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'File 73/7 I (D 19) Status of Kuwait & Baghdad Railway, and Anglo-Turkish negotiations 1911' [‎79r] (172/631)

The record is made up of 2 volumes (334 folios). It was created in 28 Jan 1911-19 Jan 1912. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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No. 1063 (Confidential), dated Bushire, the 24th April (received 1st May) igii.
From— L ieutenant -C olonel P. Z. Cox, C .S.I., CLE, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The H on'ble L ieutenant -C olonel S ir H enry M c M ahon , K.CI E., C.S.I ,
Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department,
Simla.
In amplification of my telegram No. 369, dated the 24th instant, I have the
shaikh of Kuwait to Resident, dated 33r (j Rabi ii honour to submit for the information of the
isag-^nd April 1911. Government of India, copies of the commu-
Resident to Shaikh of Kuwait, No. 1057, dated • ^ n • 1 1 • 1 1 1
23rd April 1911. mcations marginally cited, which have passed
between the Shaikh of Kuwait and myself on
the subject of the protection of Kathama from possible aggression by a Foreign
Power.
Dated 23rd Rabi 11 1329.
From —shaikh Mubarak-es-Subah, Shaikh of Kuwait,
To —lleutenant-colonel P. Z. Cox, c S.I., c.i.e., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
I beg to inform Your Honour that whereas the Island of Bubiyan and
Um Kasr and Safwan are included in the territorial limits of my town of Kuwait
and some years ago the Sublime Porte finding them empty placed military posts
in those places and experienced no objection from the British Government by
way of protection to me; so now, having regard to the negotiations proceeding
among the Powers on the subject of the terminus of the Baghdad Railway, i fear
for Kathama, which is within my boundaries and which is now the subject of
discussion between the great Powers; and I therefore represent to Your Honour
that being shorn of my security from this cause and before the worst happens,
I ask from you three requests and ask you to accept one of them.
Either lease Kathama from me and you protect it and its neighbourhood, or
let me lease it, or give me a written undertaking from the British Government to
protect it and its vicinity from aggression by Foreign Powers, the Turkish Govern
ment being included among them. These are the requests which I have present
ed to you. I want an answer quickly before the occurrence of anything untoward,
such as I fear. I beg for the continuance of your regard and may you remain
safe.
No. 1057 (Confidential), dated Bushire, the 23rd April 1911,
From —dlleutenant-colonel P. Z. cox, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
Xo— Shaikh Mubarak-es-Subah, Shaikh of Kuwait.
Your esteemed letter dated 23rd Rabi 11 1329 was duly handed to me before
leaving Kuwait.
I have the honour to confirm the reply which I gave you verbally, namely
that Kathama is already covered by the assurances which you have received from
the British Government and that there is no cause for the apprehension which
you expressed.
Firstly let me refer you to Colonel Kemball's letter No. 376 of 6th December
1901 which was delivered to Your Excellency by our friend Captain Simons, and
again to the communication made to you by the First Assistant on 3rd December
1902 in reply to your letter of 21st Jemadi I I3 20 j i n which you had asked to be
supplied with 2 or 3 guns which you desired to place at Jahara in order to protect
Kuwait against attack from the land side.

About this item

Content

The volume contains correspondence, memorandums, and newspaper cuttings relating to a proposed Baghdad to Basra railway, an extension of the German Berlin to Baghdad Railway. Much of the correspondence has been forwarded to the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. by the Foreign Department of the Government of India and is between Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Francis Bertie, British Ambassador to France, Louis Mallet, Assistant Under-secretary of State for Near and Middle Eastern Affairs, Charles Marling, British Ambassador to Persia, Arthur Nicolson, Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Henry Babington Smith, President of the National Bank of Turkey, Gerard Lowther, British Ambassador to Constantinople, Rifaat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Edgar Speyer, railway financier, George Buchanan, British Ambassador to Russia, Edward Goschen, British Ambassador to Berlin, Henry Cumberbatch, British Consul General in Turkey, George Barclay, British Minister to Persia, the Board of Trade, and William Graham Greene, Permanent Secretary to the Board of Admiralty. There is also correspondence between Percy Cox, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Bushire, Rear-Admiral Edmond Slade, Stuart Knox, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain, and William Shakespear, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Kuwait.

The volume covers the discussions prior to formal negotiations between Britain and the Ottoman Turks brought about by the Baghdad Railway and its proposed extension to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The issues and subjects involved are:

  • the proposed route of the railway;
  • control and ownership of the section between Baghdad and Basra;
  • location of the terminus, and who will control it, including Slade's report (ff. 64-74) on the suitability of Basra;
  • a proposed increase to customs duty in the region;
  • irrigation of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers;
  • the contract to transport rail materials by the rivers;
  • the status of Kuwait, particularly regarding Turkish and British suzerainty and influence.

Throughout the volume there are newspaper cuttings from English periodicals that relate to the Baghdad Railway and negotiations around it.

Folio 47 is a rough sketch map of the peninsula Ras Tanurah. Folio 230 is a fold-out map of the proposed route of the railway and irrigation of the rivers.

Extent and format
2 volumes (334 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged chronologically. At the beginning (folios 2-5) is a subject index. It is in no particular order and organised under a few broad headings. The numbers refer to folio numbers of the secondary, earlier sequence.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The file consists of two volumes (parts one and two) and the foliation runs through both. The main foliation sequence commences at the title page of part one and terminates at the fifth folio from the back of part two; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and can be predominantly found in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A second foliation sequence runs between ff. 8-291A; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence. There are the following irregularities: 7 and 7A; 13 and 13A; 15 and 15A; 16, 16A and 16B; 17 and 17A; 18, 18A and 18B; 20, 20A and 20B; 21, 21A and 21B; 52, 52A, 52B, 52C; 53, 53A, 53B and 53C; 54, 54A, 54B and 54C; 55, 55A and 55B; 56, 56A and 56B; 57 and 57A; 290 and 290A.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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'File 73/7 I (D 19) Status of Kuwait & Baghdad Railway, and Anglo-Turkish negotiations 1911' [‎79r] (172/631), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/610, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023839674.0x0000a6> [accessed 18 February 2025]

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