The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1912. THE BAGDAD RAILWAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 96, 23 April 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1912. THE BAGDAD RAILWAY.

3 Writing f rom Berlin at the end of February a special correspondent deals frith the situation between Germany and England, and the question of the Bagdad railway. It was in 1849 that i future Imperial Chancellor, writ«g to Berlin from Damascus, made ■i»e of language which has a peculiar Interest to England at thL time. "If," said he, "by a peaceful arrangement with the Turkish Government we aould secure Cyprus and Rhodes and iheir like. . . we should gain harbours, merchant vessels, a navy, sail-n-s. Nor are Syria and Asia' Minor :o be left out of the question; and averything should be done to hinder the Russians and the English." Since those words were penned, the correspondent above referred to remarks. Glermany, by other efforts and by reason of physical and moral successes undreamt of then, has got her merchant vessels, has got her navy and ai abundance of men to serve it. She i+.ill Wire 1,.,,. !>„„,.,. n

mil lacks iiarbours. Cyrus was mapped up by Lord Beaconsfield in :he later seventies under an arrangement with Turkey. But as for Syria md Asia Minor—these are parts of :he world certainly not "left out of Ac question," for Germany lias obaincd a powerful economic fooling here. It is also pointed out that ho beginning of German influence in Turkey may, for practical purposes, >e dated from the arrival at Stam>oul of Marshall von Eieberstein as he Kaiser's envoy. It is this talentd soldier-diplomat who is credited Ath the fall of Vambery. Ignatius v'aml)ery, till that moment, had en).ved the absolute confidence of Sultan ibdul Ham id, and he had risen from >eing the Sultan's private tutor to i position which was nothing less han that of his master's chief poliical yet unofficial adviser. He was \ noted friend to England and the English. He was suddenly spoken if as an English spy; he was warned md urged to leave the shores of the Fiosphorus before it was too late; and lid, in fact, retire within a few weeks )f this warning to his native country

hhl unviersity at Budapest, where he ins since occupied the Chair of Orienal Languages. His departure marked the close of British and the imineliate appearance of German influence it Constantinople and throughout Turkey. The summit of German inluence was perhaps reached when the [Vaiser obtained the concession for the Bagdad Railway—a scheme owing its irigin to English pioneers. However, the Bagdad scheme as originally put forward here all the appearance of being an international arrangement from which no one country would he able to reap a strategical advantage. Great Britain all but entered the scheme; a British group was formed, when her Foreign Office came to the conclusion that the predominant German financial control would be dangerous to British interests. Britain withdrew, and the Bagdad Railway hajs ever remained a difficult and. an unpleasant problem. The railway has. however, gradually pushed on; the concession for another groat section (GOD miles long) has been obtained from the'Sultan, and the line lias now reached the foot of the Taurus I\!nuntain ?;; crossing that range, it will touch a valley station where a junction is designed with a branch line

to meet the sea coast opposite Cyprus, the main lino proceeding to El llelii'. The scheme includes branches into the Kurdish hill country to the northward, and a connection with the Mecca railway by a link-jine to Aleppo, lint lor the question of finance, it is now stated, it might. well he that Great Britain would have to stand by and see tin’s railway system alter, to the strategical disadvantage of Egypt and India, the entire country which stretches from the Bosphorus to tnc Persian Gulf. Even as it is, the financial difficulty may he overcome without the assistance of British capital. The scheme, however, crops up afresh as a reasonable question to put forward for settlement as against anything which it might lie in Britain’s power to do for Germany elsewhere. Not, of course, that Great Britain desires to deprive Germany in Asia Minor of any commercial advantage which, in the ordinary way, she has been able to secure; it is purely the strategic position involved which touches Britain nearly, and responsible officials have declared that the participation of Great Britain, early or late, in the Bagdad scheme can only take place if sufficient control is afforded her to prevent the railway being used to her injury. It cannot, therefore, be unreasonable to suppose that whatever negotiations the two Powers may set on foot, the question of British interests in the Near and Middle East and the effect on these interests which the Bagdad Railway lias already produced must inevitably be discussed and must take rank as one of the first points to be settled. It involves, perhaps, the only consideration which Germany lias to offer for whatever help she may desire of Britain elsewhere.

THE MAYORAL ELECTSOH.

Stratford’s Mayoral election takes place to-morrow the contestants, being Messrs W- 11.I 1 . Kirkwood and J. McAllister.' Both candidates for the office have had experience in the Borough Council, and as both have a good following the contest will probably be closely fought. Last night Mr McAllister delivered an address in the Town Hall setting forth his views and the policy lie would favour if returned. To-night. Mr Kirkwood will speak, and as there will be no time for ratepayers to study the latter’s statement in the columns of their newspaper, this being , the eve of the election, it is hoped there will bo a large attendance. At time of writing the weather, certainly appears to be likely to treat Mr Kirkwood unkindly—but that is quite beyond his direction. In the speech of last evening a cautious policy, introducing, nothing particularly new, was set forth. Mr McAllister’s personal explanation was interesting and it is quite possible, it is whispered, that Mr Morison may also make a “parsona 1 explanation” at Mr Kirkwood’s meeting to-night. We must certainly compliment Mr McAllister on his speech and on his straightforward appeal that the question of no-license be not allowed to enter into the contest, but that the merit of the candidates and the policy each supports be the deciding factors. That is as it should be and on no other lines should the election be decided, but it would have been better if both! candidates had set forth their views a little earlier.

THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

That Mr C. 1). Sole should have decided to decline nomination for the School Committee which was elected last night is certainly a matter for regret. Even those who do not see eye to eye with Mr Sole on many matters must freely admit that as Chairman of the Stratford School Committee, a position we believe he has held uninterruptedly since 1901, he has done very great service to the cause of education in this town and has devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy to matters appertaining to the welfare of scholars and teaching staff alike. Wo feel sure that this is recognised, and on all sides remarks eulogistic of Mr Sole’s services were heard at last night’s meeting. It was also very right and proper that a resolution recording appreciation of Mr Sole’s good work should have been passed and we feel that, in this instance, it was no mere empty compliment, and that regret at his decision to stand down is genuine. The new committee made a good selection in choosing Mr Philip Skoglund as Mr Sole’s. successor, and we expect great things from the new Chairman, who in the past lias proved himself one of the most -useful members of the Committee.

W!RELESS TELEGRAPHY

Such remarkable progress is being made with the wireless equipment of British ships that it is believed that it is not at all unlikely that the Board of Trade will soon insist upon compulsory measures. Various Governmonts have from time to time legislated on the subject. Canada, the United States, Italy, and Japan insist that all passenger vessels calling at their ports not fitted ninth apparatus capable of transmitting messages a certain distance—the average minimum being about a hundred miles—are liable to heavy penalties, and it is reported that Spain is about to follow this lead. Even the South American republic of Uruguay, although it does not possess a mercantile marine of its own, has passed a similar law which comes into operation on May 1. Russia’s attitude in this matter is rather difficult to understand, as it is stated that the apparatus is not to be carried on merchant ships sailing under the Russian flag, aid that exceptions can only be permitted in very particular cases.