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Coll 28/95 ‘Persia. Relations with H.M.G. Private claims against H.M.G.: case of the S.S. “Kara Deniz”.’ [‎218v] (436/691)

The record is made up of 1 file (343 folios). It was created in 29 Oct 1927-10 Feb 1938. It was written in English and French. 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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38
(Sic?
waters.
banking account in Constantinople, in the Ottoman Bank and the Bank of
Russia. I had some immoveable property in Constantinople which I trans
ferred to Ismail Hucky Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . I had to execute a sale deed in his favour. He
was a Government servant. He was 1 st Director of the Seir Sefani Company
and Chief de L’attendance Militaire, that is to say the Supply and
Transport Department. I sgreed to pay TT15,000 and he took the
boat at Hodeidah in whatever condition she was, paying for the coal
on board in addition. I have no notes here of the terms of this purchase.
It was understood at first that the crew was to be paid off at Hodeidah.
When I heard the ship had left Hodeidah I agreed to pay TT360 a month
for wages from the loth August. I never sent out any crew before
war broke out. I sent 7 men, Greeks, who arrived about 20 days ago.
3 Officers, 3 Engineers and a cook from Greece. I thought I could get sailors
here. I telegraphed for them from here in January. I had the men ready
before I left Greece. Four of them are serving in other boats, three are new.
From the time I bought the Kara Deniz I had been making arrangements
for the Officers and crew. No steps w T ere taken to bring them out until
January. The Seir Sefani Company does not belong to the Turkish Govern
ment, but it is subsidised. If she had belonged to the Turkish Government
the Officers would be Government servants. I am prepared to contradict the
Captain if he says he ^vas. It may be under control of Government. The 1st
Director is the person whose name I have given. He was not 1 st Director
ex officio. Before him a year ago there was a European Manager. I believe
an Englishman. I had been pn the Kara Deniz in April or May, for the last
time before I bought her. I had a survey made by myself and my Engineer
called Mitso in December-January. I have not got any report. The ^Kara
Deniz had been bought by the Company for T15,000. I paid that and T3,500
more. I thought she had been bought cheap. The Company had not renewed
the engine. The Company owed me more than TT 10 , 000 . The agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. firm
had to recehe that from the Treasury. In all <£T30,000 were due. I was
doing transport work for them and supplying coal, for the last 4 or 5 years.
In September or October I was forced to do that work, transporting troops from
Constantinople to Beyrout under the Persian Flag. The last thin" I heard
from my partner was that he had removed the crews to avoid them being used
tor the Government. I have a letter here of the 13th October. In the begin-
nmg of August the Turkish Government commandeered all steamers. °In
August and September my ships w T ere used as transports. In October the
Straits were closed. Ships could sail into the Black Sea under pilotage.
I was paid from time to time by the Turkish Government for transnortin"
CT^OO ^ 111 im 150 ’ 000 , t0 f m00 ’ 0Ga In Au & ust 1 had "To receive about
to et’off V*Tinnnn G 1 g 0 t v^f^™ tmgshoW tllat the G ^ernment agreed
set oft J 1 10,000. I paid Tlo ,000 in cash. I had the money in the Wiener
Bank in a safe My books will show I had that money. I have nothing here
to show that. I got a cheque from the Treasury for TT10,000 which I handed
o\ei to the Company Iliad got the- cheque 20 or 25 days before the sale
quite irrespective of the purchase of the Kara Deniz. If the Seir Sefani had
not been a Government Company they probably would not have taken the
cheque. Both parties signed the Register in evidence of the sale and the Port
Tiust authority granted a document which is called ’El Mouhabir and a letter
accompanying it. IJeft Constantinople on the 21 st October T i
immaterial to me whether war is going on or not I want fn Y ^ ^
my busmess. I was afraid of the safety of my wife °
JGreeEs. T remember the German mL-of war, theYjJbe^ In
coming m Turkish war.* It was about the time I bought the Ks^ -n ^’
>1 can’t say that the Turks were preparing for war Therel ^ f
m the way of transporting troops. That was done to mislead Ter aCtUlty
German sailors and soldiers were continually arriving in Alien,? n TTi
as if Enwar Beg, Minister for War, was in the hands of the fW™' Ifc r ke ?
say if Admiral Limpus was dismissed. Mines were laid iif the DardanXs
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Content

Correspondence, reports and other papers relating to the case of the SS Kara Deniz , a Turkish-owned steamship that was claimed as prize by the British Government at the moment of the Ottoman Empire’s entry into the First World War, while the vessel was moored at Bombay [Mumbai]. The papers focus on a financial claim made against the British Government by the vessel’s Greek owners, Socrates Atychides and Theodore Vahratoglou, based on the argument that the vessel had been sold to Persian owners before it was claimed as prize.

The file includes: correspondence beginning in 1927 and exchanged between the Foreign Office, 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. and Government of India, responding to the Government of Persia’s desire to conclude the claim being pursued by Atychides against the British Government; discussion of whether the Kara Deniz was detained prior to or after the Ottoman Empire’s entry into the War; accounts detailing the seizure of the Kara Deniz , including a 1928 note entitled ‘A brief account of the circumstances attending the alleged detention at Bombay of the S. S. “Kara Deniz” prior to her capture as a prize vessel in 1914’ (ff 323-330), and another note entitled ‘Diary of certain events relating to the detention of the S. S. “Kara Deniz” at Bombay in 1914” (ff 151-152); copies of correspondence (some in French) from Atychides; a printed copy of the court proceedings at the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Admiralty and Vice-Admiralty Jurisdiction, entitled ‘Case No. 3 of 1914. In Prize. Steamship “Kara Deniz.”’ (ff 189-246); discussion of the claim in relation to other outstanding claims and disputes to be settled between the British and Persian Governments; a report prepared by HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary A diplomatic representative who ranks below an ambassador. The term can be shortened to 'envoy'. at Tehran, Reginald Hervey Hoare, dated 1935, entitled ‘British claims against Persia’ (ff 84-109).

Extent and format
1 file (343 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 345; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 28/95 ‘Persia. Relations with H.M.G. Private claims against H.M.G.: case of the S.S. “Kara Deniz”.’ [‎218v] (436/691), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3501, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066723405.0x000027> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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