Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08
The PERSIAN GULF
England and Russia Both
After It.
LANSDOWNE'S THREAT
THE GEAR APPARENTLY PAYING
NO ATTENTION TO IT.
Persia Being Gradually Occupied by
Russian Garrisons, ostensibly to
Protect Railway Line.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
OCEAN

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
ON THE INDIAN OCEAN,
January p, 1904.
The Persian gulf has very little signifi-
canoe to US In the United States, but in
European politics particularly in the rival
ambitions of England and Russia, 1t Is or
tremendous Importance. and the two ma
tons glare and growl at each other every
time it is mentioned. The British secretary
of state for foreign affairs in the house OF
commons last winter made a declaration of
the policy of his government, which was
offered in reply to an innocent interpoia-
ton from somebody on a back seat but
was intended for Russia.
1t was a defiance and a threat. and, while
cannot quote the exact words, Lord Lans-
downe declared in effect that any attempt
upon the part of any power to approach
the Persian gulf, by railway or otherwise.
or to occupy any port upon the coast OF
those waters, would be regarded by Great
Britain as an unfriendly act and resisted to
the extent of her power. IhlS was the Dolo-
est and the most positive notice the Great
White Bear has ever received on the SUP
ject but it was treated with indifference.
Before he became viceroy OF lndla Lord Cur
ION Travelled extensively in Persia and
wrote a series of letters from that country
to the London Times which were aIteL
ward published in book form, ana lurhlsh
the best idea that can be obtained any
where of the conditions in that country ana
the politics in which 1t is involved. Ana
in this book he said that he would lmpeacn
any British ministry who dared let Russia
secure a port upon the Persian gun
protecting the Railway"
Nevertheless the Russian government is
steadily extending its influence and author-
ity in that direction, 1t Is in China. The
the same fashion that Manchuria has been
occupied and by the same maneuvers. 1t Is
a foregone conclusion, and the car is grad
ually pushing his frontier lines forward to-
ward India in every other direction. The Rus
slams are building a railroad in Persia and
have surveyed a line to Bunder ADoas' one
of the best ports on the gulr Wmch can
be strongly fortified. Bunder Abbas is to
be the Port Arthur of Persia and 1t is ev-
identity the purpose of the car to go ahead
CARRYING out his designs without regard to
Lord Transformers proclamation. mat IS
the opinion of diploraatists everywhere
AS fast as the railroad is built the Rus
slams establish military garrisons. under
the pretext of protecting the track The
engineers who are laying out the right or
way are accompanied by a strong guard of
Cossacks, who always remain at the
farthest point even when the survey Is
completed and the engineers go home Ihns
Persia is being gradually occupied by Rus
sian garrisons just Manchuria was. The
shah has been induced to employ Russian
officers to reorganize, equip and command
his army; the car loaned him large sum
of money, which furnishes a pretext for
placing a Russian adviser, as he is po-
litely termed. in charge OF the PERSIAN
treasury. And under the encouragement
and perhaps, by the aid of their govern
ment Russian merchants are establishing
themselves in the important ports and cities
and are organizing banks, loanlng money
to the people, engaging In manufacturing
W
give them control of the trade and finances
of the country. but will require the protec-
ton of their government and furnish an eX-
cuse for forcible intervention whenever the |
car is ready to act Thus Russia is alb !
sorbing the Persian empire-its army, It's
finances it's commerce. it's railroad-and is
occupying the most important Strategic
points with it's own troops.
1t is needless to say that the British peo- +,
pie and government, and particularly the
government of India, regard this invasion |
of Persia by a rival power with serious ap-
prehenSon, but they are not in position |
to prevent or even protest against it, except |
by such declarations as Lord Lansdowne
and Lord Curzon have made. The same
apprehension exists copcerning Afghanistan
and Thibet, which bound India on the
north and where Russian agents have been
quietly at work for some years undermining
British influence and making friends among
the local leaders for the car Lord CurZon |
has recently undertaken counter move by
sending a military expedition on a diplo- |
matte mission into Thibet. That has Gre
ated a sensation in European politics, be-
cause 1t is the boldest and the most signifi- !
cant demonstra ton England has made for
some years, but l will have to tell you
about 1t in another letter.
A Significant Episode
The political and military necessity of
keeping Russia off the Persian gulf will be
appreciated if you will take your map and
notice how the land lies. Upon both shores
of the lower gulf the native chiefs are
generally subject to the authority of Great
Britain, represented by the viceroy of
India, and have made treaties guaranteeing