RUSSIA AND PERSIA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1415, 16 April 1912, Page 7

RUSSIA AND PERSIA.

SHARP BRITISH NOTE. By Teleeranli-Fress Associalion-Conyrlsut London, April 11. In the House of Commons, Sir Kdward Grey, Secretary of Slate for Poreign Affairs, <?;\id thai: on December 2 lie wrote to Kir. George Buchanan, British Ambassador In St. Petersburg, pointing out the grave iilliinalc iioril of Russia'saction in Persia, ond suggesting Hint no further slops l)o taken willioul consultation with Circat Britain. Ho al;o asked that troops should only he sent liy Kussia to Teheran as a la-t report. accepted tlio suggestion, SALAK-ED-rioWLEII IX REVOLT. (Rec. April 15, 11.30 p.m.) St. Petersburg, April 15. Advices from Tabriz state that Snhir-ed-Dowleh, uncle of the Shah, who has been fomenting a revolt, has appeared with a forco of 8000 cavalry, and lias occupied Zinjan, a town about 75 miles south-west of Eesht. A ONE-SIDED CONVENTION. RUSSIA'S DANGEROUS POLICY. The following statement of the position, from the Indian viewpoint, was published in the editorial columns of a recent issuo of the Calcutta "Englishman":—"We are glad to see that Persia is taking a calmer and more reasonnblo view of her position. Jlr. Sinister (the American TreasurerGeneral) has also accepted his enforced dismissal in a spirit of greater humility than his previous performances might lave led us to expect. We regret that Russia should have gone to such lengths as to demand his dismissal, the more so becauso .Mr. Shuster's chief offence appears to have been the appointment of tho best, if not the only, officers available for putting the Persian house in order. We regret still more that Great Britain 6hould have supported Russia in these demands, thereby increasing her own difficulties in tho south and creating false impressions as to her boua fides. \\p must, however, accept the situation as i stands, and mako the best of it. And so, most of all, must Persia. It is no use kicking against the pricks any longer. Tho Anglo-Russian Convention, with all its faults, is for the present a fact to bo reckoned with. Since Great Britain lias elected to maintain it in spite of its grossly one-sided character, and in spile of Russia's violation of its spirit, Persia is wise in the new policy she has declared in her reply to the Russian ultimatum. "The Anglo-Russiivn Convention has failed to achieve its object; it has been powerless in tho maintenance of peace in Asia, and we cannot regard the advance of Russia into Persia without questioning whether the spirit of the Convention is being strictly and honourably observed. The occupation of Northern Persia by 'Russia is almost an accomplished fact, and if our knowledge of Russian policy is not altogether erroneous, the frontiers in the Middle East, Sir Echtard Greys calm assurance notwithstanding, have been ruthlessly disturbed by Russian soldiers. The British Foreign Minister apparently is under the impression that he lias only to follow the lino of least resistance to sec British interests safeguarded in Persia. While Russia is busy pouring in her troops into tho country, rousing tho populace against herself as well as Britain, Sir Edward Grey calmly watches events moving towards the partition of Persia. "Great Britain can, under no circumstances, be a party to a policy of partitioiiiii" Persia. The disturbance of the existing frontiers in the country .is extremclv undesirable from the point of view of Great Britain. It is playing with words to assert that the temporary occupation of Persia docs not create new boundary lines both for Russia and Britain. Whilst the Anglo-Russian Convention must, for the present, be accepted as a fact—and .Persia would be well advised to so accept it— the British Foreign Minister might at least point out to Russia and the world at large that, Convention or no Convention, we cannot continue indefinitely to support that Pow.er m a policv fast becoming intolerable to Persia niid ourselves, and clangorous to the cause of peace in tho Middle East.