"الملف 73/7 I (D 19) وضع الكويت، سكة حديد بغداد، والمفاوضات الأنجلو تركية في ١٩١١" [و‎‎١‎٥‎٩] (٦٣١/٣٥١)

[This Docmmnt is the Property of His B ritamaic Majtaty's Sovermnent]
EASTERN DEPARTMENT. rMarch 20.]
SECBET SERIES. giICTI0N 2
[10016] No. 1.
Sir O. Lowther to Sir Edward Orey.—(Eeceived March 20.)
(No. 169.)
Pera, March 15, 1911.
W1 LH reference to my despatch No. 156 of the 10th instant, I have the honour to
transmit to yon herewith a translation of an article by Hussein Diahid in the " Tanin "
on the Bagdad Railway.
J he writer says that lurkey will pay no attention to the claim over Koweit, made
by the " Times " on behalf of England, and states that Turkey does not need Koweit
harbour in order to build the Bagdad Railway and to carry the line to the shores of
the Persian Gulf. If England raises difficulties against the construction of the
terminus at Koweit, that will not prevent the construction of the line.
The " Times, he goes on to say, seems to think that the invitation to England to
enter into negotiations was dictated by fear or necessity. This is far from being the
case, and Turkey will expect some return for the courtesy and friendship shown to
England. But if Turkish friendship is rejected, then Turkey need no longer consider
British commercial interests. In any case, it cannot be believed that England will be
guilty of such injustice, in spite of the advice of the " Times," as to use her consent to
the increase of the customs as a weapon in the Bagdad Railway question.
In connection with this last point, I enclose an article from the " Jeune Turc," by
a German Socialist student of economy, which contends that the increase of the customs
dues to 15 per cent, ad valorem will be an economic blunder on the part of Turkey.
There is no doubt that there is considerable logic in this point of view, as an
increase of the customs duty to 15 per cent, on such primary necessities as, e .g., sugar,
would constitute an ail but unbearable burden on the lower classes, whose general
standard of living is very low.
I have, &c.
GERARD LOWTHER.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Extract from the " Tanin " of March 14, 1911.
(Translation.)
The Bagdad Railway.
WE are always talking about this question, but we consider it our duty, at the
risk of boring our readers, to follow every phase of the question, on account of its
importance with, regard both to Irak and to our foreign policy.
Our prophecy that the Bagdad Railway question would give rise to a dispute
between the German and British presses has not been falsified. The " Times " article
we reproduce to-day is written with the heat—nay, the bitterness—caused by this
dispute. Let the English papers and the German press quarrel as much as they like,
but it should not be forgotten when the English press is replying to the German
papers, which are walking hand in hand with Ottoman interests on this question, that
contempt for the Ottoman Government and mdifference to Ottoman public opinion
will cause sorrow^ and astonishment in Turkey.
It is not our fault that the German papers have said that England can take part
in the negotiations as conciliator, so why should the English press talk in a manner
wounding to our amour-jyropre, our rights, and our feelings ? The English, German,
and French, or any other press must understand that to-day the Ottomans have a
[1932 w—2] B