File 2764/1904 Pt 4 'Baghdad Railway: Anglo-Turkish negotiations; proposals of Turkish Govt; status of Kowait' [‎268r] (540/674)

r/ v'
m- ■ 32^1
mi^c^ntjsJmPr operty of His Britannic Majesty’s Goyerarr^f.
EASTERN DEPARTMENT.
SECRET SERIES.
f* glMAift 1911
[March 13.]
Section 3.
[9095]
No. 1.
(No 65 . Str E - 0oschen to Sir Edward (drey.—(Received March 13.)
Sir, r> 7 -
subje™ 1 ft ^ ^ W ofSe ^the
Ac ! i A 1 Lai ? dd( ^ Dai lw ay and Koweit questions has, according to the “ Nord
a faV £ ?- able “—ion official circles"
understanding' can hp^rT ’ ^ paper says, clearly shows the lines on which an
understanding can be discussed and arrived at, both as regards the raising- of the
U The ImneHll C? and the b ^ ldm ^ the railway Rom Bagdad to the Gull”
e mpenal Chancellor told me this evening that it was he himself who had
caused this paragraph to be inserted, and he asked me to tell you how much he
appreciated your clear and conciliatory language on these two questions His
Excellency also said that he was glad to be able to say that he noted a general
improvement m the relations between the two countries. This opinion was, he told me
shared by Count Mettermch, whom no one could ever accuse of exaggerated optimism’
The Chancellor did not mention the question of Koweit, but the press this evening
has much to say on the subject. A.s the messenger leaves to-morrow morning, I have
not time to give more than the briefest summary of their remarks. The “ Vossische
Zeitung says while expressing itself very favourably as regards your statement
regarding the Bagdad Railway, that it cannot on the other hand agree with your
observations respecting Koweit. It says that though the Turkish sovereignty over
Aoweit has for many years laid dormant it nevertheless exists, and that though through
this sovereignty not having been made effective Great Britain has been able to obtain
a footing there, the treaties she has made with the Sheikh of Koweit cannot be held as
valid, as they are not recognised by Turkey. It adds that things now are not as they
were, and, that with the regeneration of Turkey, a thorough examination and exchange
of views on the subject between the two Powers concerned cannot be much longer
delayed. ^
Ihe “ Kreuz-Zeitung,” at the close of a loug historical article on the subject of the
position of Great Britain in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , says that the necessity of putting an
end to all doubts on this question has now become acute, and that, as it is in itself a
question of right, the Court of Arbitration at The Hague would seem to be the proper
place to have the matter definitely thrashed out. It adds that though it can hardly
be supposed that, as the first and foremost champion of the principle of arbitration,
Great Britain could refuse such a proposal were it to be made to her by Turkey, still
it cannot be denied that there are certain difficulties arising out of the general situation
which stand in the way of such a solution.
In a second article on the same subject, the “Kreuz,” after scoffing at the British
idea that in this question Germany stands behind Turkey, quotes largely from Mahan’s
articles, and especially from an article by that w r riter in the “ National Review ” of
September 190^, in which he comes to the conclusion that as long as Germany’s
nearest harbour to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. lies in the North Sea, the Bagdad Railway, as far
as that Power is concerned, constitutes strategically no danger to Great Britain. The
“ Kreuz-Zeitung ” says that Englishmen will not fail to remark that Mahan’s article
was written before Germany commenced to build Dreadnoughts, and that the situation
has thereby been changed, and it adds that articles have appeared in the British
press to the effect that, though Great Britain has the power to maintain her position in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , it can only be done by weakening her naval strength in Home
waters. This argument, the “ Kreuz ” observes, applies in a far greater measure to
Germany, for if she detach even a fairly strong squadron to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , how
could she possibly defend her coasts against an attack by the British fleet ?
The article then says : “ If we understand the policy of Great Britain in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. correctly, her idea is that she must exclude from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. any
foreign fleet which is, or might become, strong enough to threaten India or the British
sea-routes from the Suez Canal to the East. An effective means for realising this idea
would be to set up a new Aden or Gibraltar, either on Persian or Arabian territory, at
[1932 n —3 I