"السكك الحديدية وسياسة [خطوط الاتصالات] في بلاد الرافدين، المجلد IV" [و‎‎١‎٢‎٢] (٢٧٠/٢٤٣)

SEQHBT.
Prom War Office.
To G.O.C.Mesopotamia, repeated C. in C. India.
Deep. 22.00. 13.1.19.
73864. cipher M.0.2.
The Government has agreed to the following
policy with regard to railway construction in the
Middle East.
(1) The backbone of all future construction in
Mesopotamia will be a through line via Euphrates
from Basrah to Baghdad. Tne section of the line
between Nasrieh ana Hillah will accordingly be
completed as early as possible. Metre gauge will
be adopted but the permanwnt way will be constructed
so as to admit of conversion from metre to
standard gauge should this policy ever be adoptee’.
No conversion at present is however contemplated.
(2) The metre gauge line will be extended to Phanikin.
If negotiations wit Tithe Persian Government
subsequently allow this line may be further extended
in the direction of Kerman shah.
(3) The survey for a line to Mosul via Kifri and Kirkuk
will be completed, but the projected survey
towards the Wazna Pans will be abandoned. * (This
decision cancels first para, of my 73595 cipher
(M.B.2.a.) 728 of 11th January).
(4) At present no extension along the Tigris towards
Mosul or along the Euphrates towards Hit will be
carried out.
(5) Work on the extension to Neh from Mir jawa will be
stopped.
(6) With reference to (1) above the metre gauge line
between Baghdad and Kut may be taken up on
completion of the through Euphrates line. The
material will then be available for other metre
gauge projects.
(7) With regard to the construction of a line towards
the Persia Plateau from the head of the Persian
Gulf, no policy has yet been laid down but any
surveys now being carried out in this area may be
continued on the lines suggested by General de
Candolle.