GERMAN DESIGNS ON PERSIA

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2095, 3 June 1907, Page 4

GERMAN DESIGNS ON PERSIA

TRADE ATTACK*

German}', in need of now fields of expansion, has marked down Persia as a favorable country for exploitation, and elaborate plans have been worked out for the promotion of German commercial interests and the extension of German enterprise in the Shah’s dominions.

The plans aro, I understand, on absolutely reliablo information, says the Berlin correspondent of the Express, to be carried out by Gorman capitalists, supported by tlio German iGovernment, in spito of the fact that every step forward contemplated by the Germans involves an invasion of the recognised sphere of British influence and an attack—on British interests in Persia. German enterprise in Persia thus promises to bring about a critical situation in the Middle East, besides increasing tho tension between Great Britain and Germany already existing in Europe. Germany’s schemes for exploiting Persia are so menacing to British interests that they merit serious attention on the part of Hiq Majesty’s Hitherto Great Britain and Russia have been the only Powers-with extensive influence at Teheran. North Persia has been recognised as Russia’s sphere of influence, and South Persia as tho British. The Anglo-Russian agreement, now practically concluded, provides for the removal of future causes of rivalry in Persia. This arrangement betiwieen Great Britain and Russia : s extremely distasteful to Germany, who desires to further her own ends in Persia. It is significant, however, that the commercial development now beginning is to be confined to South Persia, and carefully excluded from North Persia.

In plain words, this means that the German Government is willing to patronise an invasion by German merchants of the British sphere of influence while carefully avoiding any action that could give offence to Russia. German protestations of friendship for England cannot conceal the fact that tho scheme now begun in Persia with the consent and knowledge of the German Government is an effort to gain a footing in a country adjacent to Britain’s Indian Empire. A MENACE TO INDIA.

An eminent authority on the Middle Eastern question has put it on record that the presence of aiiy military Power in South Persia would be a potential menace to India. Viewed in this light, tho German commercial invasion appears still more menacing.

The Gorman Orient Bank was founded more than a year ago to promote profitable enterprise in Eastern countries. Its own capital amounts to £BOO,OOO, and its founders and backers are throe of tlie most powerful* institutions in' Germany—the Dresdner Bank, the National Bank of Germany, and the Schaffhausen Banking Association. One of its directors, Herr Gutmann, jun., is now in Teheran to begin practical business operations in Persia.

The plan of campaign has been carefully worked out, and begins with the establishment of a German Bank at Teheran to compete with the British and Russian banks already there. The main object of this bank will be to secure concessions. The German Orient Bank will /also try to establish a great centre at the most favorable port on the Persian Gulf, obtaining a concession of territory as the site of the necessary buildings. This would be the headquarters of a new German line of coasting steamships to distribute to all the Persian ports the German exports brought to the chosen commercial centre by the HamburgAmerica and other German lines. Tho steamships of the HamburgAmerica Company are now plying in the Persian Gulf, and undercut their British competitors by charging 8s a ton of freight, as compared with 12s a ton rate of the British |

ships, nnd it is expected that a continuation of this policy will drivo the British lljig out of.the Gulf. An audacious schomo of railway construction, soriously encroaching on British rights, completes tho project of the Gorman Orient Bank. It is stated that one of these projected German railways, running from Tolieran to Bagdad, would earn profits simply by convoying tho corpses of pious Persians to two holy places southward of Bagdad, whoro the Porsian Moslems desiro to bo buried. Another projected railway, running from Bagdad eastward and then southward to tho now Gorman commercial contro on tho Persian Gulf, would provido tho urgently-noodod torminus for tho Bagdad railway. Tho Gorman Government recently appointed a now Minister at Teheran, Horr Stemrich, an export' in Oriontal affairs, to promote Gorman commercial interests in Persia. One of Horr Stemrich's first acts was to rocommendvan immediate extension of Gorman - enterprise,