File 2764/1904 Pt 4 'Baghdad Railway: Anglo-Turkish negotiations; proposals of Turkish Govt; status of Kowait' [‎325v] (655/674)

employed, and if a foreign staff is required to work the railway when completed, would
application be made to this country for suitable candidates, and would this country be
given equality of treatment with others in regard to the posts to be filled ?
& Then His Majesty’s Government, realising the immense importance of the railway r
as constituting the future highway for fast traffic between this country and the Indian %
Empire, feel confident that the Ottoman Government will appreciate the necessity of
selecting as the terminus of the railway a point best adapted to economy of time.
His Majesty’s Government are advised that there is a consensus of opinion amongst
those interested in shipping that the most suitable place for a port would be the
harbour of Koweit: there ocean-going steamers of large tonnage could enter at all
states of the tide and at all seasons of the year and, within a few minutes of leaving
the open sea, could come alongside a quay where passengers and merchandise might,
without loss of time, be transferred to the railway adjoining.
On the other hand, the town of Bussorah is obviously not suited for the maritime
terminus of a great trans-continental railway: situated as it is several kilometres
from the mouth of a river which presents exceptional difficulties of navigation,
especially at times of drought, if it became the terminus it would entail, even in
the most favourable conditions of tide and weather, a delay of from ten to twelve
hours in reaching the open sea : moreover, the tendency of modern steamers is to
increase in tonnage, and ultimately the larger vessels would not be able to approach
Bussorah, with the consequence that transhipment to smaller vessels would be
necessary.
His Majesty’s Government are further of opinion that, in view of the great
predominance of British trade interests in the Persian Gidf, it would only be just
d; ,t British contractors should build the harbour at Koweit; if His Majesty’s Govern-
mont agreed to the customs increase while merely insisting that Turkey herself,
and not Great Britain, should control the line of railway between Bagdad and the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the least they could expect would be that Turkey should allow Great
jir tain to construct, and to have a share in the control of the port at Koweit: indeed,
she rt of some arrangement of this nature, it would be quite impossible to satisfy
British public opinion and to defend the assent of His Majesty’s Government to the
inc 'ease of customs.
His Majesty’s Government, in making this proposal to the Ottoman Govern-
rnent, have an earnest desire to co-operate with them in an amicable settlement of a
question which, if it remains in suspense, may give rise to much inconvenience in
future.
There is one further point to which His Majesty’s Government wish to draw
attention:—their desire that the Ottoman Government should consent to the removal
of existing restrictions on the borrowing powers of Egypt: they feel confident that
tu Ottoman Government will not fail to recognise how reasonable is this request,
and to take it into their favourable consideration.
From certain observations which his Excellency the Minister of Finance has made,
H Majesty’s Government are led to conclude that the Imperial Ottoman Govern-
it would deprecate the assent of the Powers being made subject to conditions to
be embodied in a formal convention : His Majesty’s Government fully realise the
ortance of this consideration and, with a view to meeting the wishes of the
)man Government on the subject, they would suggest that the Ottoman Minister
'< Foreign Affairs should address to them a note, which if desirable could be regarded
t confidential, conveying assurances with regard to the points enumerated in this
munication: in such an event, and on learning that the other Powers had notified
r assent to the Ottoman Government, His Majesty’s Government would be prepared
? gree to an increase of the customs for an initial period of three years, terminating
m ipril 1914 when the seven years during which the former increase was to continue
come to an end.
If, at the expiration of the period in question, the arrangements which have
been outlined were being executed in a satisfactory manner, His Majesty’s Government,
'Mio are keenly interested in the economic prosperity of the Ottoman Empire, would
: ake no difficulty in assenting to the continuance of the increased duties (up to 15 per
u n- ) for a further period, subject to the agreement of the other Powers.
. Foreign Office, July 29, 1910.