"ملخص للأحداث الرئيسية. ١٩٠٨" [ظ‎‎٥‎٤] (١٥٦/١١٣)

96.
On the 8 th August, the Political Resident at Aden slated that, according
to a report received by him, the Imam intended to move against the Turks after
the month of Ramzan. The Turks were also snid to be disarming the
Arabs in the Yemen districts. A week later, the Political Resident intimated
that the Turks were reported to be assisting the Dthahyani with arms and am-
munition against the Imam. The latter was apparently desirous of settling
matters with the Dthahyani, but they had declined to do so unless the Imam also
came to terms with the Turks. They also threatened that, if he did not do so,
they would join the Turks.
Early in September it was reported from Perim that four Turkish steamers
had arrived at Zaranik on the 14th August, each containing 400 troops, who
were to operate against the Zaraniks.
A newspaper report of the middle of October reports a general improve
ment in the situation. The Imam Yahya and his Zaidias had not come to
terms with the authorities, but their strength, it was said, had been greatly
diminished by the action of the Shaikhs of Hashid, who, with their contingents,
had made submission to the new regime.
A report from the same source reported that Tahsin Pasha had been ap
pointed Governor of Yemen, and commander of the garrison of that province.
Communications.
%
A.— Maihcays,
The Esgbdad Bait- Towards the end of December 1907, M. Isvolsky communicated certain
views entertained by the Russian Government towards the construction of the
Baghdad Railway. It was stated that great anxiety was felt in Russia as to
the influence which the consequences of the building of the line w ould have
on the actual situation in the Caucasus, Asia Minor, and Persia. It was parti
cularly in the latter country, wliere a junction of the Baghdad Railway with
the future Persian railways would imply an extension of German commercial
interests and competition with existing trade, that alarm for the future was felt.
It was added that although England and France had preserved their liberty of
action, Russia had not the same position of absolute freedom, since, at the
beginning of the recent Anglo-Russian negotiations, M. Isvolsky had given
assurances to Germany that no action w r ould be taken which could in any°w T ay
prejudice German interests, without previous discussion with the German
Government. Notes had consequently been exchanged between Germany and
Russia, with a view to obtaining from Germany guarantees against the ex
tension of German influence in Persia, and to overcoming the opposition of
Russia to the construction of the railway. From this exchange of notes there
had been no results. The conclusion arrived at was that a new situation had
been created, and that the question would have to be investigated in all its
hearings.
At the end of May, an Irode was issued by the Sultan of Turkey sanction
ing the proposals of the Council of Ministers for the construction cf four new
sections of the Baghdad Railway, and also sanctioning the raising of a loan to
meet the cost. The loan of 220 million francs to be issued in instalments,
and to be guaranteed by the surplus of the old revenues of the ceded debt, and
by a surplus ot the tithes already assigned to the kilometric guarantee of the
Anatolian Railway. The line to cross the Taurus range by the valley of the
Tschakyd Tschai, instead of by the pass of the Cilician Gates. The work of
construction on this section will be very difficult, but it will be lessened by
utilising the railway from Meresina to Adana for the transport of materials.
1 rom Adana the line w ill run in an easterly direction across the Euphrates,
and along the foot of the Anti-Taurus range to Helif, a small town which lies
south of Mardiu. Branch lines wall be constructed to connect up with the
large towns which lie off the route, and, no doubt, one of the first of these will
be the linking up with Aleppo and the Aleppo-Damascus line, and so with the
Hijaz Railway.