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File 788/1919 Pt 4 ‘MESOPOTAMIA DISPOSAL OF RIVERCRAFT’ [103r] (202/240)
The record is made up of 1 item (119 folios). It was created in 26 Apr 1920-3 Feb 1921. It was written in English. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
to use themVholl^orTainlyfor tt mercllants w ^° w / sh to bu y “aft intend
Telegram—Code (Clear Line.)
From Foreign and Political Department, Delhi.
To—Secretary of State for India, London, repeated C.C., Baghdad
No. 300 E.A.
Dated and received 28th February, 1920.
“ Foreign and Political Department telegram 287 E.A., 26th February,
Ijorcl Inchcape. Wilson telegraphs regarding second paragraph in above
telegram that warning to purchasers to effect that he may possibly not be
permitted to ply is in accordance with present instructions from His Majesty’s
Government. Lord Inchcape pointed out this will prevent offer for craft to
be used in Mesopotamia, regarding para. 4 payment of Customs, Wilson says
question is now before His Majesty’s Government in their despatch of 21st
September. Please telegraph instructions urgently on both points repeating
here.
Addressed Secretary of State for India, London, repeated C.C., Baghdad.
Telegram—En Clair (Pty.)
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—Secretary of State for India, London.
No. 2731.
Dated 29th February, 1920.
“ Government of India telegram—February 28th, is a somewhat inade
quate summary of my reply which was as follows. Begins:
firstly. I have hitherto received no such assurance from Lord Inchcape
who wired to me that he had full discretion as to method of disposal whether
by auction, tender or treaty.
Secondly. I believe passage in question to be in conformity with my
present instructions from H.M.G.
Thirdly. Provided Finance Department of Government of India have
no objection to such payments in Bombay. I have none but Bank charges
on transference of such credits from Mesopotamia are heavy and alternative
oi sale of drafts in India by us is opposed to wishes recently expressed by
Finance Department, India.
Fourthly —Claim of this Administration to Customs Duty on Govern
ment property sold for retention m the countiry is based upon (procedure
ad0P £ysW 3 , E -General question is now before Government, see my despatch
of 21st 2 ^' t0 Lord Inchcape to accept recommendations made
Lastly. If P „ r,i Tr e bruarv, 2041 or to refer question for deci-
sion of H.MAs Government. He has chosen latter course and I am content to
abid p!blit e tir“n’tHs country of list of crafts for disposal is to my mind
^ 'Hel^repetn^toindia Office at your discretion. Ends.
Telegram—Code.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To-Foreign and Political Department, Delhi.
No. 2732.
Dated 29th February, 19 Reference in fourth
“ Your telegram h of ^Ist^eptember, 28378 not to a despatch of India
clause is to my despatoh of 2 st Septe ^
Office. A copy was sent to yu
About this item
- Content
This part concerns the disposal of river craft in Mesopotamia and contains material relating to:
- The arrangements made by Lord Inchcape [James Lyle MacKay], of the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company Limited, with the Ministry of Munitions towards the purchase of the Government’s surplus river craft in Mesopotamia
- The vessels purchased by the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company from the Government through financial arrangements in Bombay [Mumbai], from March to August 1920
- The transfer of the Inland Water Transport Department in Mesopotamia from military to civilian authorities, and the amount of military transportation vessels to be maintained
- The suggestion of the Secretary of State for India, Edwin Montagu, to the Secretary of State for War, Winston Churchill, that they convince the civilian and military authorities respectively to agree to the sale of the river fleet in Mesopotamia
- The wishes of General James Aylmer Lowthorpe Haldane to retain a portion of the river craft until the railway from Basrah [Basra] to Baghdad has proved its reliability, and consideration that he can carry his supplies by water more cheaply than could be done by possible purchasers
- The criticism of the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, of British Army control over the oil fleet as being ‘uneconomical’, for charging three times that of civilian organisations and railway transportation
- The financial statement of the Ministry of Munitions to Parliament on the ‘Disposal of Surplus Government Property’, together with a ‘Memorandum on Disposals’ (ff 40-47)
- The schedules of the Inland Water Transport Headquarters, Basrah, for fitting out and delivering the vessels to Keti Bandar, Calcutta [Kolkata] and Rangoon [Yangon] (ff 34-37)
- The shortage of personnel in the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force to make the arrangements for the delivery of vessels to the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company
- The observation by the War Office that it would entail an actual loss to make the vessels (all but nine) seaworthy and deliver them to Lord Inchcape under the stipulations
- The responsibility for policing inland waterways in Mesopotamia and the possible takeover, by civil authorities, of four armed gunboats on loan from the Admiralty
- The ‘non-delivery’ of river craft to the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company due to the change in the military’s position
- The reluctance of British military authorities in Mesopotamia to place river transport solely under private control, in case of a possible emergency in Government transportation.
- Extent and format
- 1 item (119 folios)
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/805/2
- Title
- File 788/1919 Pt 4 ‘MESOPOTAMIA DISPOSAL OF RIVERCRAFT’
- Pages
- 3r:4v, 6v:7v, 8v:10v, 11v, 16v:56v, 57ar, 57r:75v, 76v:105v, 106ar, 106r:106v, 107v, 107r, 108r:121v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
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- Open Government Licence