The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-04-11
LION AND BEAR AGREE.
Great Britain and Russia Willing
to Settle All Difficulties.
DUE TO THE KINGS EFFORTS

Queen Alexandra Also Mentioned In
Connection With the Proposed Patch
ing Up Of ouarreIs-The Matters n
Dispute.
Londe.I, April i1-It Is learned that
the exact sfatus Of the much forecast
ed Anglo Russian understanding is us
follows
After King Edward had given his
personal assurances to Emperor Mich
olas that the antl-Russlan comments
IN the British press did not represent
the feeling Of his government Foreign
Secretary Lansdowne informed the
Russian ambassador, Count Benlken-
.dorff, that he would be glad to reopen
the negotiations looking to a settle
ment of all matters now in dispute be-
tween Russia and Great Britain Am
bassador Benkendorff expressed his
pleasure at the offer and transmitted
|it to St Petersburg, where Lord Lans
downe's action is understood to have
been taken as a material expression Of
King Edwards personal messages.
There for the moment the matter
stands. Negotiations beyond Lord
Lansdowne's offer have not been com
menced and are not likely to assume
any particularly definite phase in the
near future No great hope was felt
here that they could ever reach a con
clusion satisfactory TO both countries.
though In view of the Anglo French
agreement even the most pessimistic
are unwilling to be too dogmatic on
this point Both King Edwards per
sonal action and the step taken by bis
foreign secretary are due to great
degree to the untiring solicitation of
Queen Alexandra, who has been great
~ distressed over the war which has
involved her Russian relatives and
Great Britain's ally Diplomats ac-
credited to the court Of st. James ex-
press surprise at the fact that Lord
I-ansdowne has gone even 50 far as he
has That he has taken such an initia-
tive while Great Britains ally IL still
at war with Russia Is regarded as be-
ing a somewhat bold and unexpected
steps all the more so because it is I'M
derstood here that all the Russians at
l'St Petersburg still studiously avoid
visiting the British embassy.
It is ascertained that Russia and
Great Britain secretly negotiated to the
same end eighteen months ago, but the
attempt draw up an agreement came
to an abrupt end when Lord Lans-
downe announced IN The house Of lords
that under no consideration would
Russia be allowed a port on the Per
stan gulf Since then that question
/ has been regarded as d deadlock.
Anglo French Understanding Involved.
Under tie changed conditions and
with the good offices Of the French
+ government secured through the recent
/ agreement, Lord Lansdowne is said to
genuinely eitertain the hope Of an
eventual settlement by which the
/ ceaseless and costly rivalry between
the two nations may be ended forever.
He is also actuated by strong desire
to cement the Anglo French under
standing which. as the Westminster
Gazette points out, can only be made
immutable hy complete understand
1 Ing with Russia
On all sides here It Is pointed out
/ that an agreement on outstanding mat-
ters with Russia is far more dificult
than the recent arrangement with
France The paramount questions are
the delimitation of the Afghan from
tier, access to the Persian gulf and the
/ spheres Of influence in Persia.
/ 1t is surmised in well informed quar-
/ ters that Great Britain is willing to
cede to Russia d sphere Of influence in
northern Persia If Russia agrees not To
interfere ia southern Persia 1T IS
thought that Russia's request FOR a
| port on the Persian gulf never win be
| granted, but Russia lately has exhibit
ed a keen desire to acquire interests in
/ Abyssinia, SO as TO gain access to the
Red sea
The delimitation of the Afghan from
tier is not believed to present fnslr-
mountable difficulties, providing Rus
STA is willing TO denounce the designs
always accredited to her In Great Brit
ain on the Indian empire.
The questions OF the far east and the
Balkans are not thought likely to enter
into the pending negotiations, though
Russia doubtless will endeavor to SCI
cure British influence toward rescind-
ing the provision Of the Berlin treaty
which closes the Dardanelles TO the
I passage of Russian fleets