TRADE WITH PERSIA

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 823, 23 February 1903, Page 3

TRADE WITH PERSIA

RUSSIA’S COMMERCIAL VICTORY,

GREAT BRITAIN’S LOSS,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigh; Received 5.10 p.ru., Feb. 22. London, Feb. 23.

Tho Russian Persian customs tariff in reality governs tho whole of tho Persian trade in favor of Russian imports and exports. Great Britain’s trade is crushirjgly handicapped ; thus duties on Manchester piece goods, imported to the value of two millions sterling, have been increased by four per cent., and those on Indian tea, which is almost a monopoly, by ninety-live per cent. The duties on Persian exports to Great Britain are largely augmented.

A cablegram on Saturday stated:— Lord Cranborne, Under-Secretary for Foreign Allairs, stated in tho House of Commons thut there was an understanding with Russia with respect to tho integrity of Persia which had not been repudiated by either country. Great Britain had rnado strong representations to Persia that the commercial treaty with Russia was calculated to hamper British trade. Calling attention to a recent expression of opinion in tho London Times that the policy of Great Britain in Persia and the Persian Gulf should be supported, if necessary, by a movement of men-o’-war, the Novoo Vremya of a recent date observes I

that, if views of this description arc to begin to prevail in leading political circles in London, Itussia may also be induced to

demonstrate that her fleet cannot always I remain stationary, and that hor army, which has already been put to the test in its campaigns in tho Balkan Peninsula and against the Turcomans, excels in carrying out military operations under tho worst climatic conditions. Tho journal points out that tho Chauvinist British j press doos not admit tho idea of Great Britain’s sharing with Russia the control to bo exercised over the v/aters which wash

o shores of Southern Porsia, wbilo at the

same timo the British Government is constructing a railway through Baluchistan towards tho Persian frontier. The Novoo Vremya comes to tho conclusion that with timo this lino will bo compelled to enter

into communication with the Russian railway system by means of an Afghan or Persian branch line, and that then Russia and Great Britain will bo face to face in Central Asia. Why, then, asks tho Russian journal, should they not also be face

to face in tho Persian Gulf 2 Tho more numerous tho points of contact between thorn tho less opportunity will there bo for British Chauvinism on the subject of

the Persian question, With regard to tho suggestion that tho British Imperialists themselves would be disposed to mako certain concessions to Russia in the Persian Gulf, tho Novoe Vremya observes that it is not concessions that aro required, but a reasonable consideration of the interests of both parties and a pacific division of tho spheres of influence to be exorcised in tho regions of Contral Asia over which Great Britain has no exclusive right, unless, indeed, tho British havo decided to remain for over tho satellites of Germany, and henceforth to look at everything through German spectacles. The Cologno Gazette stated recently

that from tho beginning of 1903 a periodical in tho Persian ianguago will be published at Asbkabad as a supplement to the Zakaspiskoye Obosreniyo for the purpose of assuring the development of commercial relations and a rapprochement between Russia and Persia as a counter-

poise to the growing importance of British influence.