STAMBOUL FOR RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 242, 22 March 1915, Page 6

STAMBOUL FOR RUSSIA.

STATEMENT IN DUMA. | ' M :ii ALLy AND THE OPEX SEA. i ' Petrograd, February IJ. Iho speech of .U. the MinisJi' for Foreign AU'airs—of* which the ■client proofs are summarised Mow—at the opening, of the new session of the Duma, was received with enthusiasm. M. Sazanoli' indicated that the principal result of Turkey's intention in the war wouljl he the surrender of her complete control of Russia's access by sea to the Mediterranean, a point to which a member subsequently referred in less equivocal terms.

After the. simple opening ceremony yesterday, M. Coremykin, the Premier, in the course of his first speech of the session, said that the close union of all Russians brought about by the war had ■been rendered stronger by the conquest of Calicia, the only jewel hitherto lacking in the Imperial Crown, while no less satisfactory had been the paternal rapproachntent between the Russian and Polish 'peoples. He then pointed out that: since the Duma had last sat iu session, Turkey had marched out with the enemy i but he was pleased to think that her resistance had already been shattered and the radiant futuro of Russia 011 the 151nck Bea was beginning to dawn rear the walls of Constantinople. THE PERSIAN POSITION. M. Sazanoli'j'.devoted the earlier portion of his speech to a masterly review of tlio events that led up to the war, and having touched upon, in pungent phrase, the efforts ifiade bv (iermany to sow dissension among tiie Allies, he pointed out that the events of the Uus-so-Turkish frontier, while covering liussian arms with l'resh glory, will bring Russia nearer to the realisation of the political and economic problems bound up with the question of Russia's access to the open sea. M. SaonoPi' then dealt in some detail with Russo-Porsian relaiions, and pointed out that the presence of Russian ti'co-;; : ; in Persia' was in no way a violation of neutrality, as they were sent there some years ago with, the object of maintaining ' order iu Russian frontier territory, and preventing its invasion by the Turks who wisiied to establish there an advantageous base of action against the Cauean•sus. The Persian Government, powerless to take effective action against this aggression, had protested, but without, success. Anglo-Russian relations in regard to Persian affairs were more than ever based 011 mutual and sincere confidence and co-operation, which were a guarantee of the pacific settlement of any eventful conflict. M. Rodzianko, President of the Duma, paid an elaborate tribute to tho great efforts heing made by Russia's allies, and aroused the Chamber to a high pitch of enthusiasm when he said that Russia would fight until their enemies accepted terms dictated to them by the'! Allies.

JAiFAN ",A FIRM FRIEND." Speaking on behalf of the Constitutional Democrats, M. Miliukoff said (amid prolonged cheers) they were convinced that tho accomplishment of their principal task—the acquisition of the Straits and Constantinople—would have been guaranteed in good time, ap well from the diplomatic point of view as from the military point of view. Tn the Far East, the agreement signed in ino7 and 1910 with .Tapan had borne fruit during the present war, for Japan was with the Allies. She had driven the Germans from the Pacific Ocean, and had seized the German'base of Kiao-chau. Although Japan . did not sign the agreement of August 23rd, yet since the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, contains an understanding that a separate peace should not be concluded, therefore the German Government could not hope for peace with Japan before she had concluded peace with Great Britain, Russia. and France. Consequently, their relations with Japan gave them a firm friend.