'File 73/7 I (D 19) Status of Kuwait & Baghdad Railway, and Anglo-Turkish negotiations 1911' [‎25r] (67/631)

5
that Malimoud Shevket Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and the senior officers by no means approye the
direction given by it to Turkish policy. The lesson learnt by the refusal of
the French Government to allow the late loan to be quoted in Paris has had its
effect, and that there is a tendency in the committee to modify its chauvinism,
at least, temporarily, is shown by the substitution in the secretaryship ot the
moderate Haji Adil Bey, lately Vali of Adrianople, for the violent Dr. Nazim.
Time will, therefore, to all appearances, bring about a change for the better in
our favour, but on the other hand, the causes that are at work may operate
slowly, and in the meanwhile articles such as those of Ismail Hakki—not to
mention hints which have already appeared in the local press that English
intrigues are responsible for the troubles in Kerek—may do us some harm, even
in the eyes of those sections of the people who have now no doubts as to the
sincerity of our friendship.
Another danger from delay lies in the fact that the Turks desire th e
Baghdad Hallway to be built. It is true that the financial arrangements hav e
only been completed for the construction as far as El Helif, but, as the Grand
Vizier implied to Sir Henry Babington Smith, there can be no question but that
the money will be found for the annuities for the sections as Ear as Baghdad.
There is even reason to believe that negotiations for the purpose are already on
foot, and it is thus probable that although the line cannot actually be built for
some years, the Germans may potentially reach Baghdad within a few^ months,
and will be free to turn all their attention and influence to asserting their
existing rights under the concession to the Baghdad Bussorah—- Gulf sections.
It is not, perhaps, out of place to remark here that by her recent pourparlers
with Germany Russia appears inclined to disinterest herself in the southern
sections of the railway.
In my despatch No, 42 of the 29th ultimo I expressed the opinion^ that
too much importance need not be attached t o the advances made by llilaat
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to us for a renewal of negotiations lor a solution of the railway question,
but it is quite possible that if that question and that of Koweit v eie treated
together we should find a genuine and effective desire on the part of the Turks
to come to an agreement. The prospect of gaining something at Koweit would
be a powerful inducement to them to obtain from the Germans the latitude
requisite for them to satisfy our requirements in the railway question. It shoulci
be remembered that the main object in view when, eleven years ago, we entered
into relations with Sheikh Mubarak was to prevent the Baghdad Hailw ay from
reaching the shores of the Gulf except under conditions consonant v ith our
interests, and I venture to suggest that it is worth while considering whether
the moment is not now approaching when we should endeavour to turn our
acquired position at Koweit to account, and whether, if we do not now seize the
opportunity, we may not eventually find that we have saddled ourselves with
responsibilities towards the Sheikh involving us is particularly thorny questions
vis-a-vis of the Turks, without having reaped any commensurate advantage
Our position as regards the actual terminus of the railway at Koweit may still
be secure owing to the agreement of October 1907, but we might now use the
leverage offered to us by the Turkish anxiety to settle the Koweit question to
secure our interests on the Baghdad-Bussorah sections; whereas if we do not, and
if we allow the line to reach Bussorah under purely German control, it appears
to me that a very awkward situation might arise.
A great difficulty in seeking a solution of the Koweit question at present /
will be to find a basis of negotiation. Turkish aspirations will, of course, be |
satisfied with nothing short of an acknowledgment of Ottoman sovereignty P
over the Sheikh and his dependencies, but we have un^^tjmat^, il_
soj been led into such intimate relations with him fhaJlTwoina TC impossMe
for us, with the examples of Albania and Macedonia before us, to abandon iin \
to the tender mercies of the Turks.
The loss of reputation to us both in Arabia and Persia would be immense,
nor would the native mind be capable of appreciating the impor a nee o ic
advantages we should have gained in connection with t.ie l ai way, ^ u v ou
readily credit the Turkish version that we had been compelled o ie c o
2575 F. D.