"سكة حديد بغداد" [و‎‎٢‎٢] (١٢٩/٤٣)

9
,• r " )m , r ™ Dce financial support only was asked for. As French parficipa-
tion was close y connected with a project for a unification of the Ottoman
debt, the bulk of which is held in Fiance, the scheme was favoured by stock
exchange interests in Paris. The French Government, however, gave the
project no support and finally declined to sanction the participation of the
, lencb group and even refused to allow their shares to be quoted on the Paris
Jiourse. Such French support as has been accorded is therefore purely
hnaneial and unofficial, and the position of the French group is so markedly
inferior to that of the Germans that it is considered improbable that the
I rench public will be induced to subscribe on a large scale to the undertaking.
British co-operation, however, was, and is, far more important to Germany.
, . was as ™ u °fi B'Bish political as financial support that was sought for •
although, m carrying on the negotiations, the Germans gave prominence to the
business and financial side of the transaction.
. British financial houses were unable to give their support to the under-
taking wnhout an assurance of the support of their Government, the granting
ot which was dependent on adequate provision being made for safeguarding
what were regarded as the chief British interests concerned.
The Germans were prepared to make such provision only subiect to
certain conditions, the most important of which were that the British Govern
ment should give assurances: (1) That they would not object to a reasonable
increase of the Turkish Customs duties, of which a part should be used in
guaranteeing the Baghdad Railway; (2) that if the Baghdad Railway should
prove to be a substantially better route for the conveyance of mails to India,
it should be so used on terms to be agreed on later; and (3) that Great Britain
should lend her good offices in providing a proper terminus on the Persian
Gulr at or near Koweit.
These assurances the British Government were unable to give, and the
negotiations fell through. 6 ’
The Germans pretended that the abstention of the British group was of no
consequence, and that adequate financial arrangements had been made for
proceeding with the construction of the line without British assistance.
!n point of fact the section onward from Konia has now been completed
to^hregh, and the payment of the kilometric guarantee has been duly arranged
The real difficulties of the undertaking will come when the next section is
taken in hand.
After leaving Eregli, the Taurus range, which separates the Anatolian
plateau from the plains of Adana and the Giaus Dagh, separating that plain
from the basin of the Tigris and Euphrates, will have to be crossed.
These sections from Eregli to Adana and from Adana to Tell-Habesh
will prove difficult and costly, as they will involve nearly 100 miles of blastina-
and tunnelling. °
The Turkish Government have expressed their willingness to give the
guarantee for the next section of 200 kilom., which would bring the railwav
across the Taurus mountains, but the Company is endeavouring to secure the
guarantee for two sections (TOO kilom.) together, in order that they may recoup
themselves on the level plain for the great expense which would be incurred in
the construction of the Eregli-Adana section. To this arrangement the Turkish
Government has refused to consent, and there is thus, for the moment a finan
cial deadlock. *