ملف ٧٨٨\١٩١٩ الجزء ٤ "بلاد الرافدين: التخلص من المراكب النهرية" [ظ‎‎١‎٠‎٣] (٢٤٠/٢٠٣)

Telegram—X. (Pty.)
From—India Office, London.
To—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
JNo. Nil.
Dated 28th and received 29th February, 1920.
“ Private. Hirtzel to Wilson, hollowing private telegram from Secre
tary of State to Lord Inchcape sent yesterday begins: I am much concerned
as to position in regard to sale of Mesopotamian ships. My information as
gathered from telegraphic reports available is of course incomplete and I
nave no wish to claim a voice in details of selling arrangements except in so
lar as they bear on Mesopotamian interests and policy. But political bear
ings are very important and I am sure you will not misunderstand my draw
ing your attention to them privately. I had hoped that your telegram from
Suez to Inverforth stating ample time would be given for Mesopotamians to
make offers and that; representatives would if necessary be appointed in
Baghdad and Basrah to receive offers coupled with assurances previously
. given would provide basis for arrangements satisfactorily to all concerned.
£ trust that this may still be so but latest information available shows that
strong objection is still taken in Mesopotamia to proposed procedure as under
stood there. I need not point out that it is essential that politically nothing
more than opening should be left for suggestion that selling arrangements
render difficult or impossible effective competition on equal footing by
wouldrbe purchasers in Mesopotamia. May I ask your assistance not only
in seeing that arrangements are such as to secure full facilities for such com
petition which is, I am sure, your own wish but also in allowing fullest
possible publicity with a view to removing any grounds for misapprehension.
I should greatly regret any delay or inconvenience and would explain that
I was not informed of new arrangements made with you and of your inten
tion to proceed forthwith to India until you had actually left. Finally
I would ask you to bear in mind the difficulties of Wilson’s position. His
information as to recent arrangements is .necessarily incomplete political
situation in Mesopotamia is delicate and he has to consider various inter
related questions of policy some of which still under consideration of
H.M.G. I trust you will use every, effort to make arrangements to meet his
views. Ends.
Viceroy’s telegram of February 26th, since received appears to a large
extent to meet your objection and I trust you will on your side make every
effort to arrive at an agreement. You will bear in mind that H.M.G. have
to consider not only Mesopotamian point of view but also interests of British
Tax-payer on whose behalf Ministry of Munitions have to sell ships. It has
been impossible up to the present to obtain decisions on various questions of
policy that have been raised, in this connection. Any reference made to
H.M.G. in reply to Secretary of State’s official telegram of to-day will be dealt
with as quickly as possible but I hope no such reference will be necessary.
Pending reply to Secretary of State’s telegram dated February 25th, we are in
the dark as to number of ships Inchcape is proposing to sell. What is the
position ?
Telegram—Cypher R. (Pty. A.)
From—Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.
To—India Office, London.
No. 2750.
Dated 29th February, 1920.
“ Private for Sir A. Hirtzel. Your telegram of 28th February, orders
still have to be issued on last two paragraphs of my telegram of 20th Feb-
ruary, 2267.
As regards permission to ply on Euphrates and Tigris. All that H.M.G.
can advisedly do is to say that neither existing Administration nor H.M.G.
propose to place unreasonable restrictions upon shipping nor to encourage
or permit a monopoly. °
As iegards Customs Duties, I consider claim of Mesopotamian Adminis
tration should be admitted in view of facts that Customs Duty is levied on
Government property sold in India and Egypt.
, Jp hardly say that the foregoing is not intended in any way to
modify views expressed m my telegram 1860 of 11th February, and I have
only suggested compromise with Lord Inchcape because I deduce from your
telegram under reply that it is not practicable policy to abandon proposed
_ I have no wish to appear obstructive and I have interests of Tax-payer at
least as much at heart as Lord Inchcape.