"مذكرة تتعلق بالملاحة في نهري دجلة والفرات". [ظ‎‎٩‎٤] (٢٨٤/١٨٩)

for an explanation from the Porte with respect
to the alleged temporary nature of the per
mission for navigation thus granted, and to use
his best endeavours to prevent its withdrawal, if
such a step were contemplated, pending the
discussion on the subject between the two
Governments.
The company stated that, as the result of the
barges resuming work, the price of wheat in
Bagdad had fallen 25 per cent.
On the 17th June Mr. Goschen sent
following telegram to Lord Granville :—
the
" Please ask company in London whether
permission to use barges is claimed as a right or
asked for as a favour."
To which the following reply was returned:—
" Her Majesty's Government regard permission
to use barges as a right; but if you are in doubt
as to facts of the case, consult consul-general
at Bagdad."
The instructions given by the* Porte to the
vali were to withdraw the prohibition on barges
being towed during the continuance of the
famine; but the Euphrates and Tigris Steam
Navigation Company stated in a subsequent
letter that 44 they had, on very good authority,
the confirmation of their right to employ iron
and steel barges and to have them towed by
steamers on the Tigris and Euphrates," but they
did not state what that authority was.
On the 16th December, however, Assim
Pasha sent a note to Mr. St. John, Her
Majesty's charge d'affaires, in answer to Mr.
Goschen's enquiries respecting Messrs. Lynch's
position on the Mesopotamian rivers, in which
he said;—
La navigation de 1 Euphrate n^est point
ouverte aux pavilions strangers, et que c'est en
vertu d'un firman special qu'il a conc6d6 k
MM. Lynch de faire naviguer deux bateaux k
vapeur sur ce fleuve.
4< Aux termes de ce firman, MM. Lynch ne
peuvent pas augmenter leur materiel flottant;
c est en raison des circonstances extraordinaires
et de la crise que traversaient les contr&a
environnantes qu'ils ont ^to autoris& a faire
remorquer provisoirement des chalands par leurs
bateaux.'*
Euphrates and
Tigris Steam
Navigation
Company,
June 12.
Mr. Goschen,
No. 50,
Telegraphic,
June 17.
To Mr. Goschen,
No. 27,
Commercial,
Telegraphic,
June 19.
Mr. Goschen,
No. G, June io.
Euphrates and
Tigris Steam
Navigation
Company,
June 26.
Mr. St. John
(Constantinople),
No. 44,
Commercial,
December 29.
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