"الملف 73/7 III (D 24) وضع الكويت، والمفاوضات الأنجلو-التركية" [و‎‎٢‎٩‎٨] (٧٠٩/٦٠٧)

k
105
(Received on the 8tli June 1913 with Political Secretary's letter No. 21, dated the 23rJ May
1913.)
From Sir E. Grey to Sir F. Bertie (Paris).
No. 211.
(Telegraphic.) P.
(Repeated to Mr. O'Beirne at St. Petersburg as No. 419.)
1st May 1913.
This morning I explained the position of the Baghdad Kail way negotia
tions with Turkey to the Russian and French Ambassadors here. A Dralt
Convention with Turkey has heen initialled ad referendum according to which
we waive our claim to participate in construction of the railway line up
to Basrah, on condition that without our consent the line does not proceed
beyond Basrah, and also on condition that two British Directors are on board
of the Baghdad Railway Company from Urmia to the terminus. The latter
condition has been added in order to insure against establishment of differen
tial rates. Germany has asked that her delegates at the Financial Cummission
at Paris may be supported -by us in their ett'ort to find securities for the
Baghdad-Basrah section and also to secure revenues to replace those she will
lose in the territories in Europe that have been ceded to the Balkan allies and
which were affected to the Baghdad Railway, and she has intimated that on
these conditions she would be willing to consent to our arrangement with
Turkey.
We have made no reply to this suggestion as yet. The Turkish Govern,
inent have not yet formed a new company to replace the German Company,
and therefore the right of the Baghdad Railway Company to construct the line
from Baghdad to the Persian Gulf still holds good. If the German Govern
ment raise the question of the Baghdad-Khanikin line, I shall reply that it is a
matter which concerns the Russian Government, but so far Germany has not
broached the matter to us.
(Received on the 15th June 1913 with Political Secretary's letter No. 22, dated the 30th May
1913.)
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA. [17th May.]
CONFIDENTIAL. Section 3.
22590 No. 1.
Sir E. Goschen to Sir E. Grey.
No. 185, Berlin,
Sir. 15th May 1913.
The German press has been somewhat exercised in its mind as to the
negotiations being carried on in London between His Majesty's Government
and the Porle on the subject of Kuwait and the Baghdad Railway, especially
as to the manner in which German interests will be affected. According to
some press reports Germany has given her consent to the arrangement, while
other papers maintain that the agreement bears an Anglo-Russian character
and was concluded over Germany's head. Conspicuous among these iatter
papers is the 44 Vossische Zeitung," which publishes a telegram from its Paris
correspondent to the effect that a new treaty has been concluded between His
Majesty's Government and Turkey, giving to the former paramount influence
over the Basrah-Kuwait section of the Baghdad Railway. *' In return for
this," the telegram continues, "England undertakes to build up the harbour
of Basrah, which is of great importance to the Baghdad Railway. On the
Turco-Persian frontier Turkey cedes the territory of Urmia, a 'concession
obtained by England in the interests of Kussia, in return for Russian support."
The telegram concludes by outlining the other provisions of the agreement,
including the reforms in Anatolia and Syria promised by Turkey.
In commenting on its correspondent's telegram, the " Vossisehe Zeitun?,"
after expressing the hope that England's role of honest broker during the
Balkan crisis was not prompted by self-interest, and after admitting that the
above-mentioned terms contain in themselves nothing objectionable to