"الخليج الفارسي وخليج عُمان. الموارد والدفاعات الساحلية. ١٩٠٣." [و‎‎٣‎٨] (١٢٠/٨٢)

APPENDIX.
69
which they were interested, but also to ascertain from us
whether anything which they were doing or leaving undone
was detrimental to the interests of this country. (Hear, hear.)
If both those considerations had been present to their minds,
and they had had to choose between the two, I unhesitatinody
express my view that they would have allowed the later
consideration to prevail. VY ith regard to the enterprise to
which reference was made by the two noble lords, I wish
to say very little about it; but as this notice has been for some
time on the paper, I can scarcely pass it over without any
mention at all. Het me, in the tirst place, remind your
lordships that this scheme for a railway to connect the
Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf is not a new idea by any
means. I do not think I am wrong in saying that, for 60 years
or more, the idea has been familiar to the people of this country.
I happened to read the other day an account of a deputation
received by Lord Palmerston on the subject. It may interest
your Lordships to know that Lord Palmerston expressed himself
as follows in regard to it. He said, “ The Government was
“ fully alive to the importance of the Euphrates route. They
“ had given it support, and would continue to support it ; blit
“ he could not give an opinion as to a guarantee without
“ reference to his colleagues.” Later there was a House of
Commons Committee, presided over by Sir Stafford Northcote,
which reported in favour of a scheme which apparently con
templated an expenditure of 10 millions of British money upon
it. In its report the Committee said that, amongst the
advantages to be expected from the construction of the line,
were the more rapid transmission of mails, the possession of an
alternative and more rapid route for the conveyance of troops,
and the great commercial advantage both to England and India
which the opening up of the route would confer; and the
Committee thought it worth the while of the British Govern-
ment to make an effort to secure those advantages, considering
the moderate pecuniary risk which they would incur.
Viscount Goschcn .— What was the date of that ?
The Marquis of Lansdowne. —1872. Now, my lords, far be it
from me to suggest that because those views prevailed at that
time therefore they should be received without question at this
moment. But I do suggest that, considering the manner in
which this Baghdad Railway project has been received in past
years in this country, His Majesty’s Government could scarcely
on this occasion have afforded to brush contemptuously on one
side consideration of the proposals that were made. There was
no moment, I believe, in the history of the question when the
British public would have regarded it with feelings of indifference.
Now, what was the situation with which His Majesty’s Govern
ment found themselves confronted ? The noble lord towards the
end of his interesting speech expressed the opinion that we had
very nearly found ourselves with a German system established at