ملف ١٩٠٤/٢٧٦٤ الجزء ٢ "سكة حديد بغداد: مفاوضات عامة ١٩٠٨-١٩١٠." [ظ‎‎٧] (٧٩٩/٢٣)

from time to time been made to them by His Majesty before hh ^
nf Armaments ” The Chancellor replied, very testily, that that had been betore
oi armaments. 1 . , • mi p nbancellor went on to say, with reference
to me more than once, but only as a contingency, and not as
be taken into account in negotiations. In the meantime we had to go by what hart
been declared officially in the Reichstag, namely, that the programme would, and must
be carried out in its entirety. The Chancellor reminded me that he had suggeste ua
the rate of shipbuilding could be restricted and spread over more years. 1 agreed that
that was something, but maintained that that would not affect the ultl ^ a f
Finallv, after this short conversation which was degenerating into a wiangle,
Excellency gave very cordial assurances of his desire to come to an understanding with
us of some sort, but added that the most pressing question was that of Persia, and tor
the reasons he had given me. ,
Subsequently I saw Herr von Schoen for a few moments, who also spoke very
seriously, but very pleasantly, on the importance to both Germany and England of
things not being brought to a point where the Imperial Government would be forced to
step in. “ We must come to an arrangement,” he said, “ and remember that what we
really require is not political influence of any sort, but merely to save our face
of our public opinion.” -rr.-ii ^
I asked him what would suffice. I had heard that Herr von Kuhlmann had
suggested a percentage of the material required for any concessions we might obtain
and work. He made at first as if he had not heard of this suggestion, but finally said
that it was far too concrete a proposal, and, moreover, would be likely to create
difficulties with other Powers ; something much vaguer would suffice so long as it made
it clear that German trade and capital were not to be excluded fiom Persia.
I hear that the Deutsche Bank agent opened negotiations about the establishment
of a German bank (for which, I believe, a concession was granted some years ago), and
was successful as far as the Persian Government were concerned; but that he was told
from Berlin to drop the matter for the present as the concession, if officially given,
might cause complications. He is therefore coming home practically empty-handed.