Page:Turkey, the great powers, and the Bagdad Railway.djvu/106

 military convention was to be drawn up and approved by the Company and the Minister of War.[58]

Upon the expiration of the concession all rights of the concessionaires in the railway, port works, and other subsidiary enterprises were to revert, free of all debt and liability, to the Imperial Government. In the meantime, a semblance of Turkish nationality was to be assured the enterprise by the stipulation that the railway employees and officials should wear the fez and such uniform as might be approved by the Government. It was contemplated, also, that within five years after the opening of each section to traffic the whole of the operating staff, except the higher officials, should be composed exclusively of Ottoman subjects.[59]

Appended to the Bagdad Railway Convention was a secret agreement binding the Company not to encourage or instal foreign settlements or colonies in the vicinity of the Anatolian or Bagdad Railways.[60] Although the Sultan had mortgaged his empire, at least he was determined to retain possession![61]

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES*