"الملف 73/7 II (D 22) وضع الكويت - سكة حديد بغداد، والمفاوضات الأنجلو تركية" [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٣] (٥٤٠/٢٣٢)

a share in the surrendered portion of the line (Bagdad to the Gulf ) equal to that
of any other foreign country.
As matters stand, therefore, there are only two ways of keeping Germany
out of the Basrah-Kuwait line, if it is built.
The first way is that Turkey should build the line entirely herself, which
would be unacceptable to us ; the second is that Turkey should buy Germany out
of the Kuwait branch.
The second alternative is preferable, and when we reply to Turkey it will
probably be necessary to say that we cannot agree to any arrangement which does
not provide for this. Germany may, as a keen bargainer, suggest that we should
buy her out in return for some concession elsewhere. Our answer might be that
this is a matter for Turkey to arrange with Germany, as the concession would be
to her and not to us.
A. P.
Foreign Office, May 11,1912.
(Copy sent informally to the Army Department, for transmission to the Divi
sion of the Chief of the Staff).
{Received on 17th June 1912, with Political Secretary's letter No. 22, dated the 21st May
' 1912).
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA. [May 20.]
CONFIDENTIAL. Section 4.
[21302] No. 1.
Sir G. Lowther to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received May 20.)
(No. 408).
Constantinople, May 13, 1912,
Sir,
With reference to your despatch No. 99 of the 1 2th March last, on the subject of
the proposed construction of new buildings at the Bagdad custom-house, I have the
honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a letter which I have just received from
Sir R. Crawford informing me that all possible measures have been taken for the
temporary relief of the existing situation in Bagdad, but that they have been un
availing to meet the congestion, and that there is now no alternative but to proceed,
without further delay, with the construction of new depots. Negotiations are now
in progress for the erection of the new customs buildings on a site situated in con
venient proximity to that selected for the railway station and port to be built by
the Bagdad Railway Company.
It appears that there has been some friction between the Vali of Bagdad and
the company relative to the choice of a site for the future terminus of the railway.
The Vali insisted upon the station and port being built on the left bank, i.e., the
town side of the river; whilst the railway engineers were of opinion that the right
bank offered the best advantages for the full development of what will become an
important railway centre. The views of the railway company and their engineers
have now been adopted both by the Public Works Department and the Ministry
of War ; all the plans have been made and approved of by the department, and the
customs administration are now in a position to consider the measures which must
be taken to put an end to the disorder which reigns at the Bagdad customs, and to
relieve the congestion caused by the accumulation of goods intended for transit. In
the negotiations for the erection of the customs' premises near the railway terminus
on the right bank of the river, which are now proceeding between the customs and
the railway company, I understand the customs are anxious to ensure the removal
of the customs premises to the other side of the river, and therefore away from the