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File 2764/1904 Pt 3 'Baghdad Railway: general negotiations 1910-1912.' [‎174r] (358/544)

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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.]
29 DEG 1910
V;
[December 9.]
BAGDAD RAILWAY.
f'
Section 1.
SECRET.
No. 1.
[44649]
Sir G. Buchanan to Sir Edward Grey .— (Received December 9.)
(No. 331.) .
(Telegraphic.) P.
St. Petersburgh, December 9, 1910.
I CALLED at the Russian Foreign Office this afternoon and paid my first visit to
M. Sazonow.
I began the conversation by assuring M. Sazonow that it was the earnest desire of
His Majesty’s Government to maintain with the Russian Government the closest
possible understanding, and I then told his Excellency how greatly His Majesty s
Government had appreciated his action in communicating to them in such a frank and
friendly manner the results of the conversations which he had had at Potsdam. His
Majesty’s Government had absolutely no reason to suppose that the German Govern
ment were about to approach them with a view to coming to any settlement with regard
to the Bagdad Railway question, but should such a settlement ever come in sight his
Excellency might rest assured that His Majesty’s Government would act in consultation
with Russia and France, and, before concluding any arrangement, would give those
Powers time to conduct parallel negotiations for a settlement on lines consonant with
their respective interests. His Majesty’s Government, on their side, trusted that his
Excellency, in the negotiations now proceeding with the German Ambassador here,
would not give any engagement to effect a junction of the Bagdad Railway with the
future North Persian systems until some satisfactory settlement with regard to the
Gulf section of the Bagdad Railway had been reached by the British and German
Governments.
All my remarks as to Anglo-Russian relations were warmly reciprocated by
M. Sazonow. His Excellency then went on to explain that he had been forced to enter
into an engagement for linking-up the two systems, owing to the fact that the privileged
position hitherto enjoyed by Russia with regard to the construction of railways in
North Persia had come to an end in the present year, and that it would therefore have
been open to Germany to obtain the concession for constructing a line from Khanikin
to Tehran had he not met her wishes with regard to linking-up the systems, and
so secured her renunciation of her other claims. On my observing that Germany, with
this engagement in her pocket, might be less disposed than ever to come to terms with
us on the question of the Gulf section, his Excellency replied that the engagement
could not take effect until many years had elapsed. His Excellency said that negotia
tions with Count Pourtales had begun yesterday, and he promised to let me have a copy
of the proposals which he had drafted and submitted to the German Ambassador. He
expected that exception would be taken by the German Government to some of these
proposals. I expressed to M. Sazonow my thanks for this fresh proof which he was
giving of his confidence.
I hope to forward to you to-morrow, by safe opportunity,-a copy of these draft
proposals. . • -n t > i i.
With regard to the scheme for the conversion of the Russian Bank s depts to the
Persian Government, M. Sazonow seemed to be in a calm and rather optimistic fiame
of mind. He quite understood the position in which His Majesty’s Government stood
with regard to the Imperial Bank of Persia, and he hoped, now that a satisfactory
solution of the Kashan incident had been reached, that coercive measures would not
Rave to be taken by Russia.
[1821 1—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.

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English in Latin script
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File 2764/1904 Pt 3 'Baghdad Railway: general negotiations 1910-1912.' [‎174r] (358/544), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/58, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100064831519.0x00009f> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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