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File 788/1919 Pt 4 ‘MESOPOTAMIA DISPOSAL OF RIVERCRAFT’ [104v] (205/240)
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.
Telegram—Code.
From—Foreign and Political Department, Delhi.
To—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
No. 301 E.A.
Dated and received 28th February, 1920.
Continuation my telegram of February 28th, 300 E.A. Finance Depart
ment have no objection to issue of drafts from Mesopotamia on India but they
suggest simplest procedure is for you to arrange to receive payment in Mesopo
tamia and adjust accounts afterwards with H.M.G.
Telegram—Code.
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—India Office, London, repeated Foreign, Delhi.
No. 2842.
Dated 2nd March, 1920.
Extract from enclosures to Department of Overseas Trade despatch num
ber one January 24th to Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, begins : —
Messrs. Hind and Lund write: —
“We are informed that it is impossible to do business in Baghdad
unless one is in with the Company who have taken over the whole
of the carrying trade up river as they are putting such prohibi
tive rates on merchandise not of their own importation.” Ends.
Department of Overseas Trade ask for my comments. I have referred
them to you by telegram and I am replying to them by post.
Addressed
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.
, repeated Delhi.
Telegram.—-
From—Lord Inchcape, Calcutta.
To—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
No. Nil.
Dated and received 2nd March, 1920.
Your telegram 29th 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.
. Complete list of steamers was
sent to Mesopotamia Corporation on 24th with instructions to distribute to in
tending purchasers you will be able to obtain copies. The craft which I
understand are not surplus to Government requirements are scored out in red
ink. If you desire DeGrey to act as my representative to receive tenders I
have no objection whateveir. ^Kindly (arrange (accordingly. Time for re
ceiving tenders extended to tenth March which I trust you will consider ample
as intending purchasers must know by this time what they would like to
buy. I shall be in Calcutta till 19th March and leave Bombay for England
on 20th. My address here is care Mackinnons. I am afraid I have given you
much trouble but it is not my fault.
Telegram—R. (Pty.)
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—India Office, London, repeated Foreign, Delhi.
No. 2850.
Dated 2nd March, 1920.
#
My 2752, 29th. Inchcape wires from Calcutta, March 2nd. Your
telegram * * *
fault. Ends.
1 am doing all in my power to expedite matter and trust that there will
be no further hitch.
Addressed India, repeated Delhi.
Telegram—(Pty.)
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—Lord Inchcape care Mackinnons, Calcutta
No. 2851.
Dated 2nd March, 1920.
,, Am „ m , ucl1 0 . bIi ff d for yours 2nd. I accept lOtli March. I trust that
there will be no further hitch. Will communicate further regarding- details.
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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