"الملف 73/7 II (D 22) وضع الكويت - سكة حديد بغداد، والمفاوضات الأنجلو تركية" [ظ‎‎١‎٧‎٤] (٥٤٠/٣٥٤)

2
and future effects upon Anglo-Turkish relations in general. His Majesty's Govern- ^
ment therefore desire to lay before the Ottoman Government the following proposals and
considerations :—
3. For convenience of reference the several proposals under consideration may be
dealt with under three distinct headings :—
(i.) The Bagdad Railway question. .
(ii.) The respective interests of Great Britain and Turkey in the region ot the
Persian Gulf.
(iii.) An increase item ii eeat. te pe? in' the Turkish customs
duties.
(i.) The Bagdad Railway Question.
4. The interest which Great Britain must take in a railway which is to traverse a
region where British-Indian trade amounts to some 60 per cent, of the total exports and
imports is indeed so obvious as to call for little comment. His Majesty's Government
have on repeated occasions dwelt upon the importance of that trade and the manner in
which it has been steadily consolidated since the foundation, upwards of two and a-half
centuries ago, of the first English factory at Bussorah; they have recalled that
no less than 96 per cent, of the steam tonnage entered at the port of Bussorah was
British ; and they have consistently maintained that a satisfactory settlement of the
Bagdad Bailway question was a necessary condition of their assent to an increase in
the Turkish customs duties.
5. The magnitude of Great Britain's manifold interests clearly renders it desirable
that some satisfactory agreement as to British participation in the southern section of
the Bagdad Railway should, if possible, be reached. His Majesty's Government find,
however, that the question of participation on terms acceptable to them is likely to
cause the Ottoman Government some embarrassment, and that the views held on
this point by the two contracting parties are difficult to reconcile. In these circum
stances His Majesty's Government, anxious to prove to the Ottoman Government the
sincerity of their desire to reach a comprehensive understanding without delay or
controversy, are prepared to withdraw their request for British participation in the
railway from Bagdad to Bussorah, if a satisfactory agreement is arrived at on the other
'points enumerated in this memorandum.
6. It would be impossible to reconcile British public opinion to such a step unless
His Majesty's Government were at the same time able to show that British interests of
whatever character were fully safeguarded. His Majesty's Government consequently
feel bound, apart from the territorial arrangements proposed, to lay down the following
conditions as essential to that end :—
(a.) An arrangement, as set forth in the accompanying draft convention, for the
Draft Con- exclusion of differential treatment on all railways in Asiatic Turkey, as well as ae rnxkee-
fAnn 011 2) tekiag^e*plai»e4 » a separate pape? as fc© tke ^©afeEaetrt ©f eesteia fei&sfe imports.
nnex (5.) The admission of two British representatives, approved by His Majesty's
Government, to the board of whatever company may undertake the a4i&i»ist¥atieH:
construction or loorking of t^he railway from Bagdad to Bussorah. In addition, His r
Majesty's Government considen it highly desirable in the interests of the smooth working
of the arrangements that at least one British director, approved by them, should be
admitted to the board of the Bagdad Railway Company.
(c.) The terminus of the railway to be at Bussorah.
(d.) No railway to be continued beyond Bussorah in the direction of the Persian
Gulf without prior - - reement with His Majesty's Government, and on conditions
acceptable to them.
Dr^ft Con- ( e .) A convention to be signed, on the basis of the accompanying draft, for the
(Annex 3 ) f ' u . ture conservancy of the Shatt-el-Arab. This convention must be read in conjunction L
with a memorandum—which, as stated below, will shortly be communicated to the
Porte—on the subject of the frontier of Mohammerah.
(/.) An undertaking that permission should be given for three British steamers to
te between Bagdad and Bussorah in addition to the number already allowed.
(ii.) The respective interests of Great Britain and Turkey in the region of the
Persian Gulf.
7. His Majesty's Government note with satisfaction .that the Turkish Government