Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-16
PERSIA FOREGROUND
GERMANY'S ATTITUDE TOWARD
ASIA MINOR.
Announcement of England's Position
Regarding Naval Base in Per-
sian Gulf

TO show that that country is coming In for
its share of limelight of public interest.
This is accountable to two causes: the pic
turesque revolutionary movement, which is
assuming an acute character; and Ger
manys attitude toward Asia Minor which,
at a distance, includes Persia. Whatever
the revolution may bring forth, 1t is said
1t will never become so important to the
world as the part Persia will take when
England, France, Russia and Germany VIII
get together to define her international
status.
Persia is not forgotten in diplomatic
circles" said a prominent diplomat ''In
fact, we are giving that country more at
tentdon than it IS apparently worth-but we
are looking into the future. The diplomatic
circle may be called a circle of futuritial
scholars, forever looking at least one year
ahead. That Is what we are doing now,
and we are. therefore, especially interested.
England has much to say concerning Per-
STA and she says 1t, In spite of what Rus
sia says in objection. AS to Germany, she
will leave we'll enough alone II she is wise,
and forget so to speak. that Persia exists
1t Is true the kaiser is seeking for an open
ing In Asia Minor, for the very good reason
expounded by one OF my distinguished col
leagues for The Star, in explanation OF that
extraordinary letter received from Picking.
Lansdowne's Declaration.
But, apropos of England and Persia, 1t
We're well to remember that about three
years ago Lord Lansdowne declared in par
lament that Great Britain would not allow
any other power to establish naval base
in the Persian gulf. and which assertion
at the time, was construed as an Anglicised
Monroe doctrine
"A significant circumstance, In view OF
Lord Transformers declaration, was that In
1899 the French consul at Muscat on the
Arabian coast, obtained from the sultan a
secret concession for naval station at
the port of Jissa, five miles from Muscat
and when the fact became known to the
British admiral In those waters he gave
immediate notice that he would prevent
any such occupation of Jissa by lombard
ment II necessary At the entrance of the
gulf on the Persian side lies the port of
Bunder Abbas and the Island of Ormuz
The latter Is now deserted sand heap.
Twelve miles to the north lies the port
which Russia hopes some day to acquire as
her outlet to the Indian ocean, and some
English organ at one time advocated the
policy of allowing Russia to take 1t. But
this policy, however, has been decisively
opposed by the government, and 1t Is diff
cult to see how Russia can help herself in
that quarter
Russia's Ambition Checked.
Russia at one time (before the Japanese
war; conceived that a naval station in the
gulf was, and is necessary, to her safety,
and was formulating plans to proceed to
establish ore at Bunder Abbas, upon which
she long ago fixed her territorial eye. It
being next to impossible for Russia to do so
now, on account of her weak internal con-
dition, Germany could do it with Russia 8
help. Naturally, the decision between the
two conflicting powers would have to be
sought by force-nothfng but powder and
ball could arbitrate the question.
Lord LansdCwne intended to be under
stood in that way. More than that, he i'm
piled that Great Britain was able to make
her words good as against any power or
combination of powers PRUSSIA and Ger
many inclined to dispute her She has
virtual possession of those waters now. She
has Alden and Bombay as naval bases, and
no other power has either ships or coaling
stations within striking distance. Her posi-
ton in the Persian gulf is stronger than
that In Siberia, comparat lively, because
Russia has questionable army there while
England has very dependable navy. Now
Lord Transformers declaration may have to
be repeated for the benefit of Germany in
Asia Minor and Persia
Americas Part.
at becomes a question what part Amer
lea Is to play in the progress of this far
distant land, now on the verge of great
changes" concluded the diplomat
THE Anglo-Saxons have interests in Per-
STA. They were pioneers in this latter-day
regeneration. Americans were the first to
Import agricultural machinery into that
country. America yearly imports several
million pounds of Persian wool, not to men
ton numerous articles of minor import
ance.
America and England have pried open
the doors of trade upon the Pacific shores
Of Asia; and this country will InsIst-ius+
ly-that the same principle be applied to
the Persian gulf, where both England and
America have enjoyed vested rights in
trade, which increases each year. Because.
I must add. Persia is of little value noJif
lcally to any country, but industrIaIIy
and commercially it might become a treas
ure."