"مذكرة تتعلق بالملاحة في نهري دجلة والفرات". [ظ‎‎٥‎٧] (٢٨٤/١١٥)

98
to constitute a right for the future. Sir N.
O 'Conor, in his reply (25th October, 1891)), (Appendix XXIX.)
maintained that the privilege was granted in
virtue of a promise made by the Sultan (June
1899), and observed that, on account of the
binding nature of the engagement taken, 1 ' he
must continue to regard it as in full force. He
pointed out to the Eoreisrn Office, however, that Sir N T . O'Conor,
r . . Nos. 518 and 585,
as no irade had been issued in confirmation of November 7 and
the vizierial orders of June 1899, the latter were |^ lnt,(r ^
held to be revocable ; but this theory he had
disputed, and he believed that the company would
be able to continue under the later arrangement
to tow their barges unmolested. From admissions
made by Lynch'-s agent it was evident, as stated
by the consul at Bussorah, that the " empresscment Sir N. O'Conor to
about the barges was fictitious," and that, whilst r)ec^a.her' d ^9^ D,
there was more cargo than the company's 1899 -
steamers could carry at low water, the vessels
would often go up the river half empty if they
had not accumulations to work off in the hi Mi
season. After the issue of the Sultan's irade
the company continued to tow barges until the
question of their right to do so was challenged in
1902.
In October 1901 the Euphrates and Tigris Euphrates and
Steam Navigation Company complained that
nothing had been done to improve the condition ^ om pany,
of tlie Tigris, which continued to deteriorate year an^u^^ 1 '
hy year, and that, as a result of the state of the 1902 -
river, their service had become disorganised and
cargo had accumulated at Bussorah, notwith
standing the use of barges. They asked that
permission should be obtained for them to use
their reserve steamer, the " Blosse Lynch," for a
definite period of three months to work off the
accumulation, and stated that to allay Turkish
susceptibilities they would be willing to run the
vessel under the Ottoman flag. Sir N. O'Conor S ir N. O'Conor
wasot opinion, however, that the time was not No8 -^ and 433,
opportune for approaching the Porte on the
subject, particularly as the local authorities were
hen active in attempts to curtail the privileges
enjoyed by the company, and a report had
tllTVl ^ TUrkiSh P re8S t0 effect that
lurkish Minister of Marine recommended
suspension of the company's service, in view ot
losses sustamed by the Oman Company in conse •
quence of competition with the British line WUh
stated thaU S rePOrt ' , ' WtiVer ' the Grand Vizier
lhat he Was not aware of any intention to