'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎1456] (1611/1782)

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adopt the shortest and most direct line not opoo to verj obvicaa objections, and that
one ot the two routes h.v the way of th„ Euphrates should he preferred, leavins it f„v
those who are interested in the improvement of the communications with the town.
on the Tigns, or further east, to connect those towns with the main line bv „„ c
more branch ra.lways anS by the use of the water communication which exists between
the two rivers. Uot if other considerations are to be taken into account, and if the
co-operation ol the Turkish Government is to be sought in the construction of a railway
, may well happen H at that Government may s« reason to prefer the route bv way
the r.g„s, and any such preference ongl.t lobe a material element in the determination
ot the question.
Your Oommitteee, therefore, having arrived at the conclusion that there is no p.obabi.
lit, of any lino being constructed by unassisted private enterprise, have now to
consider the lollowing question :—
Is it worth the while of England to undertake the making of a line in conjunetien
with Turkey; and is there, in that case, a probability that a practical arrangement can
be made ?
There can be no doubt that if the Government of England were te give its support
in the form of an adequate guarantee, the Turkish Government would give its general
countenance to the undertaking, whatever might be the route that was chosen It i.
the opinion of many very competent witnesses that it would he worth the wbile of this
country to give such a guarantee, even though it should involve a considerable
pecuniary saenflce. Other, are of a different opinion ; and, though admitting that
England would derive certain advantages from the opening of a railway through
pilamia, 1101 ™ ns > d <' 1 ' 'hat those advantages would be of sufficient importance
to justity a serious national expenditure.
Among the wifnesies whoso evidence tends most strongly to support the policy of
incurring the cost ir risk of a national guarantee, your Committee may mention
Viscount Stratford de Eedchffe, Lord StrMhnairn, Sir H. Bartle Frere, Sir Donald
Macleod, Mr. Laing, Colonel Sir H. Green, Colonel Malcolm Green, Captain Tyler,
R.E,, Mr. W. Gifford Palgrave, etc.
Among those who suggest considerations tending to throw doubt on the propriety
of such an expondituro, your Committee would call attention to the ev idence of Lori
bandhurst, Sir H. Rawlinson, Majoi' Chauipain, etc.
Your Committee have had laid before them a Despatch from the Government of
India, expressing an earneat desire that it may be found practicable to carry oat ihe
project, which, it is observed, would be of considereble, bet not of paramount, hopor-
tane. the interest of that country. They infer from it that Ihe Indian G.,vernicnt
whi e it would be prepared to avail itself of the railway if made, and of course to pay
for the services it might require, would object to jein in any direct or indirect .xpeiidi
ture for the purpose of obtaining its construction.
\ our Committee are decidedly of opinion that, if any steps are to be taken toward,
the construction of a line, the best course will be for Her Majesty's Government to
place themselves in communication with the Government of Turkey, with a view to
some arrangement of the nature above described ; ami that the two Governments should
adopted 11 " er ^ !l ea3Ulve ^^ 01 •^ 0 P ul pose of deciding upon the precise route to be
Your Committee have not obtained full information as to the cost of any of the
m.s which have been proposed, but they think it probable that the sum of £10.00(1,000
w u d be amply sufficient to cover the expense of the shortest route at all events.
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