"سكة حديد بغداد" [و‎‎٩] (١٢٩/١٧)

(Received on 7th August 1905, with Political Secretary't letter No. 29, dated 21st July 1905 )
BAGDAD RAILWAY. [July 8.J
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 1.
(No. 1.)
Mr. TFhitehead to the Marques*xjf^Lansdotcne.—(Received July 8)
(No. 180.) ''
My :Lord, Berlin, July 5, 1905.
With reference to your Lordship’s despatch No. 138 of the iOth ultimo, I
have the honour to inclose translation of an article in the “ Tagliche Eunds-
chau, in which fears are expressed as to the effect of Sir William Willcock’s
Railway 01116 lrn ° atlon of Mesopotamia upon the interests of the Bagdad
I have, &c.,
(Sd.) J. B. WHITEHEAD.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Extract from the “ Tagliche Rundschau *' of July 3rd, 1905.
(Translation.)
New Difficuties foe the Bagdad Railway Undertaking.-— Next to
the question of the construction of the Bagdad Railway itself has notably stood
that of the irrigation establishments in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates.
It seemed, so to speak, to be the natural economic continuation of the German
railwy undertaking. Many a German explorer and traveller has made studies
at the place itself, and many books have been published on the question. Two
years ago there appeared also an article of the former Head of the Egyptian
Department for irrigation establishments, Sir William Willcocks, which dis
cussed the possibility and costs of such a project And, again, the English, to
all appearances, have worked quicker than the Germans, for the highly 0 signifi
cant announcement comes from Constantinople that Sir William Willcocks has
submitted to the Sultan, with the support of the British Embassy, an extensive
plan for the irrigation of the Vilayets of Bagdad and Bussorah. The announce
ment says nothing more nor less than that the English are on the point of
beginning the great work of laying out new irrigation cannels by the Euphrates
.md Tigris, and therewith to undermke the work of colonizing in those territo
ries. M Mle we have dispatched one Commission of discovery after another
the last one in the spring of this year—to Mesopotamia without commencing
any practical work, English experts have completed their preliminary labours,
which have enabled them to submit to the Sultan a finished prospectus for the
construction of canals in the old cultivated territories. The permission to
execute this plan has not, it is true, so far been granted by the Sultan, but
there is little hope that it will be withheld. It is to be hoped that the German
Embassy in Constantinople will take up the matter with the utmost energy,
m order to frustrate at the last moment this paralyzing impediment to German
undertakings.
12
G. C. Pres», Simla.-No. C-419 F. D.—12-8 05.—35.