BRITAIN AND RUSSIA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3776, 28 September 1907, Page 3

BRITAIN AND RUSSIA.

London, September 26. The Anglo-Russian Convention provides that Afghanistan shall be maintained as a buffer State. The Times, in a leading article, discussing the Convention, says : “It is to us that the Persian Gulf territory owes whatever civilisation exists there. We have broken the power of many of its people in the interests of order, and have assured them of our protection and support. “ Sir Edward Grey (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) and the Liberal Government have rendered a real service to the Empire by recording in a clear form and in emphatic words their determination to preserve the position we have created.” Newspapers of all shades of opinion in Great Britain have welcomed the Agreement, while in Paris the Anglo-Russian entente is hailed with unmitigated satisfaction. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Times predicts that there will not be a single unfavourable comment in any prominent Russian organ. Sir Edward Grey’s despatch to the British Minister at St. Petersburg states that the Convention does not contain any positive declaration respecting Britain’s special interests in the Persian Gulf. The Government believes that the question will not give rise to any difficulties between the two countries. This belief is held because Russia, during the negotiations, stated explicitly that she did not deny the existence of Britain’s special interests in that region. Sir Edward Grey, in his despatch, adds that Great Britain will continue to direct all her efforts towards the preservation of the status quo on the borders of the Persian Gulf, and the maintenance of British trade. The Secretary of State explains the omission of a special declaration by saying that the terms of the arrangement affecting Persia are limited to those parts of the Shah’s empire which border on British and Russian territories. The Gulf is not a part of these regions, its shores not being all Persian soil.