File 2249/1915 Pt 4 ‘Oil: Mesopotamia & Persia. (General File) 1920–24’ [‎27v] (54/484)

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Telegram X.
From—Political, Baghdad.
To—India Office, London.
No. 12141.
Dated 12th October, 1919.
Your telegram of 7th October item 6 # .
1. Cawnpore 'Woollen Mills—site for erection of factories. Question
* Item 6. —Land proposals; pending vide my telegram of July 22nd, 1918, 6023,
p. l report how many cases. to Foreign not repeated to you, and connected papers.
2. Application by British subjects connected with firm in India for con
cession to make paper pulp from reeds and land to erect factory An East India Company trading post. for purpose.
3. Application to take over military tramways at Basrah. This involves
granting certain rights and facilities equivalent to a concession. Capital in
this case will be entirely local with British management. Military are ready
to hand over tramways at once and important economies will result.
4. Acquisition of land for refinery South of Baghdad at mouth of Diala
on behalf of Anglo-Persian Oil Company. This is being proceeded with as
Company have pre-war rights under protocol to assistance from Turkish Govern
ment in this and other matters.
5. Application for concession for Kadhimain Water Supply. Local
capital British management.
6. Ditto for Najaf. Local capital British management.
7. Application for building sites in new Civil Station South of Baghdad,
many applicants—both British and Native—and great public benefit to be
expected.
8. Applications for concession for Qurnah electric light and water supply.
Local capital and management.
9. Application for motor tramway in Baghdad area. Local capital British
management.
10. Some 20 or 30 enquiries as to agricultural land have been received but
pending a reply to my despatch of 27th June it has not been possible to give -
applicants such encouragement as would enable them to formulate applications.
Local capital will probably be concerned in nearly all cases. •
Addressed 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. , copy to India by post.
Telegram X.
From—S. of S. for India, London.
To—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
No. Nil.
Dated 12th and received 16th February, 1920.
Your telegram of October 12th, 12141, applications regarding land and com
mercial concessions.
Proposals three Basrah tramway, four site for refinery, five and six water
supply, eight water supply and electric lighting all approved.
Proposal two pulp concession not approved.
Proposal ten your attitude regarding enquiry for agricultural concessions*
approved.
Proposal one Cawnpore Woollen Mills. Please telegraph how matter stands
Do you recommend allotment of building site on the grounds of definite public
utility ; you will understand that trading ctoncessions cannot be granted.
Proposal seven civil lines. I have no information regarding this scheme
please report fully.
Proposal nine do you consider provision of tramway urgently necessary.
Principle adopted is that grant of concessions should be avoided but run
ning concerns may be disposed of and reasonable facilities, e.g., allotment of
sites, etc., may be given to enterprises of public utility and urgent importance
on the understanding that agricultural schemes are excluded from any measures
no action must be taken to prejudice agricultural policy of future ‘Iraq Govern
ment. 1 XI
In all cases previous reference should be made to H.M.G.
These remarks do not apply to Mosul Wilayat where your present policy of
avoiding recommendations unless in exceptional circumstances should be con
tinued.