"الملف 73/7 II (D 22) وضع الكويت - سكة حديد بغداد، والمفاوضات الأنجلو تركية" [ظ‎‎٢‎٣‎٨] (٥٤٠/٤٨٤)

88
(Received on the 26th August 1912, with Political Secretary's letter No. 32, dated the
9th August 1912.)
[A.]
ASIATIC TUEKEY AND ARABIA. [July 18.]
CONFIDENTIAL. Section 4.
[31253]
&ir Edward Grey to Mr. Marling,
(No, 333.)
I Foreign Office, July 18, 1912.
S ir,
In an interview wluch Sir Arthur Nicolson and I had with the Turkish Ambas
sador to-day, we handed to him our reply about the Baghdad Railway and Persian
Gulf negotiations and the annexed memoranda,* with certain maps. We specially
drew Tewfik Pasha's attentioii to the memorandum asking for specific rates on
cotton goods when the Turkish customs dues were increased. We said that we
attached great importance to this. We had not put it into the reply about the
Baghdad Railway and Persian Gulf because it introduced entirely new matter which
was not germane to this subject, but as, in our reply, we proposed to abandon all parti
cipation in the Baghdad.Railway from Baghdad to Basrah, we felt it essential to have
something which would be a security for British trade, To give what we asked
about cottpn goods would not entail any sacrifice upon the Turkish Government, it
would not diminish their revenue, and it would be no burden to them, though it
would give security to an important branch of British trade that the duties on it
would be adjusted so as not to press unfairly on particular articles.
The Turkish Ambassador seemed quite satisfied with what we told him, and
made no objection. With, regard to participation in the Baghdad railway, he
gaid that if we did not participate, as his country was free to give the concession for
making the railway to anyone it liked, a British company might be employed.
We said that this would be very satisfactory to us, but we had, of course, not
thought it fair to stipulate for it as a condition.
I am, etc.,
E. GREY.
(Copy sent informally to the Army Department for transmission to the Division
of the Chief of the Staff).
(Received on the 26th August 1912, with Political Secretary's letter No. 32, dated the
9th August 191%,
[B.]
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA. [J u l y 19.]
CONFIDENTIAL . S ection 1.
[A mended Copy],
[30388]
Foreign Office to India Office,
Foreign Office y July 19, 1912.
S ir, ft.
I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 18th instant on the subject of the memoranda for the Turkish Ambassador.
♦Memoranda communicated to Turkish Ambassador/July 18, 1912