ملف رقم ٣١٤٢ لسنة ١٩٠٣ "سكة حديد الحجاز" [و‎‎٢‎٦] (٤٨٨/٥٨)

While I think the above arguments may be held to justify the proposed new tax,
the right of those whose pilgrims would be affected by it to protest against it, and
even to refuse to accept it, if they deem it necessary to go so far, must, I think, be
nitted. Not to admit this right would he to open up dangerous possibilities in
connection with future proposals of the Board to levy fresh taxes—to which we might
object—elsewhere.
I have obtained from the Bureau de Controle of the Administration the details of
the nationalities of the pilgrims returning by the Hedjaz Railway in the last pilgrim
season, and they are shown in the Table inclosed.* It will be seen that the large
majority were Turkish subjects (6,710 out of a total of 11,190, or just 60 per cent.)
Bokhariots, Turkestanis, and Russian subjects together only amounted to 1,146, or
about 10 per cent, of the whole. They were nearly equalled by the number of
Egyptians (1,097); Indians only numbered 88. The number of passengers other
than pilgrims is not known.
Another error of detail in the inclosed Tezkere is found in the fact that it assumes
that the proposed tax would be levied on pilgrims only. The intention of the proposal
as originally made was that the tax should he levied on all passengers alike and not
on pilgrims only; and, whatever the solution ultimately arrived at may be, it will be
necessary to treat passengers and pilgrims on the same footing.
I am already authorized by Sir E. Grey’s telegram No. 8, Commercial, of the 4th
August last, to raise the whole question in the Mixed Commission. I had hoped to obtain
a settlement of the three points already nearing solution before raising this question,
which may retard the application of the others. I still think it would he desirable, if
possible, to endeavour to obtain the settlement of those points first. I doubt, however,
whether it will be possible, as they will be to some extent affected by the new proposals
concerning the Hedjaz Railway. On this point I shall have occasion to report again,
and to make definite suggestions as to the course to be followed. In any case, it
would seem to be desirable to ask that, if the question is to be settled by the Com
mission Mixte, representatives of the railway should be invited to assist in the
preliminary deliberations on this question.
I have, &c.
(Signed) E. G. CLEMOW.
Id closure 2 in No. 1.
Dr. Clemow to Sir G. Lowther.
(No. 153.)
Sir, Constantinople, December 3, 1908.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 150 of the 28th ultimo, I have the honour
to transmit herewith copies of a note on the subject of the financial aspect of the
sanitary defence of the Hedjaz Railway, presented by me to the Board of Health at
Tuesday’s meeting. Another note, dealing with the same subject, was presented at
the same meeting by the Russian Delegate (copies of this are also inclosed),*' Neither
note was discussed, nor even read, owing to the lateness of the hour; it was merely
decided to polygraph them and adjourn further discussion.
I have, &c.
(Signed) E. G. CLEMOW.