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File 2764/1904 Pt 3 'Baghdad Railway: general negotiations 1910-1912.' [‎173r] (356/544)

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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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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government,]
BAGDAD RAILWAY.
SECRET.
[December 13.]
Section 1,
[44998] No. 1.
Sir G. Buchanan to Sir Edward Grey.—{Received December 13.)
(No. 483. Secret.)
Sir, St. Petersburgh, December 10, 1910.
SINCE writing my despatch No. 482 of yesterday’s date I have received from
M. Sazonow, in the strictest confidence, the text of the accompanying draft agreement,
which he has submitted to the German Ambassador, respecting Persia and the linking
np of the Bagdad Railway with a fntnre North Persian railway system.
In the conversation which I had with his Excellency yesterday, M. Sazonow made
a passing allnsion to article 1 of the draft agreement, but treated it as being devoid of
any political significance. This article, however, gives me the impression of having
been inspired by Germany for the purpose of detaching Russia from ns in any opposi
tion which we might make to the realisation of the Bagdad Railway scheme, and the
wording of it seems to lend itself to the interpretation that Russia is to be debarred
from supporting us in any steps which we may eventually have to take to prevent the
Gulf section falling under exclusive German control.
The wording of article 2 is somewhat involved, but Russia seems only to engage
to link up the two railway systems on the completion of the North Persian railway.
She does not undertake to complete that railway within any specified term, so that, by
postponing its construction, she still apparently retains her liberty to fix her own time
for connecting the Bagdad line with the North Persian railway.
It is curious that the draft agreement contains no reference whatever to the
question as to whether Russia is to have the right to construct the Bagdad-Khanikin
line. M. Sazonow gave Mr. O’Beirne distinctly to understand that Germany had
acquiesced in her right to do so, and on my alluding to the subject yesterday, his
Excellency, by not contradicting me, tacitly admitted that this was the case.
I will take an early opportunity of speaking to M. Sazonow on the various points
to which I have referred in this despatch.
I have, &c.
GEORGE W. BUCHANAN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Draft Agreement.
I.
LE Gouvernement Imperial se declare dispose a ne pas faire d’opposition a la
realisation du Chemin de Fer de Bagdad et s’engage a n’apporter aucune entrave a la
participation de capitaux etrangers a cette entreprise. II va sans dire qu’aucun
sacrifice de nature pecuniaire ou economique ne sera exige de la part de la Russie.
II.
Afin d’aller au-devant du desir du Gouvernement allemand de relier le Chemin de
Fer de Bagdad an futur reseau des chemins de fer en Perse, le Gouvernement russe
s’engage a proceder, lorsque ce reseau aura ete construit, a la construction d’une ligne
qui se raccorderait, sur la frontiere turco-persane, a la ligne Sadidje-Khanekine, quand
cet embranchement du Chemin de Fer de Bagdad ainsi que la ligne de Konia a
Bagdad auront ete acheves. Le Gouvernement russe se reserve de fixer en son temps
le trace definitif de la ligne de raccordement qui doit aboutir a Khanekine.
^ Les deux Gouvernements faciliteront le trafic international sur cette derniere ligne
en evitant toutes mesures qui pourraient 1’entraver, telles que I’etablissement de droits
de transit ou 1’application d’un traitement differentiel.
[1821 n—1]

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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.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 2764/1904 Pt 3 'Baghdad Railway: general negotiations 1910-1912.' [‎173r] (356/544), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/58, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100064831519.0x00009d> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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