Page 260 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

234. Part HI-
274. Tho proposal, howevor, to appoint Consul at Basrali as Political Agent
at Moharamorah had to ho given up, and
Bcorct E., November 1889, Not. 109*120.
lie would in tho circumstances find little
occupation Tor a big vcssol like tho Comet, while tho ltcsidcut at Baghdad
could not have it at his disposal for a greater part of the year, when wanted.
2?5. In tho circumstances Colonel Tweedio was told domi-officially on 26th
KxU-rniil A., February 1890, No*. 74 79 (notca, January 1890 that the question presented
p»gc 4). many difficulties and that no action would
bo taken “ for the present.”
(viii) Rumoured formation of a new Ottoman River Company, 1892.*
270. In 1892 Messrs. Lynch & Co. informed tho Foreign Office in London
that active steps were being taken by Tur­
Secret E , December 1892, No«. 43*18.
kish officials towards the formation of a
Company for tho navigation of the Tigris and Euphrates with a capital of about
£100,000, their purpose being to employ four steamers. It was intended to
afford every facility to tho new Company, while the Euphrates and Tigris Navi­
gation Company were hampered by every restriction. The scheme was closely
connected with one for irrigating lands on both sides of the Tigris, which had
been purchased by tho Civil List.
277. The local authorities had recently been threatening to prevent tho
British steamers from towing bargos up and down the river. The agent of the
Euphrates and Tigris Navigation Company,
Secret E., Murob 1893, Not. 33-38.
therefore, requested the Resident that the
restrictions as to tho barges might be removed at the same time as the new
Company was being formed.
278. An Irade appears to have been issued sanctioning the new Turkish Com-
- v pany, but although two boats were ordor-
ed by the Minister of Marine in London,
one of them was lost with all bands on the way out and the other was still at
Constantinople. As regards the claim of tho Messrs. Lynch, it was proposed to
amend the pro memoria (which permitted La Campaiane Lynch to employ
bi-weekly two steamers on the Tigris and Euphrates which had been addod to tho
Commercial Treaty with Turkey, Articlo XVI) allowing the uso of barges. But
it was thought by Sir F. C. Ford that it would be injudicious to raise the ques­
tion at the time (Despatch from Sir F. C. Ford to the Earl of ltosebory, datod
11th January 1893).

(ix) Messrs- Lynch’s application for being allowed the same
•privileges as enjoyed by the Ottoman steamers, 1893*
279. The Oman Ottoman Company's steamers—it was represented by the
Lynch Company in 1893—were allowed to
8fcr*V E„ July 1803, No*. 275*287.
take delivery direct from ocean steamers of
cargo, originally shipped for Basrah, but intended for Baghdad, and to pay
duty at the latter place, and in case the cargo intended for Baghdad had been
landed and taken to tho Customs House at Basrah, it was allowed by the Otto­
man Company to be cloarod without paying duty or giving a guarantee for tho
payment of duty at Baghdad.
280. When enquiries wore made, the Baghdad Castoms Master informed the
Consulate Dragoman that tho Oman Com­
Svcnt K, October 1893, Not. 761*765.
pany, having made arrangements with
shippers in foreign countries, got cargoes shipped to Basrah destined for Baghdad,
and on guarantee being given to the satisfaction of tlie Basrah Customs, carried
them with a pass, which they oarofully returned receipted within the stipulated
time, while Messrs. Lynch bad neither entered into such arrangements ns above
with shippers to get goods for Baghdad shipped to Basrah nor attended to duo
execution of the formalities required. The privilege in question was equally
open to Messrs. Lynch provided they carefully attended to tho proper formali­
ties, though the Customs Master was personally opposed to the concession being
allowed to any company.
* At to tbe old Ottoman ltivcr ttcaiu tcrvico toe paragraph* 105* A and 181 m»t» of chapter XI.