"الملف 73/7 II (D 22) وضع الكويت - سكة حديد بغداد، والمفاوضات الأنجلو تركية" [ظ‎‎٢‎١‎٠] (٥٤٠/٤٢٦)

36
mU ch in advance, it is—in his view—-Gssential that the Tnrkisli Oovernmont should
clearly understand from the first that the general framework of the proposals must
be accepted or rejected as a whole.
I have the hdnour to be.
S ir,
Your most obedient Servant,
R. RITCHIE.
The Under Secretary of State,
Foreign Office.
ENCLOSURES.
E nclosure N o. 1.
S uggestions on D raft N ote to T urkish G overnment.
{Amended Copy.)
Paragraph 4. —It seems undesirable to hint, as the words "up (? down) to
a recent date " do, that British steam tonnage is declining. Would it not be better
to give the actual figure for last year ? The Board of Trade would furnish it exact
ly—it is apparently about 81 per cent.
Paragraph 5. —It is noted that only commercial interests are mentioned. In
order to present the full magnitude of the sacrifice His Majesty's Government are
making, it would be necessary to mention our political and even strategical inter
ests. Possibly this is thought inexpedient. In that case the first two lines might
run : " The magnitude of Great Britain's manifold interests clearly render it de^
sirable (The meaning of " also " in the text is obscure and it might be omit
ted.)
Four lines from end of paragraph, omit "undue".
Paragraph 6 (e). —It might be well to add at the end:—" This convention must
oe read in conjunction with a memorandum—which, as stated below, will shortly
be communicated to the Porte—on the subject of the frontier of Muhammerah."
Paragraph 6 (/).—Is this sufficiently explicit; and may it any time be quoted
against us as an admission. Does the word " navigating" include cabotage
fluviale ?
Paragraph 7. —Begin as followsHis Majesty's Government note with
satisfaction that the Turkish Government renounce their claims to Bahrain on
conditions which there should be no difficulty in accepting. But they have learnt
with disappointmet the attitude," etc.
Paragraph 10. —If, as suggested in the letter, the annex about El Katr is omit
ted, this paragraph might beginHis Majesty's Government maintain that
prior to Midhat Pasha's expedition there were on the Arabian coast no symbols of
Turkish authority, no Turkish jurisdiction or occupation, effective or ineffective.
And while they are now prepared to recognise Turkish sovereignty between the
southernmost limits of Kuwait (as hereinafter defined) and Ojeir, they are unable to
admit that any of the arguments," etc.
And the following sentence' might be added at the end of the paragraph:—
" For themselves, relying no less on the obvious facts than on the Turkish assurances
mentioned above, they have never so regarded it, and they have repeatedly inform
ed the Porte accordingly."
Paragraph 11, last three lines. —It seems unnecessary to say why we are bound
to continue to oppose, and a statement of reasons may provoke a rejoinder or
counter proposals.
Paragraph 12, line 8. —After " Kuwait " insert " (as defined in their memo
randum of 29th July 1911)."