ملف ٧٨٨\١٩١٩ الجزء ٤ "بلاد الرافدين: التخلص من المراكب النهرية" [ظ‎‎١‎٠‎٨] (٢٤٠/٢١٤)

Telegram—(Code.)
Prom—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—India Office, London.
PTo. 3045.
Dated 7th March, 1920.
Your telegram of March 5th.
List in question was compiled I understand by Colonel Maxwell on
behalf of Ministry of Munitions and Lord Inchcape as representing Ministry
is responsible for its publication an-d circulation.
I understand that it consists of a catalogue of the fleet minus ships re
quired by Military and Civil Administration for 'post-bellum purposes.
I have assumed as also apparently has Lord Inchcape that remainder
are available for sale even though not at once available.
Otherwise Inchcape’s commission to sell fleet and his proceeding at
Bombay would be rendered abortive.
Extract from Police Abstract of Intelligence No. 16, dated 6th March, 1920.
Para. 130. Considerable indignation was shown in the bazaar at the
rumour that all surplus Government River Craft was to be disposed of private
ly to Lynch Bros. Anti-British Agitators immediately seized upon it as an
indication that it was the British Policy to keep the native poor and helpless.
British Chamber of Commerce.
Baghdad, the 8th March, 1920.
To —
The Acting Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
Sir,
At a Meeting of the Committee of the British Chamber of Commerce
held this day, I was requested to communicate to you the following
resolution: —
“ After consideration of the new conditions of sale of River Craft as
published in the Baghdad Times of this date, the Members
assembled decided to lodge a strong protest with the Civil Com
missioner, for transmission to His Majesty’s Government,
against the fresh arrangements made for the sale. The Chair
man was requested to communicate this to the Civil Commis
sioner and at the same time to state the grounds of the Cham
ber’s objections.”
The grounds of the Chamber’s objections are as follows: —
When the original advertisement of the sale of the River Craft appeared
in the Baghdad Times on the 2nd February, the position was obscure. The
Manager of the River Steamship Company, which is controlled bv Lord
Inchcape, when invited to give his views to the Chamber stated that he be
lieved : —
(1) that Lord Inchcape was selling his own property.
(2) that Lord Inchcape had refused to be bound by any conditions as
to the sale of this, Ms own property.
The Chamber then appealed to His Majesty’s Government: —
(1) To delay the sale.
(2) To transfer the sale to Basrah.
(3) To publish lists with full particulars of the craft to be sold.
(4) To give intending purchasers the opportunity to inspect the crafts
that are to be sold.
The position since then has become clearer, it appears : —
(1) that Lord Inchcape is not selling his own property but that he is
selling the property of the Nation.
(2) that Lord Inchcape did make certain conditions as to this sale,
that m fact he gave an undertaking to His Majesty’s Govern
ment that neither he personally nor any of the Companies in
which he is interested should derive any financial advantage
from the sale.
What has been the result of the Chamber’s appeal?
The result has been : —
(1) that the sale has been postponed,