ملف ٣٨٧٧ لسنة ١٩١٢، الجزء ١، "تركيا الآسيوية: الامتيازات النفطية" [و‎‎٥‎٣] (٨٣٤/١١٤)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majest/s Government.]
[A]
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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Section 3.
[35263]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to Admiralty*
(Confidential.)
Sir, Foreign Office, August 1, 1913.
WITH reference to my letter of tlie 31st July, enclosing a copy of a letter from
Sir R. MacLeod respecting the Mesopotamian oil concession, I am directed by Secretary
Sir E. Grey to request that you will be so good as to bring the following points to the
urgent attention of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
Sir E. Grey has proposed a discussion respecting this concession with Germany ;
he has also informed the Turkish Ambassador that His Majesty’s Government attach
very great importance to a satisfactory arrangement in regard to the Mesopotamian
oil concession, and that they feel confident that the Ottoman Government will use
their best endeavours to secure such a settlement.
The German Covernment may at any moment wish to know what are the wishes
of His Majesty’s Government in regard to the arrangements' respecting the concession,
and Hakki Pasha, who is engaged upon the negotiation of various questions between
His Majesty’s Government and the Turkish Government, has repeatedly asked for
a clear indication of the wishes of His Majesty’s Government in regard to the oil
concession.
The moment, from a diplomatic view, is unusually opportune for negotiations, but
Sir E. Grey is unable to enter upon negotiations either with the German Government
or with Hakki Pasha, because he is unaware of the conditions which it is either
desirable to obtain or possible to accept; until such information is furnished by the
Departments concerned no progress can be made, and a favourable opportunity may
be allowed to go by.
Sir E. Grey understands, from semi-official communication with the Board of
Trade, that there is some possibility of the proposals contained in Sir R. MacLeod’s
letter of the 30th July being acceptable, as the basis of a settlement satisfactory to
His Majesty’s Government, though he has no definite information on the subject.
He considers that there may be some advantage in allotting a certain share to
Sir R. MacLeod’s Company, which derives some claim to participation owing to the
rights of the Bagdad Railway Company ; he also assumes that, on conditions, the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty would be willing to admit that company to
participation, as to exclude a company which commands such large supplies might
possibly have regrettable effects from a naval point of view, though this is a matter
upon which he desires an expression of opinion from the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty.
Sir E. Grey considers it important to bear in mind that the German Government
may, and probably will, claim a certain percentage of oil fuel, and, in case they do, he
would be glad to know, before negotiations begin, what arrangements the Lords
Commissioners would agree to.
Hakki Pasha has intimated that the Turkish Government would insist upon the
retention of a certain, though small, percentage of oil fuel and other products, for
railways, river navigation, and naval purposes.
I "am to state that Sir E. Grey would he glad if the Lords Commissioners, after
communication with the Board of Trade, would furnish him, if possible, by the middle
of next week, with a clear and comprehensive statement as to the points indicated in
the fourth paragraph of this letter.
A similar letter has been written to the Board of Trade.
I am, &c.
W. LANGLEY.
[1825 a—
'Affi * Also to Board of Trade, mutatis mutandis.
15 AUG 1 o i ?•