The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04

that part OF Northern Persia subjugated
by Russia early in the century have rot
! only remained there. but have been ap-
/ parenuy Contented. That fact has had
its influence on the Persians. Their mod
| ern army. such as il is. has also besn
drilled by Russian officers. and has thus
| become used TO being under Russian com
mand The more intelligent officials and
I mobiles. many of whom have been in
/ Europe and in St Petersburg and speak
! French luently, have long felt thai it was
! simply a question Of time when they wolld
. come under Russian dominion.
Russia is a land OF progress. or at least
/ is becoming a land greatly imbued with
! the Western notions Of progress Ameri-
/ ca Of all other nations taught her toe
! lesson. The Cars Empire is being COW
Z cred by a network OF railways Persia vii!
! undoubtedly follow in this line OF ad-
( vanCemeut That will be the making Of
I Persia. as il has been of every other nation.
+ The practical affairs Of life will drive cut
! the poetry OF the East, even as the me-
/ chauical age has driven away the pastoral
glory OF centuries gone by.
In the meantime, however, there are
many things 10 happen.
Russias triumph in Persia. as former
| Minister Benjamin says may have set
back II England should win in South
E az IVA ANAe0ia might ltAlpoIlLe ana ueIeT
her ultimate triumph Make haste slowly
IS not new motto of the Car. Russia
will not put her foot down without long
deliberation, hut when she does, recession
Is not a word in her national vocabulary.
What may be the effects OF the recent prac-
teal accession to power in Persia cannot
be definitely stated, but with the Persian
Gulf in her hands and a littoral reaching
almost 10 India, Russia would bisect the
passage between Suez and India says Mr.
I Benjamin.
Under altered modern conditions Eng
land has become Obliged to depend chiefly
on the canal for quick transit TO her East
ern possessions. and the real reason why
England has seized Egypt-for it amounts
to that's 10 control Suez and TO have
ports south and Independent of il, such as
Suakim. in order to communicate with In
dia. this reason has also made il Of the
last importance to her that Russian fleets
should NOT be able TO come down from the
Black Sea to threaten Suez. She was JUS
tilted In this policy under the higher law
that self-preservation is the right of IA
tons as well as OF individuals.
But what comes Of this effort 10 pro-
tect Suez If Russia can bisect the road
from Suez TO Bombay and send out feet
cruisers to destroy English merchant
ships after they have passed Suez safely?
To prevent this England would have to
maintain vast fleets along the Russo-Per- /
sian coasts and would still not feel safe;
while the railways would bring down ar
mics that could cooperate with the fleets
Of Russia by approaching India where the
mountain passes are less severe than in
the north. and England between the two
would find herself drawing on her own re-
sources
At any rate. Russia has entered a wedge
in the Orient that viii be driven to a di-
vision Of the maps Of empires. To the
first decade Of the new century belongs
the task Of settling problems such as the
world never faced before.
AS Russia gains the Christian powers
besides England viii be forced 10 look
sharply after their own commercial and
territorial interests in Asstic quarters. /
Nor will the United States, SO confiding |
in the oft-reiterated friendship Of Russia. 4
find that friendship OF any avail then. II l
holds good on the part Of Russia only so :
long as American interests do not clash !
with hers OF so long as we are alert aad /
powerful enough to maintain our rights /
and demands"
Referring to the actual assimilation OF |
Persia there are few students of topo-