093> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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