File 3104/1915 Pt 2 ‘German War: conquered territory: status: question of trading; looting, etc., of goods by Turks’ [‎182r] (370/493)

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ENCLOSURES.
ENCLOSURE No. 1 :—India Office to Foreign Office.
P. 2169. 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. ,
Sir, 21st June 1915.
With reference to previous correspondence regarding the claims of
British firms in respect of goods stated to have been seized or destroyed by
the Turks prior to the British occupation oi Basra, I am directed by the
# Xo. 33, Foreign and Political Depart- Secietaiv of State for India to enclose, to
ment, dated 20th May 1915, with be laid before the Secretary of State for
enclosures. Foreign Affairs, copy of a letter* from
the Government of India on the subject.
The reply to the Government of India’s enquiry should presumably be that
such steps as may be found possible will be taken at the conclusion of the war
to recover damages from the Turkish Government for the destruction, &c., of
British property ; but that in the meantime, unless Sir P. Cox can suggest
some means of effective local action, the matter must necessarily remain in
abeyance. Mr. Chamberlain would be glad to learn whether a reply on these
lines would meet the views of the Secretary of State for foreign Affairs.
Of the firms enumerated in the two lists which are among the enclosures
in the Government of India’s letter, the
claims of Messrs. Alois Schweiger & Co.,
Ltd.,t may be disregarded, as it has
been decided that this Company, being of Austrian nationality, is not entitled
to diplomatic support from His Maiesty’s Government—a decision which was
communicated to Sir P. Cox on the 2Stii May last. The other foreign firms
included in the lists, viz., the Standard Oil Company of New York, and the
Societe de Transports Fluviaux (Nos. 1 and 8 in the second list), should
presumably'be referred to their own Governments for assistance in recovering
their claims. It is not apparent whether Messrs. J. Shamash & Co., of Colwyn
Bay (No. 9 in the lirst list) are connected with Messrs. B. Shamash Bros. & Co.,
of Manchester, who name has recently been before His Majesty’s Government
in connection with enemy remittances to Persia. As Sir E. Grey is
aware, Sir P. Cox was instructed by telegraph on the 1st June 1915 to take
no action on behalf of the latter firm pending further orders.
I have, Ac.,
The Under Secretary of State A. Hirtzel.
Foreign Office.
t Xo. 1() in first list.
Xo. 2 iu second list.
ENCLOSURE No. 2 :—Foreign Office to 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. .
No. 81,872. Foreign Office,
Sir, 29th June 1915.
I am directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to acknow
ledge the receipt of your letter P. 2109/15, of the 21st instant, and to suggest that
the replv to the enquiry of the Government of India as to the intentions of His
Majesty’s Government in regard to the disposal of the claims of British firms
in respect of goods stated to have been seized or destroyed by the Turkish
authorities prior to the British occupation of Basrah, should be that the claims
will be noted for such action as may be possible at the end of the war.
The claims will be dealt with by the Foreign Claims Office of the esta
blishment of which you were notified in the letter from this Department of
the 28th of May 1915.
T am to add that the Secretary of State concurs in the proposal that the
foreign firms whose claims are included in the list communicated by the
Government of India should be referred to their own Governments.
I am, Ac.,
The Under Secretary of State A. Law.
for India.