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'File 73/7 I (D 19) Status of Kuwait & Baghdad Railway, and Anglo-Turkish negotiations 1911' [‎276r] (585/631)

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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3
) '
i
seiidiiig troops to Koweit and respected the status guo there, they would not oceiipv
that place or establish a British protectorate over it.
British trade relations with the Sheikhs of Koweit have existed for upwards of two
centuries and, inasmuch as the place has attracted merchants from all quarters by the
equity of its rule and the freedom of its trade. His Majesty's Government could not
consent to any interference with the succession or with the internal administration,
or any infringement of the complete autonomy of the Sheikh. On the other hand,
they are prepared to recognise Turkish suzerainty over Koweit and to rec ogn ise the
Sheikh as a Turkish Kamiakam, provided in other respects the siatus quo is guaranteed,
and the validity of certain agreements which the Sheikh Ins concluded with the
British Government is recognised ; provided the islands of W arba and Bubian are
admitted by Turkey to be within the confines of Koweit', and Turkish military posts
are withdrawn ; and provided finally the Sheikh is admitted to the full and undisturbed
enjoyment of any properties he may own or hereafter purchase on Turkish territory.
Koweit would thus form a sort of enclave within, and forming part of, the Ottoman
Empire, but enjoying complete self-government under Turkish suzerainty.
Certain difficulties have recently arisen in regard to the buoyage uf the Shat-el-
Arab. For a great number of years British shipping has, owing to its volume,
been predominantly, and until recently almost exclusively, interested in these aids
to navigation. For over fifty years the work of surveying, buoying, and lighting
the river has been carried out by British agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. to the general satisfaction of all
concerned.
In these circumstances, His Majesty's Government have some difficulty in
with an engineer to be mutually agreed upon. This commission ^\ould superintend
all matters pertaining to improvement of navigation, and it would likewise superintend
the requisite periodical surveys. m -in
As regards the rest of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , on the other hand, the .l urkish Govern
ment, so far as they are concerned, would recognise the right of Great Britain
(a) to control surveying, lighting, buoying, and pilotage; {h) to police its waters;
and (c) to conduct all quarantine arrangements.
(iii.) The Increase from 11 per cent, to 15 per cent, ad valorem m the Turkish
Customs Duties.
His Maiesty's Government have consistently maintained that they could in no
circumstances assent to the increase in the Turkish customs duties unless a previous
and satisfactory settlement had been reached in regard to the Bagdad Railway
this attitude they adhere; and while they consider ®
gfjarsia sSxStfat ~
rights and ..i.re.i. to, ymg* "SX ol . m
do they feel that they could justify to British ^ cerit . of tlie
which will affect British trade -amounting m ^ litic „f issii es in the
StS?S "0 J** I-""'- *
property in Bagdad. negotiation on these
If the Ottoman Government are prepared to enter upon -g t on the
fe i sw —- -

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' [‎276r] (585/631), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/610, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023839676.0x0000a8> [accessed 25 December 2024]

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