New-York tribune., 1903-05-07
4 CHALLENGE IN THE EAST.

Lord Iansdowne has marked an epoch in
Asian diplomacy. His enunciation Of what has
been dubbed "a British Monroe Doctrine in the
Persian Gulf IS one Of the most sensational
utterances Of British Foreign Minister for
many year. and If it is maintained and ful-
filed IL may well prove one OF the most impor-
rapt It is startling sequel TO the recent
dalltance with Germany over the Mesopotamian
railroad 4 few weeks ago Great Britain was
apparently ready TO Join Germany in extending
a German railroad TO the head of the Persian
Gulf. where. of course, a great German port
and naval station would In time be created
Now she not only withdraws from that enter
prise but also serves notice upon Germany and
sl the world that the Persian Gulf is practically
British lake and while other powers may
commercially navigate it they must not make
naval stations or Notifications there under pen
atty OF war with Great Britain.
But it is not 10 Germany so much as to Rus
sia that this announcement is a warning and
challenge Russia is perfectly well known TO
have cherished for years the design of securing
a footing on the Persian Gulf, or the Gulf of
Oman. and, indeed. of securing a territorial out
let there upon the Arabian Sea and the Indian
Ocean Il was for that purpose that she went
10 Merry and pushed toward Herat and
strove to absorb Afghanistan. Had she sue
ceeded there she would quickly have seized
Beloochistsn. and thus have secured a three
hundred mile frontage on the Arabian Sea right
alongside OF India. But Great Britain baftied
her by shutting her out Of Afghanistan and by
snnexing Beloochistan 10 British India Since
then Russia has sought the southern seas by
another route, 10 wit through Persia She has
cultivated particularly close relations with
Persia has secured the privilege OF building
Russian railroad across that empire. and has
negotiated for the cession or lease Of Bander
Abi,as. at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, for a
terminus for that road, and also for a fortified
Russian port and naval station. In forbidding
her TO do so Great Britain practically bars the
entire southern coast Of Asia TO Russia and
saws the latter shall never have a station Oh the
Indian Ocean. She dams Russia in from the
sea at every point along the southern frontier.
Such action on the part of Great Britain is the
more noteworthy for the reason that she her
self owns not one inch OF soil on the Persian
Gulf or on the Gulf of Oman. The southern
shores are divided between El HASA. which is
a part OF the Turkish Empire, and Oman, which
is an independent sultanate. The northern
shore is all Persian True, Great Britain has
cultivated close relations with the Sheik, or
Khan. or whatever he is, OF Koweit, at the
neaG OF Tue gcIi- aio hlso Win 1ue 1uiIah Va
Oman. at its mouth, but she has never estab-
ished anything Ike protectorate over either
AS for Persia, 10 which the doctrine" most
applies there can be no question Of its inde-
pendence Yet Lord Lansdowne serves notice
rpon this independent empire of Persia that it
must rot ceGe or lease station its own
coast 70 any other power. OF a truth, that is
rigorous foreign policy" There is no justifca-
ron of II In international law. But IL is amply
70 be vindicated tie basis of that higher
law, 10 which all nations, America included,
ere eyer ready 10 appeal-namely, that which