POLICING IN PERSIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 340, 29 October 1908, Page 7

POLICING IN PERSIA.

RUSSIA'S TASK. UNDERSTANDING WITH BRITAIN. (lit TELEUttAI'H—PHESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) London, October 27. In accordance with an understanding between Britain and Russia, Russian troops aro proceeding to the Azerbaijan district in order to re-establish order, after which they will retire. Whether thoy will proceed to Tabriz (the capital of the province) for the purpose mentioned will depend on advices from the Russian Corisul-General in that city.

"NON-INTERFERENCE," • ANGLO-RUSSIAN POLICY IN PERSIA. It is a little over a year since Britain and Russia, for their own purposes, roughly partitioned Persia into three -zones, under the Anglo-Russian Convention. In tho southeastern zone (sphere of British influence) Russia agreed to seek.no concessions; in the northern zone (sphere of Russian influence) Britain agreed to seek no concessions; and there is an intervening zone, a no man's land, between the two. Beyond this matter of concession, Britain and Russia agreed on non-intcrference —"to respect the integrity and independence of Persia."

. A political crisis between the Shah and his Parliament arose in Persia this year, and Russian troops quartered in Persia acted under the Shah's orders. In the House of Commons Mr. Lynch (Literal member for Ripon, Yorkshire) asked how the shelling of the Parliament Buildings of Persia by tho Russian commander (Colonel LiakbofF), under the Shah's, orders, could be held to "maintain tho integrity of Persia." If Russia, absorbed Persia up to tho line drawn on the map of the Convention, Britain would have a frontier with Russia extending over 1200 miles. How could she defend it? A great military authority writing in 1879 said that Britain could not have a more formidable attack on India than an attack by a Persian array commanded by Russian officers. Replying, the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward Grey, said that tho member for Ripon had not given a correct impression with regard to the Russian officers. These officers had been, in Persia for some years, long before the Anglo-Russian Convention. ■They were officers not sent in by the Russian Government, but under the orders of tho Shah; and lie dia not suppose that the Russian Government itself up to that time knew the facts aj to the, part thoy took at Teherin. He trusted that' Britain and Russia would continue to agree as at the present time on the policy of non-intervention in internal affairs. "If there bo in Persia (lie added) a genuine movement on behalf of freedom and good government which takes 'a practical shape it will lack no sympathy from us. No ambition of ours will ever embarrass it; but the Persians must work out their own affairs in their own-way. But, as faras we . and Russia aro concerned,: there is a genuine desire on the part of both to intervene as little as possible in the intornal affairs of Persia s long as our subjects are not threatened. That, I am sure, is a wise policy, because any Government in Persia at the present time which was known to lean on foroign support would be unpopular in tho country, and what we desire is to see a Government' there possessing tho confidence of tho Persian peoplo." Consistently with these sentiments, Britain and Russia have .since then brought l pressure 'on tho Shah' to convene another Parliament. The Shah, following a lino of policy remarkably like tho Tsar's in relation to the Duma, is convening a .new Parliament on an attenuated franchise ■ that is expectcd to make its members creatures of the Throne—a "pious Mejliss," to use the Sliah's phrase. Quite recently,' when M. Isvolsky visited London, Britain and Russia had another opportunity of comparing notes as to the Convention and its operation in Persia; and on October 16 it was announced that thero was an identity of views between the two Ministers promising "a continuance of cordial and harmonious cooperation between the two Governments in the settlement of the Central Asian question." Following this announcement comes the new movement of Russian troops mentioned in today's cablegram. The position now is that the Nationalist or Constitutional party, whilo beaten by the Reactionary or Royalist forces in Tehoran, the capital, have got the upper hand in Tabriz, tho principal town of Azerbaijan. The question whother tho Russian troops, in their Azerbaijan tour, will call at Tabriz, is a delicate one; for in tho minds of the Constitutional party tho Russian sol-

diers, by their action as Teheran, are associated with tlie forces of the Shah; and tlio question is how far Russian policing efforts in Tabriz may merge into a suppression of the Constitutional party, > which appeals—if any Persian party does—to British sympathy. When Sir Edward Grey made his speech in July (party quoted above) lie evidently had in his mind no interference in tho interests of order, unless tliore was actual danger to British subjects. It is not clear from the cablegram whether tho present Russian measures will'be governed by tho same-test. The stipulation that, having restored order, tho troops must retire, is, as far as it goes, in accord with the British. Minister's expressed principles. In the speech referred to Sir Edward Grey also said: The only course for us to take in these circumstances is that, so long as there is no danger to British subjects, and there has been none, wo shall not go one inch further in intervention than wo can help. As long as we abstain from intervention, I hope tlie" Persians will fight out their affairs in their own way. (Cheers.) Tho lion, member for Ripon recommonded friendly assistance. Yes; but it is a very difficult matter offering friendly assistance when- thero is a slate of civil war. (Hear, hear.) When you offer friendly assistance the party to whom you o.Ter it are apt to ask How far you are prepared to go, and there is no more dangerous thing than to offer sympathy and friendly assitance unless, when a dangerous state of affairs occurs, you are prepared to back up those who have leant upon you by going somewhat further. . I can assure the lion, member for Ripon that if we have not intervened in Persia it is not because we are more on one right to leave people to expect your assistance unless you are prepared really to inside or tho other or because wo have not got sympathies;, it is simply because it is not tcrvene to protect them." The Persian correspondent of "Tlie Times" lately declared that the action of the Russian commander in Teheran had no political moaning. "Colonel Liakhoff is a plain soldier, unversed in politics."