"الملف 73/7 II (D 22) وضع الكويت - سكة حديد بغداد، والمفاوضات الأنجلو تركية" [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٨] (٥٤٠/٢٤٢)

parts of the railway, e.g., on the branch to Khanikin, and if adverse treatment exists
on that and other portions of the railway, the utility of securing equality of treat
ment on the Baghdad-Basrah sections is not so apparent ?
In Sir E. Grey's view, which, until the receipt of your letter under reply, he
believed to be shared by your department, the most efficacious means of excluding
differential treatment (not only on the Baghdad-Basrah sections but on all rail
ways in Asiatic Turkey) is by a binding international agreement on the subject,
and by making the continued levy of the increased customs duty dependent on the
precise observance of that instrument.
For these reasons Sir E. Grey hopes that the Marquess of Crewe will reconsider
his views and allow the negotiations with the Turkish Ambassador to proceed on
the basis of the proposals formally made to the Ottoman Government in July 1911.
Sir E. Grey would remind Lord Crewe that His Excellency is anxious to discuss
those proposals at an early date, and he thinks that a preliminary discussion
between the departments concerned should take place as soon as possible.
As regards the Peninsula of El Katr, Sir E. Grey naturally attaches the greatest
weight to the views of the Marquess of Crewe, and although he is disposed to think
that his Lordship s conclusions as to the result of conceding something to Turkey
in this region are exaggerated, he does not think it necessary to continue at this
stage the discussion on this point, as he would be averse from abating any of the
demands advanced in the memorandum of the 29th July, 1911, for the present;
he would, however, be glad if Lord Crewe would consider at his leisure in what
direction it might be possible to make a concession to the Ottoman Government
supposing a successful issue of the negotiations depended upon some modification
of our extreme demands. If it were worth while to initiate these negotiations, it
is worth while to continue them in a reasonable spirit.
As to Mohammerah, Sir E. Grey does not consider it practicable to propose to
the Persian Government that they should make a communication as proposed to
the Turkish Government, or that His Majesty's Government should support Persia
against Turkey in the manner suggested : Sir ' E. Grey does not consider that
it would be possible to reserve this question from The Hague Tribunal if the Turkish
Government persisted in such a reference ; but, if it is possible to prevent it, Sir E.
Grey has no intention of allowing it, and proposes to treat a settlement of this fron-
tier as part of the present negotiations and as a necessary condition of their conclu
sion.
A separate letter will be addressed to you shortly respecting the course which
it is proposed to pursue in regard to the Mohammerah frontier negotiations.
I am, &c.,
LOUIS MALLET.
. (C 0 Py sent infomally to the Army Department for transmission to the Divi-
eion of the Chief of the Staff.)
66
G. Mi Press, Simla,—No. C. 248 P. 0,-4-742,
—30.—H,C f S.L.