"السكك الحديدية وسياسة [خطوط الاتصالات]، بلاد الرافدين. المجلد III" [و‎‎١‎٢] (٥٤٩/٢٣)

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121/3/1322 .
Fr r m:- W t r» Office.
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Dos pa tched:-2 0 .30
18 .9 .1919 *
C. in C., India .
81256 cipher li.R .2 .A/650. From Rail'.'ay Proaress Reports it is
rhserved that x/rrk is prccocdiny on Kifri line,, This is in direct
ccntravcnticn of orders which wore contained in my 79440 of July
4th, which stated that expenditure must be limited to works
explicitly approved. My 80022 of July 26th contained an appreoiati n
of position and cannot in any way be construed as sanction for any
work. No decision reached since my 80115 of July 30th and serious
financial position must bo realised by you. You must sto-p works
which may in the end either commit or embarrass us until definite
approval is given and no work is tc be commenced without explicit
sanction in future.
At present you hove sanction fer following only -
(1) Standard gauge to Qal&t Shcrgat. (2) Completion cf Samawa -
Hilla link see 79557 and 79440 cf July 9th and July 4th respectively.
For present pending decision as to policy despatch of metro
gauge material mentioned in my 8 0022 of July 2 6th and cf 60 enu for
Qaiyara extension is being postponed.
Reference your X.7334 August 11th. Unlikely Government
will s an c t i on whclo o c ns true, ti on pr c gramme • Unde rs tand tha t
hitherto you have retained sufficient construction personnel in
,cuntry tc enable new works tc be started immediately sanction
giveno Consider lab our could bo transferred to complete Kifri
line, if and when sanctioned, without undue delay, as S her gat
extension new practically finished and. major portion of earthwork
on Basra-Baghdad complete. Ucrks in future must bo undertaken
according to relative urgency and repatriation of a portion of
a ns traction personnel is only effective method of reducing
expenditure. This should to started imm dlately. Acknowledge plea a'
Addressed Mesopotamia; repeated:- India.
Ch2 > Conics to: - Army Council, D .3 .D • D.D.S.Dr F .M.G. D.D.n<a • i «1 «a o
D .Movements 0 Y .F • S D .2 , M.O .2 . 2a i. 3 0 M.R e- .A »