BRITAIN’S POLICY.

Evening Star, Issue 11858, 11 April 1903, Page 6

BRITAIN’S POLICY.

wss Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, April 10. In the House of Commons Mr Balfour stated that all questions relating to the Bagdad Railway were still under consideration on the basis of British capital and control being placed on an equality with those of any other Powers. The railway would not be German, inasmuch as French financiers were equally interested. Great Britain’s good offices were now invited to secure a terminus at Koweyt (Persian. Gulf), or in that vicinity.

The Bagdad Railway will effect a saving of three and a-half days in the transit of the Indian mails. Mr Balfour foresees its construction, and suggests that British capitelists should consider the expediency of joining in an undertaking which, otherwise, will be in the hands of French and German capitalists, who had mutually agreed upon the plans. No negotiations are intended with France or Germany. Mr Balfour’s feeling favors a terminal at KoW€yt ; with whose sheik we have a special treaty, rather than placing it in territory where we are unable to claim preferential advantages. Moreover, Great Britain monopolised the Persian Gulf. The whole question of the railway was under examination, in conjunction with Lord Curzon and the military and naval authorities. The newspapers suggest, apart from the impossibility of utilising the railway in war time, and in view of the fact that heavy goods must always be seaborne, the expediency of inducing the P. and 0. Company to increase the speed of their steamships. ‘The Times’ says that the fact that the French are associated with the Germans is a proof that the scheme is considered purely from a commercial, end not from a political standpoint. ‘ The Tiroes ’ recommends a cautious and comprehensive investigation. Lord Northcote, after visiting the Aden hinterland, recommends a railway from Aden to Atbala, tapping the richest part of Arabia, and providing a sanatorium. He proposes, in other directions, to develop the commercial possibilities of Aden. There is great satisfaction in Berlin at Mr Balfour’s speech on the Bagdad Railway. A sharp rise has .taken place in Deutsche Bank shares.

(Received April 11, at 9.7 a.m.)

Advices from Berlin show that the number of the members of the International Committee for the control of the Bagdad Railway is proportionate to the share of the capitalists of each country.