'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎4v] (13/228)

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3. Plague has increased a good deal in
the Crater in spite of all efforts to meet the
epidemic.
TURKISH ARABIA A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. .
4. It is reported that {vide paragraph 4
of the Memorandum for November 1901) plans
are already made for the construction of the
Baghdad Railway line from Eregli to Adana,
via Ulu Kushla, the valley of the Chakitsu and
Arablar. Erom Adana the line would proceed
to Missis, Osmanie, Bagche, and Ispahan,
crossing Giouar Dagh by the Kasanali Pass.
There is at present a deadlock in the financial
position. The Turkish Government is reported
to he willing to give the guarantee for the next
section, 200 kilometres, which would bring the
railway to (about) Missis, but the company is
holding out for getting the guarantee for two
sections (400 kilometres).
5. It is rumoured that the Turkish Gov
ernment will before long undertake the con
struction of a railway between Jedda and
Mecca. The completion of the Hedjaz
line to Maan has been celebrated, and it
appears to he progressing southwards of Maan
{vide paragraph 4 of the Memorandum for
December 1904).
6. Strenuous efforts are being made to
send reinforcements to Yemen {vide paragraph
3 of the Memorandum for December 1904).
The Mutessarif of Hodeida has reported that
the insurrection is rapidly spreading all over
the Vilayet, whilst the capital, Sanaa, is
practically besieged. Orders have been issued
for the despatch of troops there with all haste.
It is reported that the rising is fostered by
the Imam.
7. Hedjaz .—The Mecca road continues
to he safe and large caravans pass daily {vide
paragraph 5 of the Memorandum for December
1904).
PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
8. Maskat .—In connection with the
presentation at the Hague Tribunal of the
Maskat dhows case, it was suggested to the
Secretary of State (11th January) that provision
he made for referring to an Arbitrator cases
m which the Sultan of Maskat may dispute the
adequacy of proof furnished that the owner or
the Captain of a vessel hailing from Oman is a
subject ov protege oi France {vide paragraph 6
of Memorandum for December 1904). ° ^
9. ihe 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. has been asker!
(27th January 1905) to report his views on
a proposal to place the administration of flip
Customs under a British officer to be emnlnvJ]
by the Sultan. He has further been consulted
on a suggestion made to the National
of India for the opening by them of a branch
of their business at Maskat, ’