"الملف 73/7 V (D 38) وضع الكويت، والمعاهدة الأنجلو-تركية" [و‎‎٢‎٢] (٢١٦/٥٦)

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(52623).
Hakki Pasha said to me to-day that the great difficulty in the river conces
sion was the desired stipulation as to the British and Turkish members of the Board
votins in block, should Lord Inchcape so decide. He said the necessity for such an
arrangement appeared to rest entirely upon the danger of Mr. Lynch acting m an
unpatriotic manner, and the obvious solution was, if this were so, the exclusion of
Mr. Lynch. In any case he had done nothing but intrigue for months, and he
would be a constant element of trouble on the Board of the new company, hinder
ing its working at every turn. Mr. Lynch was an Armenian and, as he had remark
ed to me before, an Armenian differed from a Jew in that he went on intriguing
even when it was to his own detriment to do so. Surely Mr. Lynch had forfeited
all claim to the support of His Majesty's Government by his recent misconduct
Hakki Pasha was convinced, though he could not of course say so ottLcially, that
Mr Lynch had for months been intriguing against the concession through some
agent at Constantinople, and that the delay in signing the concession and the
difficulties which were now being created, were largely due to Mr. Lynch, who no
doubt had relations with minor officials in the Ministry of Public W orks.
I told Hakki Pasha that Mr. Lynch was now at Constantinople, and he replied
that he supposed he had gone there as his attempt to get at Tewfik Pasha through
the Persian Minister in London had failed.
I asked him if he could find out what Mr. Lynch was doing at Constantinople,
and he said he would send a telegram asking what business he was discussing, and
would let me know the result.
Lord Inchcape tells me that even if Mr. Lynch goes out voting in block must
be retained. I was not able to pursue this to-night, but I will ask Lord Inchcape
the exact reason when I see him on Friday.
I am to have a further meeting with Hakki Pasha about the navigation conces
sion to-morrow morning and one with Hakki Pasha and Lord Inchcape on Friday.
Meanwhile, until we hear more as to what Mr. Lynch is doing in Constantin
ople, no action with regard to him seems possible. Mr. Slaughter, his solicitor,
k very much annoyed at his having gone, as he advised him emphatically not to go,
as the visit would certainly be liable to misconstruction.
(Initialled) A. P.
November 19th, 1913.