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File 2764/1904 Pt 3 'Baghdad Railway: general negotiations 1910-1912.' [‎115r] (238/544)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (268 folios). It was created in 1910-1912. 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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EASTERN DEPARTMENT.
[January 16.]
(N 29 ) ^ T ' ^ ar ^ n y Edward Grey.—(Received January 16.)
Sir, t
[1658]
SECRET SERIES.
No. 1 .
’ TTTT? v> 4. a • * • , n . Pera > January 11, 1911.
1J±bj Potsdam interview lias attracted a certain amount of attention in the local
press, and the enclosed article in the “Tanin” is a fair sample of the comments it
iias elicited, which, m the mam, have been devoted to insisting on Turkey’s right to
take an interest in Persian affairs. That these interests have been ignored by Germany
m the present instance has caused a certain feeling of soreness—a note of which
appears m the present article—against the Power that enjoys the special friendship of
durkey, and it was no doubt on this account that Baron von Marschall was authorised
to inform ^the Porte of the tenour of the pourparlers at Potsdam.
• n Tanm ” als ° rLOteS tliat Russia lias now practically come to an agreement
with the German Government over railway questions in the regions in which she is
interested, and that the English press is annoyed at our being left alone in our
opposition to the Bagdad Railway. This observation is due to the re-publication in a
good many of ^the Constantinople papers of an article which appeared recently in the
Daily News, suggesting that Great Britain was dissatisfied with the way in which
Russia was fulfilling her engagements under the 1907 convention, and was beginning
to repent of her efforts to maintain intimate relations.
I have, &c.
CHARLES M. MARLING.
Enclosure in No. 1 .
Extract from the “ Tanin ” of January 10, 1911.
The Potsdam Meeting again.
(Extract.)
FURTHER information confirms the view we expressed yesterday that the idea
that Russia was to build the Bagdad—Khanikin railway section was absurd, and that
the Russo-German agreement merely treated of the junction to be effected between the
Bagdad Railway and a line to be constructed by Russia in Persia. The matter now
becomes clear and reasonable. Nevertheless, we could have wished that the German
Government, for the sake of our amour-propre, had admitted to this purely economic
discussion those entitled to admittance on purely economic grounds; that it had
exchanged views, for instance, with the Ottoman Bagdad Company, or with the
Russian, mixed or international company which proposes to build the Persian line.
In that case the railway would have been separated from politics, and our confidence
would have been increased.
From the satisfactory information we have received, we can say that Germany
was courteous enough to communicate to the Sublime Porte the gist of the economic
discussion about the Khanikin line. Its omission to inform our Ambassador at Berlin
at the same time is a detail, and we see no necessity to insist upon it.
_ It is not only the Khanikin question which affects us. European statesmen must
realise that all Persian affairs have a very keen interest for Turkey. Why is it that
Russia, when she wants to get carte blanche, thinks it necessary to approach
Germany, who is several thousand miles from Tabreez, while she does not exchange
views with us, who have a common frontier with Persia for thousands of kilometres ?
Even if we did not take so broad a view of the Persian question, why should it not be
considered as important to discuss the Khanikin line with Ottoman diplomatists as
with the Germans ?
While not leaving the economic sphere, Germany is following an important policy
in this matter. She is obtaining the consent of one of the Powers who for long have
[1852 q —3]

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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 1910-1912.

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.

Further discussion surrounds the motivations and strategies of British competitors in the area; included in the volume is a copy of the Russo-German agreement.

The principal correspondents in the volume include Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Sir Gerard Augustus Lowther, Ambassador to Constantinople.

Extent and format
1 volume (268 folios)
Arrangement

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

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 main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 269; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of 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. Pagination: a pagination sequence in red crayon is present between ff 244-252.

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English in Latin script
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File 2764/1904 Pt 3 'Baghdad Railway: general negotiations 1910-1912.' [‎115r] (238/544), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/58, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100064831519.0x000027> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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