"مذكرة تتعلق بالملاحة في نهري دجلة والفرات". [ظ‎‎١‎٠‎٧] (٢٨٤/٢١٥)

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62
Ambassador at Constantinople was instructed to
call the Porte's attention to the facts stated
therein. He did so, and about two months later
a communication was received from the Porte to
the effect that the necessary works for the
improvement of the navigable channel of the
river would be commenced as soon as the waters
reached the proper level.
In May of this year the company stated that
their Bagdad agents reported that Colonel Loch,
the political agent at Bagdad, had requested
them to return to Bussorah the stationary
barge which they had used for two years at
Bagdad for the discharge of cargo from their
steamers.
From the considerable correspondence which
ensued, it appears that when permission to the
company to tow barges, granted in November
1895, ceased in 1896, a barge was retained at
Bagdad for the purpose of discharging cargo
whenever it was found necessary for the com
pany to do so owing to the insufficient wharfage
accommodation. The Turkish authorities ob
jected in October 1896, and Colonel Mockler
exhausted all efforts to keep the barge, and
Colonel Loch did the same shortly after taking
charge, but without avail. Colonel Loch there
fore requested the company's agent to send the
barge back to Bussorah, in the company's own
interests, lest the Porte might, on the ground
of breach of privilege, refuse a future application
for the renewal of the permission to tow barges.
The letter from the company of the 14th May
was the result.
The company were informed that Her Ma
jesty's Government thought that the Porte were
clearly within their rights in demanding the
withdrawal of the bar^e.
o *
Sir P. Currie reported that he had addressed a
note to the Porte consenting to the withdrawal
of the barge subject to the receipt of assurances
that they would grant the company permission
to tow barges when the river was low, and
would issue instructions expediting the loading
and discharging of ships at Bagdad.
The company asked that permission should he
obtained for them to tow barges during the
Or*mi-nr»
1897— {cont.)
To Sir P. Currie,
No. 84, March 18.
Sir P. Currie,
No. 361, May 26.
Euphrates and
Tigris Steam
Navigation
Company,
May 14.
Sir P. Currie,
No. 408, June 21.
[Note .—In 1884-5 the company aaked for
permission to station a barge at Bagdad for
the same purpose, which was to be tracked
by hand from Bussorah, but the Porte
refused, and the matter, with the concurrence
of Messrs. Lynch 's manager, was allowed to
drop.]
To Euphrates and
Tigris Steam
Navigation
Company,
August 5.
Sir P Currie,
No. 526, ,
August 6.
coming low season.
Sir P. Currie applied to the Porte for this
mission.
Euphrates and
Tigris Steam
Navigation
Company,
September 23.
Sir P. Currie,
No. 685,
October 8.