ENGLAND AND TURKEY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8653, 11 February 1914, Page 7

ENGLAND AND TURKEY

AN AGREEMENT. Dy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrlghl CONSTANTINOPLE, February 9. A decree-sanctioned Anglo-Turkish Agreement, initialled by Sir Edward Grey (British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) and Hakki Bey (Turkish Ambassadpr) in Londbn, 5s believed to refer to the Baghdad Railway, and was foreshadowed in Sir Edward Grey’s speech on May 29th last. [Speaking in the House of Commons on May 29th, Sir Edward Grey, dealing with the question of the Baghdad Railway, said that the negotiations were not concluded, but that it was provided in the agreement to be made with Turkey that tho line Was not to he continued beyond Basra. The Government desired that there should be two British directors on the board of management, and were making it clear that there ought to h© no preferential rates. It was essential that Germany should be satisfied that there was nothing in the agreement we made with Turkey inconsistent with her rights under her agreement. With regard to the Persian Gulf question he stated that we were recognising the suzerainty of Turkey over Koweit, and that Turkey would agree that the Sheikh’s autonomy should remain unimpaired. Our arrangement with the Sheikh was not to be disputed.]