"ملف 53/6 (D 2) شؤون الكويت ١٨٩٨-١٨٩٩" [و‎‎٨‎١] (٥٥٤/١٦١)

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situation, entertain no objection to the scheme in principle, and that, in the contrary
event, we shall, upon your condescending to intimate to us that the scheme is officially"
disapproved, immediately withdraw from the matter.
J We take leave to assure you'of our paramount wish to act in entire consonance
with the views of Her Majesty's Government, and you may rely upon our transmitting
to you all essential information which it may interest you to receive as to the eventual
progress of the negotiations. If you would permit our partner to give himself
the honour of presenting himself to his Excellency the British Ambassador at
Constantinople, he would there be in a position to supply more precise and more
detailed particulars both of the project itself and of Count Kapnist/s prospects of
success, after personal investigation on the spot and conference with the various
parties concerned.
"We do not consider it within our privince to allude here to any political
advantages which the scheme may possess from an English point of view, Her
Majesty's Government being perfectly acquainted with the subject, but we may
perhaps be allowed, in conclusion, to express our very humble opinion that, if Russian
subjects were to obtain the Concession, it would be desirable that they should admit to
an equal share of its benefits members of our own nationality rather than those of
another Power. And there can be little doubt that, if the project is now dropped by
the British interests, their abandoned opportunity will be eagerly seized by some
financial group of another nationality,. anxious for political as well as for financial
reasons to acquire increased influence in the country.
We have, &c.
(Signed) WILLIAMS, MEYEE, and Co.
—."We have just had the honour to receive from the Under-Secretary of State
a letter of introduction to Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople in favour of
our Mr. Williams, for which we are exceedingly obliged.
W., M., and CO.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Memorial.
A Sa Majesty Imperiale le Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan II, El Ghazi.
Sire,
J'AI I'honneur de prier humblement votre Majeste Imperiale de daigner
m'accorder une Concession pour la construction et Texploitation d'une ligne de
chemin de fer qui devra relier la Mediterranee au Golfe ( Persique, avec une garantie
de FEtat de 6 pour cent, aux conditions suivante§ on aux telles autres que votre
Majeste Imperiale trouvera bon de fixer :—
1. La Concession pour la construction et 1'exploitation d'une ligne ferree de
Tripoli sur la Mediterranee jusqu'a Koneit sur le Golfe Persique, pouvant trans
porter des trains parcourant 60 kilom. par heure; et la construction et 1'exploitation
des embranchements de Hanikin, sur la fronti&re Persane, a Kerbela et a iSTedjef
par Bagdad et Moussayib sur I'Euphrate; ainsi que la construction et I'exploitation
des ports de Tripoli et de Koneit.
2. Le droit de preference pour la construction et 1'exploitation des lign^s de
chemin de fer suivantes :—
{a.) De Koms a Alep.
(5.) De Miyadin vers le nord en passant par Deir.
(c.) De Bagdad a Moussoul et Diarbekir.
(d) De Kout-el-Amara sur le Tigre jusqu'a I'Euphrate en allant le long du Chatt-
ul-Hai.
(e.) D'Alexandrette (ou de Shedich) a Alepet a Bizedjik.
3. Les terrains et les carrieres appartenant a I'Etat et necessaires a la construction
de la voie et des ports et de leurs dependances seront accordes gratuitement au con-
cessionnaire.
4. La ligne sera construite a une seule voie d'une largeur normale, mais 1'expro-
priation sera faite en vue de la construction d'une double voie.
5. Les materiaux et le materiel destines a serviria la construction de ces lignes et
des ports seront exempts de tons droits et imp6ts quelconques.