"مذكرة تتعلق بالملاحة في نهري دجلة والفرات". [و‎‎٤‎٩] (٢٨٤/٩٨)

81
Sir W. White,
No. 50,
Commercial,
March 28,1890.
Mr. Fane,
No. 119,
Commercial,
June 20, 1890.
Sir W. White,
No. 178,
Commercial,
September 11,
1890.
Mr. E. Law,
October 16, 1890.
To Sir W. White,
No. 137,
Commercial,
October 29, 1890.
Enclosure in
Sir W. White,
No. 21,
Commercial,
February 20, 1891.
With a view to obtaining reasonable freedom for
coasting trade to be carried on by British vessels
in Turkish waters, Sir W. White had previously
proposed that an article respecting u cabotage
should be inserted in the new treaty. The
cabotage question was discussed by the British
and Ottoman delegates, and, when" reporting
proposals on the subject made by the latter,
Messrs. Law and Wrench suggested, as one of
the conditions of acceptance, that certain
desirable facilities for Messrs. Lynch's xvaviga-
tion Company should be formally guaranteed."
Sir W. White, observing that he was desirous to
render secure the rights of navigation on the
Tigris and Euphrates possessed by the company,
recommended that Mr. Lynch should be com
municated with on the subject, and Mr. Law,
one of the British delegates, was deputed to
interview the directors of the company, who
informed him that they would be glad to have
tbeir rights of navigation On the rivers specifically
confirmed in connection with the new treaty, and
at the same time obtain the privilege of running
a third steamer and towing barges. Mr. Law
thought that a satisfactory declaration might be
obtained from the Ottoman delegates definitely
confirming the rights exercised on Tigris and
Euphrates, with a slight extension of those
privileges, but he considered (evidently having in
mind the firman of 1834) that, as the navigation
privileges were originally granted to the Govern
ment,, it would be advisable in any reference to
the question to speak of British ships, and not to
mention any particular company. SirW". White
was instructed that steps should be taken to
carry out Mr. Law's suggestions, but, failing
discussion by the delegates, he was told to urge
them upon the Porte.
At the twenty-second meeting of the delegates,
held on the 17th February, 1891, the question of
the privileges enjoyed by Messrs. Lynch's Navi
gation Company " and formerly accorded to the
Indian Government," was raised in connection
with Article 16 ("cabotage") of the treaty. The
Turkish delegates objected to the mention in
any way of the Government in connection with
these exceptional privileges, as such mention
might lead to undesirable complications with
other Powers under the most -favoured-nation
clause, but they were prepared to discuss the
subject as regards the private company.
[163—1] Y