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‘Bagdad Ry’ [‎24r] (47/129)

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The record is made up of 1 file (64 folios). It was created in 15 Apr 1899-9 Sep 1905. 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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13
7. The point is important, for if the kilometric guarantee suffices only to
cover the cost of construction of the section of the line which is the cheapest
and easiest, not only by reason of its physical conformation, but also on
account of the favourable climate and of the ample supply of local labour,
then it is clear there will be a large deficit on the more difficult sections and
the deficiency may be so great as to prevent the further extension of the line.
8. If, however, the actual expenditure on the Konieh-Eregi section
amounts to only 8,000/. per mile, then the guarantee, at the capitalised rate
of 17,000/. per mile, would probably suffice if the surplus on the easy sections
were used to make good the deficit on the more difficult portions of the line.
9. The Directors of the Baghdad Railway Company seem to be in a
difficult position. If the cost of construction of the Konieh-Eregli section as
shown in the financial statement is correct, investors will be chary of advancing
money for the more difficult sections, which must now be undertaken. If, on
the other hand, the actual expenditure on this section is as reported by Sir
N. O’Conor, the Directors cannot make known the true position without pub
licly divulging the fact that about r00,000/. of the Company’s money has been
irregularly divided among the bankers and others who participated in the
scheme.
10. If the construction of the line is proceeded with, our object must be
to secure the control of the Basrah-Baghdad section.
11. It seems possible that Germany might be induced to yield that condi
tion if we met her in other directions.
12. M. Cambon, in a recent conversation with Lord Lansdowne,
expressed the opinion that the French Government would not favour this
proposal; but it is doubtful whether the French Government has given full
consideration to the subject.
13. At present Germany has complete control over the Anatolian Rail
way; and France has a monopoly of railway construction in Syria as far
south as Mezerib.
14. British control of the Basrah-Baghdad section might fairly be
regarded as a legitimate counterpoise to the French and German railways in
Syria and Aaia Minor, respectively.
15. In view of our present cordial relations with the French Government,
it seems probable that, if representations were made, no opposition would be
offered to the proposal that we should control this section of the line, more
particularly as we should undertake not to establish differential tariffs in our
own favour.
16. It is clear from the former negotiations that the German Government
is strongly averse from the internationalisation of the Anatolian Railway.
We might without serious disadvantage consent to the Anatolian Railway
remaining under German control, provided that we were given control of the
Basrah-Baghdad section, and that the 10 per cent participation and share in the
directorate by the Anatolian Railway of the Baghdad Railway previously
stipulated for were withdrawn.
17. France, Germany, England, and the minor Powers might then
combine to participate in the construction, on an international basis, of that
part of the Baghdad Railway which lies between Konieh and Baghdad (about
900 miles), together with any branches that might be constructed between
these two points, such as those to Alexandretta and Aleppo.
18. The Board of the international section might bo composed in the
following proportion :—
Country.
Percentage.
Great Britain
...
...
.
... 30
France
• ••
...
.
... 30
Germany
...
...
.
... 30
Minor nations
...
...
.
... 10
100

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Content

The file contains correspondence, reports and memoranda relating to the Baghdad Railway, and papers relating to Britain’s relations with Persia [Iran], and to a lesser extent, the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .

Papers relating to the Baghdad Railway include the following memoranda: ‘Memorandum on the Baghdad Railway, and possible British participation therein’; ‘Memoranda containing a Brief Account of the Negotiations relating to the Baghdad Railway, 1898-1905’; and ‘Report (with Maps) on the country adjacent to the Khor Abdullah, and places suitable as Termini of the proposed Baghdad Railway’ (which includes two maps: Mss Eur F111/360, f 32 and Mss Eur F111/360, f 33).

The file also includes:

  • Copies of printed despatches from the Marquess of Lansdowne (Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice), Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to Sir Charles Louis des Graz, Secretary of the British Legation, Tehran, dated August 1902, reporting conversations between himself and the Shah of Persia and the Atabeg-i-Azam (also spelled Atabek-i-Azam) concerning Britain’s relations with Persia, including the increase in the Persian Customs Tariff
  • Handwritten notes by George Nathaniel Curzon relating to Persia (folios 43 to 50)
  • Newspaper extracts from The Times , dated January 1902 and May 1903, relating to British interests in Persia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and Russian relations with Persia (folios 54 to 63).

The file includes a copy of a letter from Sir Nicholas Roderick O’Conor, British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, to the Marquess of Lansdowne, enclosing an extract from the Moniteur Oriental of 15 August 1905, regarding the working of the recently completed section of the Baghdad Railway from Konia to Eregli and Boulgourlou, which is in French. The file also includes a copy of a letter from Joseph Naus to Sir Arthur Hardinge, HM Minister to Persia, 3 May 1903, relating to the export of cereals, which is also in French.

Extent and format
1 file (64 folios)
Arrangement

The papers from folios 1 to 42 are arranged in no apparent order, Curzon’s handwritten notes from folios 44 to 51 are enclosed in an envelope - folio 43, and the newspaper cuttings from folios 54 to 63 are enclosed in an envelope - folio 52.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 64; 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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‘Bagdad Ry’ [‎24r] (47/129), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/360, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100074887171.0x000030> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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