"مذكرة تتعلق بالملاحة في نهري دجلة والفرات". [و‎‎١‎٠‎٨] (٢٨٤/٢١٦)

10^
y IB
63
Sir P. Currie,
No. 798,
December 4.
1898.
Sir P. Currie,
Nos. 83 and 171,
February 9 and
March 2.
Sir N. O'Conor,
No. 512,
September 29.
1897— (cont.) Sir P. Currio transmitted the Turkish reply
which contained, however, only a vague
assurance that measures would be taken to
improve the course of the river. Sir P. Currie
added that he had made renewed representations
privately and through Mr. Block, the dragoman.
1898. —In a note dated the 7th Eebruary the
Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs intimated
that works were soon to be commenced for the
improvement of navigation of the Tigris, but
declined to permit the towing of barges even
temporarily, and, in a later note, refused to
submit the question again to the Sultan.
As a result of a series of letters from
the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation
Company, pointing out how the Tigris was
silting up, and the consequent loss they were
suffering, renewed representations were made
to the Porte, but Mr. Block reported that
Tewfik Pasha informed him that it was useless
to try and get the Sultan to reconsider hifc
decision as long as he continued to harbour
suspicions of Her Majesty's Government's designs
in the Persian Gulf.
Major Melville (acting consul-general at
Bagdad) reported that he had discussed the
question of applying to the Vali of Bagdad for
temporary permission to tow barges with Messrs.
Lynch's local agent, and that they had come to
the conclusion that an application would do
more harm than good, as it would enable the
Turks to reopen the question of the barge
stationed at Bagdad (see ante, p. 62), and insist
on its removal. SirN. O'Conor concurred in this
Sir N. O'Conor,
No. 665,
December 21.
Euphrates and
Tigris Steam
Navigation
Company,
December 31.
Sir N. O'Conor,
No. 618,
November 23.
1899.
Sir N. O'Conor,
No. 287,
June 6. 1899.
view.
The company repeated their contention that
the question of the barge at Bagdad had nothing
to do with that of the right to tow barges, and
added that the barge would be withdrawn when
the custom-house was enlarged.
During the year a sum of 30,000 piastres was
allotted by the Turkish Government for the
improvement of the Tigris, and an engineer was
employed to build dams and canals at certain
points on the river. Not only, however, was the
sum allowed insufficient for the purpose, but the
Arabs in the locality attacked the engineer and
destroyed the work done by him.
1899.- —SirN. O'Conor reported that as a result
of an interview with the Sultan a vizierial order
had been sent to Bussorah and Bagdad to permit