Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-03
s>JIsUJRY's NEW TASK.


don and St. Petersburg. Lord Salisbury
has recouped in large measure on the
blunder Rosebery made in his far East
diplomacy Immediately following the war
between China and Japan. While the jim
goes were fretting and Tuning and the
British navy was making more or less
formidable demonstrations in Chinese
waters. the British Premier was quietly
pulling the wires. with the result that an
Anglo Russian agreement defining the re-
spective spheres of influence Of the two
Powers IN the FlOWery kingdom has been
reached. The text of the agreement mas
not been published. but it is understood
that Russia's superior interests in Man
churia are admitted. as are Great Bri-
tain's in the YangTse Valley; that both
parties are satisfied, and that the latest
far East incident, that so long threat
ened to lead to "A sangunary trial oil
conclusions. has been closed for some
time at least
And yet there are reasons why the
British jlngoes-especially those who are
itching for trouble with Russia-should
not be entirely downcast. Almost stimuli
taneously with the announcement Of the
understanding touching the Chinese issue,
we are in receipt of two bits Of informa-
ton which indicate that Anglo-Russian
friction. which the world has come to re-
gard as chronic. has been simply shifted
to another quarter. one of these bits or
information is that the Shah of Persia
has granted concession to Russian
mining company" covering the whole of
the province OF Ozerbaijan. The other is
that Russian engineers have recently
completed q survey for the extension Of
the Tinis and Kars railroad from point
on the Little Zab river northeast OF Bag
dad. TO the Persian Gulf, and that Bri-
fish gunboat has been sent to the gulf to
take possession Of its head, where the
Euphrates and the Tigris empty into 1t.
Ozorbaijan, or Azerbiian. is the most
northern province of Persia, and borders
territory wrestcd from the Shahs
by Russia in successive wars.
Russian movement down the Val
ley Of the Tigris and the Eu-
pirates to the head of the Persian Gulf
has for years been accepted as among
the possibilities. Indeed, more than once
it has been threatened, and always with
the consequence of producing a furry in
Great Britain. 1t is recognized that Rus
sian territorial expansion TO the gulf,
which would be the ultimate sequence OF
the movement in question, and control Of
its waters, would secure TO Russia tire
mendous advantages as affecting the final
solution Of the little eastern or Turkish
problem. She would not only possess an
other strategic base from which TO mo
mace India. but would be in position to
peralyze Turkey in Asia. Even If she
should not determine TO attempt the car
rylng out Of her designs on Constantine
pie by force Of arms the prolongation
Of her lap around Persia and the estab-
lishment of her power in the gulf would
enable her TO dominate at Teheran, and
obtain such further concessions as would
give her the whip hand over British In
dia in several directions.
When these facts are weighed it IS rea-
sonable to conclude that the Ozorbaijan
concession and the railway survey are
not merely coincidental, and that each
emphasizes the significance of the other.
/ 1t IS also reasonable TO conclude that
Great Britain will soon be heard from in
no uncertain tones at Teheran, and that
II occasion requires she will see that the
/ Persian Gulf is pretty well guarded in
her interest not only by her own forces,
but by those of her good friend, the Sui
tan Of oman. SO we say that unless Rus
STA is engaged in a big bluff, Lord Sails
bury has carried the country through one
! serious crisis in its relations with Rus
STA TO find it confronted with another