HC Deb 16 March 1911 vol 22 cc2420-2
Mr. LONSDALE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has intimated to Turkey that in no circumstances can Great Britain consent to any Power obtaining preferential treatment in regard to the section of railway from Baghdad to the Persian Gulf?

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Edward Grey)

I would refer the hon. Member to Articles 24 and 25 of the Cahier des Charges, where it is laid down that all tariffs, no matter of what character, shall be applied to all passengers and consigners of goods without discrimination; that these tariffs, before being enforced, must be submitted for the approval of the Ottoman Govern- ment; that they may, provided they are notified to the Turkish Commissioner, be enforced in cases of urgency before the approval of the Turkish Government is actually received; and that the concession-holder is formally precluded from making a private agreement with anyone, other than the Ottoman Government, with the object of conceding lower rates than those indicated in the scheduled tariffs. An isolated exception is made, under due restrictions, in favour of necessitous persons (pauvres et indigents). In these circumstances, and having regard to the general nature of our rights in Turkey under the Capitulations, I do not consider that any useful purpose would have been served by addressing to the Turkish Government a communication which assumed that an infraction of those rights was contemplated. I would further draw the attention of the hon. Member to the rates quoted under tariff number 9 of the Cahier des Charges, which would seem to show that neither the Ottoman Government nor the Railway Company contemplate unfair manipulation of rates.

Mr. W. W. ASHLEY

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us who is to decide who these necessitous persons are? Is it the Turkish Government?

Sir E. GREY

That I do not know; it is a matter of mere detail, which seems to me to have very little bearing on the general question.

3.0 P.M.

EARL of RONALDSHAY

asked if, under the provisions of the agreements hitherto concluded between Turkey and Germany with regard to railway construction in Asiatic Turkey, Germany's right of construction of any of the sections of the Baghdad Railway has lapsed under a time limit; and, if not, whether he can say on what dates the right of construction in the case of the section from Baghdad to the Persian Gulf and of the branch line from Sadijeh to Khanikin will lapse under existing agreements?

Sir E. GREY

I am aware that, under Article 4 of the Baghdad Railway Convention of March, 1903, it is stipulated that all the Baghdad Railway and its branches should be completed within eight years from the date when that Convention was signed; but this obligation is expressly qualified by a corresponding financial obligation incurred by the Turkish Government, but not punctually fulfilled, with the result that the period of eight years is ipso facto extended. Apart from this, I would point out that, on 2nd June, 1908, a further Convention was signed, which extended the period of construction for eight years from that date in regard only to the sections of the main line as far as El Helif.

EARL of RONALDSHAY

Did the Convention of 1908 apply to the sections as far as El Helif?

Sir E. GREY

I have said so.

EARL of RONALDSHAY

Am I to understand that the right of construction of any of the sections of the Baghdad Railway has lapsed under the original Convention?

Sir E. GREY

No, Sir. I think when the Noble Lord reads the first part of my answer he will see that the whole question is affected by the financial obligations incurred by the Turkish Government. When he has read my answer I will reply to any further questions.

EARL Of RONALDSHAY

asked if a proposal has been made by the Turkish Government for the construction and management of a railway from Baghdad to the Persian Gulf by Turkey, Germany, France, and Great Britain, the representation of the four countries to be such that any one of them, in conjunction with Turkey, would possess a majority on the board of management over the other two?

Sir E. GREY

I cannot make any statement in regard to the Turkish proposals, which are of a confidential character at the present stage.