File 2764/1904 Pt 3 'Baghdad Railway: general negotiations 1910-1912.' [‎176r] (362/544)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
BAGDAD RAILWAY.
[December 3.J
SECRET.
Section 1.
[43813]
No. 1.
Sir F. Bertie to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received December 3.)
(No. 452. Secret.)
Sir, Paris, December 2, 1910.
I HAD an opportunity yesterday of carrying out the instructions contained in your
despatch No. 495, Very Secret, of the 28th ultimo, in regard to the Potsdam interviews.
M. Pichon told me that he would communicate to me any further information that
reached him respecting them. He had, he said, just had some conversation on the
subject with M. Nekludoff, the Russian charge d’affaires. His Excellency had expressed
to him surprise and regret at M. Sazonow having embarked on negotiations with the
German Government regarding the Bagdad Railway without previous consultation
with the French Government. It had been agreed that negotiations on that question
should be between the four Governments concerned, and M. Sazonow had treated the
matter with the German Government only. M. Pichon considered that it would have
been more in accordance with the relations between Russia, France, and England if
M. Sazonow had made visits to Paris and London to consult the French and British
Governments before committing himself in negotiations at Berlin. M. Nekludoff,
though personally regretting that M. Sazonow had found himself under the necessity
of negotiating with the German Government without previous consultation with the
French and British Governments, contended that only a subsidiary matter connected
with the Bagdad Railway had been discussed, viz., its connection with Khanikin, and
questions concerning the Russian sphere of interest in Persia. M. Pichon observed to
M. Nekludoff that he quite appreciated the desire of M. Sazonow to improve the
relations between Russia and Germany, and he accepted the assuiances given that the
Potsdam interviews had in no way altered the relations of Russia towaids r ranee and
England. Nevertheless, he regretted that M. Sazonow had entered on the work of his
office by separate negotiations at Berlin.
I have, &c.
FRANCIS BERTIE.