'File 73/7 V (D 38) Status of Kuwait, Anglo-Turkish Convention' [‎16r] (44/216)

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"not less than" with regard to such
participation. It would ultimately have
to be explained in Parliament what the
real understanding was, and it thus
seems useless to adopt a wording which is
not straightforward in the convention.
Herr Zimmermann is, I understand, the
devoted parent ot this ridiculous " paral
lelism".
It is of great importance that we should
secure a time limit j but it seems that
we should now first aim at an arrange
ment as contemplated in the last para
graph of article 4 (c), and that negotia
tions to this end should be hastened.
This proposed addition goes beyond
anything conceded in the Baghdad Rail
way Convention of 1903, and, from the
wording (as read to me by Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ),
of a draft agreement between the Com
pany and the Ottoman Government, it is
evidently the aim of the Company to
secure thereby rather extensive rights of
navigation. I think the limits of such
navigation rights, if conceded, should be
carefully restricted, and possibly the
services in question might be performed
by Lord Inchcape's Company in which
the Germans are to participate.
His Majesty's Government might pos
sibly undertake to use their best endea
vours to this end, but it is considered
objectionable to admit the German Gov
ernment to any share of responsibility.
The " recommendations " made at the
informal conference of the 9th Septem
ber 1913, might be the interpretation of
this article, and might be embodied in
an annex to this convention.
this participation could, in the opi
nion of the Imperial Government,
lead to a successful conclusion of this
agreement. The German Govern
ment lays great stress on the wording
proposed, which establishes some sort
of parallelism with clause {d), article
2, but it is at the same time under
stood that the wording does not mean
to establish any claim beyond the 20
per cent, share we ask for. This 20
per cent, share is meant to represent
a permanent proportion of the share
capital, so that in case of future changes
in the capitalisation this proportion
shall always be maintained.
In article 4, clause (c), we propose
to strike out the words beginning with
*' not continue " till " case they shall."
The Baghdad Railway interests are
willing to let their transport privileges
on the river lapse after the comple
tion of the main line to Basra, but do
not see their way to agree to a fixed
time limit, as proposed in the British
counter-draft. It is hoped, how
ever, that some arrangement, as con
templated in the last section of clause
(c), might be concluded before the
signature of this convention, rendering
the proposed time limit altogether un
necessary.
In article 5, clause (6), it is proposed
to insert after "to use " the words
" at their stations on the Rivers Tigris
and Euphrates and. "
We propose to restore the contents
of our former article 5 as article 5-A^
or clause (c) of article 5, British
counter-draft, in the wording of our
counter-proposal. In view of the para
mount importance which the Shatt-el-
Arabhas for our interests, being the
only access by sea to the terminus of
the great railway in which so much
capital has been sunk, it is neces
sary for us to have a direct assurance
from His Majesty's Government that
the river will be kept in good conser
vancy and open under terms of abso
lute equality.