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File 2764/1904 Pt 3 'Baghdad Railway: general negotiations 1910-1912.' [‎239v] (489/544)

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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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■ nBKMHMi
2
I said that I would make a memorandum of what he had said and send it in, hut
that it would he impossible to give him an answer before he returned to Paris on the
21st July. My own personal criticisms on the propositions were as follows :~
\ p£ points (n) and (h) were to be arranged between the French and Germans
without a simultaneous agreement being made as to (c), Franco-German financial
co-operation would be brought about and the progress of the Bagdad Railway
facilitated, to the direct damage of British interests. .
(2.) As to point (c), it did not seem to me to offer a practical solution ; m the first
place I did not believe that the Germans would willingly agree to waive their rights on
the Gulf section as suggested ; in the second place, it seemed to me precarious to make
the permanent interests of the British syndicate m the Gulf section dependent on a
contract with Youssouf Said, since such a contract would, I thought, only be enforce
able, if at all, in the Turkish courts which were corrupt; in the third place, I believed
Rie Turks would at once see through the subterfuge of putting forward T oussouf Said
Bey as a figure-head. .
(3.) There were other British firms,* besides that of Mr. Barry, interested m the
project of a railway from Bagdad to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and His Majesty s Government
could not give Mr. Barry preferential support.
For these reasons I did not think that His^Majesty’s Government would be likely
to agree to the customs increase if the proposition of Mr. Barry went through ; more
over, it seemed to me doubtful if Youssouf Said Bey would get any concession whatever
from the Turks.
Mr. Barry admitted the force of (1) and (2). As for (3), he said he would he
quite willing to join any other firm approved of by His Majesty’s Government.
Mr. Barry called again next day and I read this memorandum over to him, and he
said it was a correct record of what had passed between us. Since then, however, he
has written the annexed letter :—
« p) ear jyjp Parker, “ 2, Queen Anne’s Gate, Westminster, July 20, 1910,
“ In thinking over my conversation with you last night, I believe you informed me that you had
mentioned in your memorandum that, in your opinion, the agreement entered into by me with
Youssouf Said Bey is of little value, as it could only be enforced in the Turkish courts, which courts
cannot be trusted to administer impartial justice, and that I agreed with you. I would, however, in
order to prevent any misunderstanding, like to point out that, so far as I personally am concerned,
I have no means of forming an opinion as to the trustworthiness or otherwise of the Turkish
courts, but merely accepted your views on the subject.
“ Yours sincerely,
“ A. J. Barry.”
Foreign Office, July 21, 1910.
A. P.
* Viz., Sir E. Cassel and Messrs. Ogilvy, Gillanders, and Go.
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About this item

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.' [‎239v] (489/544), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/58, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100064831520.0x00005a> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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