ملف ٧٨٨\١٩١٩ الجزء ٣ "بلاد الرافدين: التخلص من المراكب النهرية" [و‎‎٢‎٤‎٥] (٩٢٩/٢٤٩)

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6. In discussing the disposal of the oil fleet Mr. Clarke said that the
transportation of oil was only one of the factors included in the price of the
commodity; and the retention in the hands of Government of the means of
transportation would not materially assist them to control prices. There
were more effective weapons, e.g., libences which could be used if necessary.
In any case it was anticipated that oil would be eventually piped to Baghdad,
and the oil-carrying fleet if retained by Government would be left idle on its
hands. Me was in favour of Government disposing of such vessels as* were
not absolutely necessary to it.
7. The Chairman in summing up said that the general sense of the
meeting appeared to be unfavourable to the retention in Mesopotamia of a
fleet for commercial purposes.
He again explained that Lord Ineheape would make no profit out of the
transaction contemplated by the Ministry of Munitions which Lord Inver-
forth had stated was the only method by which the fleet of a value of some
eight or nine millions could be expeditiously and advantageously disposed of.
8. The Committee recommended that—
(1) State ownership of river craft should be limited to vessels actual
ly necessary for civil and military administrative purposes.
(2) There is no objection to the method of disposal of the fleet pro
posed by the Ministry of Munitions provided that a sufficient
fleet is left in Mesopotamia to satisfy both official requirements
and the needs of commerce and civil transport.
(3) That the authorities in Mesopotamia should be asked to submit
estimates of their requirements on the assumption that they
should retain in their ownership only such vessels as are required
for purposes which cannot be effected through commercial firms.
(4) The A.P.O.C. should be approached with a view to the purchase
of the oil-carrying fleet on the understanding that the sale price
should be negotiated with Lord Inchcape.
T. W. Holderness.
1st November, 1919.
Copy of a. telegram (Cypher} Mo. 15SQ5, dated 27tli Decem'ber 1B19,
from. Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, to India Office, London.
My telegram of 20th December, 15391. Eiver craft disposal. 1 have
seen representatives of Lord Inchcape’s and explained position to them from
my point of view, adding that I do not regard the organisation of the
Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Coy. as adequate at present to meet
all military and civil administrative needs in addition to those of commerce,
and 1 propose to retain a sufficient number of ships, tugs, and barges to carry
at all events a portion of our own cargoes. 1 added that I have no doubt that
the Civil Administration would be prepared to re-consider the whole question
in two or three years time, hut could not afford to break up completely the
existing system of Government transportation until it could be shown the
Euphrates and Tigris Company’s system was adequate.
I understood from Lord Inchcape’s representatives that they agieed that
under the existing circumstances the above views were reasonable and pro
vided that the Administration retained an open mind on the question of
ultimate handing over of Government carriag’e and Government cargo to a
commercial concern they would raise no objection from their point of view.
Colonel Maxwell has not yet arrived.
Copy of a telegram (Cypher R) No. 161, dated 5th January 1920,
from the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, to India Office, London.
My telegram of 27th December, 15605.
I have now been given a copy of Tvord Inchcape’s letter to Lord Xnver-
forth, dated October 8th.
I trust that the proposal will not be adopted. I submit that it involves
an unnecessary and undesirable abrogation by Government of its proper func
tions in favour of private individual, resident in England, who is thereby
enabled to exercise autocratic power in Mesopotamia to the detriment I fear
of British and local interests.