"الملف 73/7 II (D 22) وضع الكويت - سكة حديد بغداد، والمفاوضات الأنجلو تركية" [ظ‎‎٢‎٥] (٥٤٠/٥٢)

24
at Easrah, on the other hand, it would seem more appropriate that the
construction should be conceded to the proposed International Company.
I have, etc.,
GEO. J. STANLEY.
The Under-Secretary of State,
Poreign Office.
{Received on the oth February 1912 with Political Secretary's letter No. 3,
dated the 19th January 1912.)
(Telegram P.)
S ir E. G rey to S ir G. L owthbr,
No. 18.
Foreign Office,
16th January 1912.
Please refer to your commercial telegram of 12th instant, No. 2-Commer
cial, regarding the dredging of the Basrah Bar.
The Board of Trade are being consulted by us regarding the status of
Messrs. Priestman, but as we have approved the attitude of Mr. Green way,
who represents the Anglo-Algerian Steam-ship Company, and who is not
prepared to undertake the work (see the despatch from His Majesty's Consul
at Basrah, No. 55, dated the 31st October) unless an Anglo-Turkish Commis
sion is appointed for the supervision and levying of tolls it would hardly be
equitable, without such a commission, to encourage another British firm to
step in.
As the best course, the Turkish Government should be urged to send a
reply to our memorandum of last July and you should express the hope that
the Ottoman Ambassador will soon be authorised to send in a reply. Mean
while, His Majesty s Consul at Basrah should be instructed by vou not to
press the matter. Should there beany indication of a foreign firm obtaining
the contract, he should inform us immediately.
{Received on the 19th February 1912 with Political Secretary's letter No. 5,
dated the 2nd February 1912.)
Foreign Office,
Immediate and Confidential. ^ Jannary 1912 -
(1591-12)
Sir,
I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge thereceint of
your letter No. C.-95 of the 10th instant relative (1) to a proposal to replace
the present ad valorem system of customs duties in Turkey by a specific tariff
and (2) lo a proposal that the Baghdad Tlailway Company should be allowed to
construct customs buildings and to exploit bonded warehouses at Baghdad and
±>asran.
On the first proposal, Sir E. Grey is in agreement with the views
expressed in your letter ; but he is disposed to think and would be "lad tn
karn whether the Board of Trade concur that His Majesty's Government
should not assent to the change m question unless the conditions laid down
<x, JP munic ated to the Turkish Ambassador on Julv
29th, 1911 (respecting the increase in the customs from 11 per cent, to 15