"الملف 73/7 II (D 22) وضع الكويت - سكة حديد بغداد، والمفاوضات الأنجلو تركية" [ظ‎‎٢‎٢‎٢] (٥٤٠/٤٥٢)

58
As to the last sentence in your letter, he entirely agrees with the views of the
Marquess of Crewe, though he considers that the precise moment of makmgoui
SeatTon to Per'sia mnst be largely dependent upon developments m the Turco-
Persian Frontier Commission now sitting at Constantinople.
T am, etc.,
LOUIS MALLET.
(Copy sent informally to the Army Department for transmission to the Di-
vision of the Chief of the StafL)
(Received on the 5th August 1912, with Politic
19th July
[B]
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA. [J uly 9],
CONFIDENTIAL. S ection 7.
No. 1
[29185] Board of Trade to Foreign Ojfice.—(Received July 8).
(Urgent and Very Secret).
g I;R Board of Trade, July 8, 1912.
I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 4th July, forwarding the draft of a memorandum respecting negotiations
now pending with the Turkish Government, which Sir E. Grey proposes to com
municate to the Turkish Ambassador, and to return the draft herewith^ with
certain amendments, indicated in red ink*, which they desire to suggest for Sn E.
Grey's consideration.
With regard to the several amendments, I am to point out that the words
"from 11 per cent, to 15 per cent, ad valorem" have been deleted from (iii) of the third
paragraph of the draft and from the heading to section (iii), since the effect of the
proposal for the special treatment of British cotton manufactures, set out m the
amended form of section (iii), will be to limit the rate of customs duty to something
less than 15 per cent, in the case of an important item in the Turkish import trade.
The addition of certain words at the end of the fifth paragraph of the draft
has been suggested with a view to emphasising the close relation between the with
drawal of the British claim Ito participate in the railway between Baghdad and
Basrah and the other proposals dealt with in the memorandum.
In view of the amended form of section (iii) now suggested, the words deleted
from (a) of the sixth paragraph appear unnecessary.
The Board think it advisable to indicate in (6) of the same paragraph the
necessity of the British representatives upon the board of the railway from Baghdad
to Basrah being approved by His Majesty's Government, and they are also disposed
to suggest that, should Sir E. Grey see no objection, this opportunity should be
taken to direct the attention of the Turkish Government to the desirability of
British representation upon the board of the Baghdad Railway proper.
Finally, section (iii) of the draft has been amended so as to indicate more pre
cisely the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the proposed increase of
the Turkish customs tariff.
I am, at the same time, to forward to you herewith the draft of a railway con
vention for submission, with Sir E. Grey's concurrence, to the Ottoman Government,
and to state that the proposed schedule of cotton duties will be forwarded to you at
the earliest possible date.
I am, etc.,
H. LLEWELLYN SMITH.
♦Printed in erased type and italics,