'File 73/7 II (D 22) Status of Koweit [Kuwait] - Baghdad railway, Anglo Turkish negotiations' [‎227r] (461/540)

forward, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, copv of
a telegram from the Government of India regarding the cahier des charges attached
to the Baghdad Railway Convention.
The Marquess of Crewe is advised that, inasmuch as it is no longer proposed
by His Majesty's Government to participate in the Baghdad-Basrah section, if
constructed, it is not necessary to insist on the amendments suggested by the Gov
ernment of India. While, therefore, he is inclined to agree with the Government
of India that the amendments are desirable in themselves, he will not press them
if Sir E. Grey prefers not to take them up at this late stage.
I am to add that he concurs in the draft articles for a convention in respect
of railways in Asiatic Turkey prepared by the Board of Trade.
With reference to the draft annex on the subject of cotton goods, I am to call
attention to paragraph 5 of my letter P.-2613 of the 8th instant, and to say that
Lord Crewe regards the proposed addition with grave misgiving, not only as tending
to overcharge negotiations which he understands Sir E. Grey to think sufficiently
charged already, but also as likely to bring other Powers into the field with claims
for tariff concessions in favour of their own special interests. In this way the scope
of the negotiations may, he fears, be dangerously enlarged, with serious risks
to the prospects of securing the objects for which alone they were initiated. While
therefore, he is unable to object to the inclusion of a proposal regarding cotton in
the indeterminate form now suggested, he desires to state at once in unequivocal
terms his view that it will be impossible to place it on the same level as the political
conditions, or to sacrifice any of them to it. Those conditions have been advanced,
and can, in his opinion, be fully justified on grounds of Imperial no less than of
Indian interests. The broad answer to the criticism that the tangible commercial
advantage secured is disproportionate to the cash price paid (so far as that criticism
well-founded) is to be found in the very consideration which it is proposed to urge
upon the Turkish Government, viz. that the agreement " to be justly appreciated,
should be viewed not only in the measure of sacrifice or advantage which each
individual clause may imply, but also in its cumulative and future effects upon
Anglo-Turkish relations in general. " The general result of the agreement (above
and beyond particular commercial advantages) will be the secure estabhshment in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. of the political position of Gieat Britain under the shadow of which
alone British commerce can flourish ; while the loss of that position cannot fail to
react seriously upon the prestige and, pro tanto, the commercial interests, of this
country not only in those regions but throughout the East.
A copy of this letter is being sent to the Board of Trade.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
R. RITCHIE.
The Under Secretary of State,
Foreign Office.
{Received on the 5th August 1912, with Political Secretary's letter No. 29, dated ike
19th July 1912.)
[A]
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA. [July 18.] ;
CONFIDENTIAL. ~ S ection 1.
[28322] - ~ Ko> j
Sir Edward Grey to Tew file Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
(Confidential.)
Foreign Office. July 18, 1912.
Y our H ighness,
I H ve the honour to transmit to your Highness herewith a memorandum
embodying the reply of His Maiesty's^Government^to the memorandum cota-
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