Papers of the Interdepartmental Conference on Middle Eastern Affairs [‎4r] (7/290)

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It was generally agreed that while it would be prudent to
construct the permanent way so as to admit of conversion if
required at a later date, it was desirable to keep the metre gauge
for the present so as to avoid break of bulk at Baghdad.
The question of finance was then raised.
Mr. Shuckburgh said that the accepted policy was that the
Government of India were hot required to contribute towards
expenditure in Mesopotamia.
The Chairman confirmed this and explained that while the
exact future of Mesopotamia had yet to be determined, its adminis
tration would be carried on through the foreign Office, and
expenditure thereon would appear in the Foreign Office estimates.
Mr. Bar stow said that up tp the present expenditure on the
Mesopotamia railways had been charged to votes of credit, but that
a pledge had been given that this form of sanction would be
discontinued after the 31st March next. Under a vote of credit
there had been, he understood, no need to provide separately for
expenditure on these railways. In the future each project and the
expenditure upon it would have to be defended on its merits. .
After some discussion it was agreed that the work should
proceed forthwith, and that the best available provision should be
made for its cost.
The Chairman summed up the conclusions which had been
arrived at by the Conference as follows :—
(1.) The Euphrates metre gauge line should be pushed on
between Nasrieh and Hillah. The permanent way
should be so constructed as to admit of conversion to
standard gauge at a later date.
(2.) The Khanikin metre gauge line should be completed to the
frontier, but at the moment it Avould be inopportune to
approach the Persian Government with a view to further
extension in the direction of Kermanshah.
(3.) It was desirable that the survey via Kifri to Mosul should
proceed, but it should not be carried beyond the
limits of the British sphere as defined in the Sykes-
Picot Agreement, without further orders. Surveys in
the direction of the Wazna Pass should be abandoned.
(4.) Any further extension of the Tigris line in the direction of
Mosul was inadvisable at present.
(5.) Work on the Mirjawa-Nep line should not be continued
beyond the Persian frontier.
These recommendations were agreed to, and the Conference
terminated at 12*30 p.m.
(Initialled) C. of K.
Foreign Office, S.W. 1,
January 11, 1919.