Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-26
TURKEY AND PERSIA
DISPUTE BETWEEN THE TWO AS
sUMINa SERIOUS OUTLOOK.
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
CONSTANTINOPLE, August 25.-The
dispute between Turkey and Persia is as
Stunning a rather serious outlook. due to
the fact that the Turks are employing the
same dilatory and aggressive methods as
they are employing in Egypt.
The history of the frontier dispute Is
very old one, but only assumed seriousness
in 1885. when the Turkish Vail of Bagdad
suddenly besieged Mohammarah, a Persian
town. On that occasion the British and
Russian governments interviewed, and
commission, on which all the four govern
ments interested were represented, was
formed at Erzeroum to consider the ques-
ton. A map was then drawn up dealing
generally with the frontier from Mount
Ararat to the Persian gulf, but it was not
completed until 1860.
Last year the Turks once more returned
to the attack, and occupied the town of
Vazneh and a portion of the province of
Lahijan, which are two of the points in
dispute. They not only refused to evacuate
these in response to protests from the Per-
sian government, but seized the town of
Passovah, which is indisputably Persian
territory.
To Save the Turkish Face.
To save the Turkish face, mixed COM
mission has now gone to Passovah, to prove
formally that it belongs to Persia, and
then the aggressive troops will, 1t is under
stood, be Withdrawn, but matters drag on;
the Turks are greatly strengthening their
forces on the frontier, and further agrees
sions are feared.
AS illustrating the methods of the grand
Turk, nothing can be more significant than
the fiat which prohibits the publication in
journals throughout the empire of all ques-
tons relative to Pan-Islamism. 1t is a
question as to whether proclamations of
this kind really do any good, since the dis
cuss!ons are never really stopped, and the
sum resultant appears to be that the people
are left in denser and denser ignorance.
The wave of Pan-Islamism which is
sweeping over Egypt is factor in politics
which cannot be too seriously interpreted
1t was stemmed by the firmness of Great
Britain over the Tabah incident, and by
Bull at Denishawi, but only for time.
Warns the Government
Lord Cromer has warmed the government
in the gravest language of the consequences
of lack of firmness or the appearance of it,
But what has happened? The British
government has promised further troops
lat an early date" They have not arrived,
and in spite of the fats news is being
spread in subtle fashion by the native
press that. the British army Is being re-
duced by the war minister, and that troops
cannot be spared to keep order in Egypt
The natives hold high opinion of Lord
Cromer-the man who has made Egypt
what 1t 1s-but If his advice is disregarded
1t will appear in their eyes to be a sign
Of weakness in the once-dreaded and pow
erful Great Britain, and spur to the cam
paign engineered by Mustapha Kamel Pasha
and other preachers of sedition now in Eng
land to strike a blow for national indie
pendence.
Imbued With Revolutionary Sent
iments.
It is firmly established that certain num-
Der of the officers of the Egyptian army
are imbued with revolutionary sentiments,
and would give expression to them on the
first opportunity, and Sheikhs continue to
preach the expulsion OF Christians.
The Ecumenial Patriarchate has been
placed in most awkward position
by the recent attacks on Greeks in Phil
ippopolis, as the Ottoman subjects of the
Patriarche are demanding the Intervention
of Turkey to protect the Greek clergy and
property from the Bulgarians. The Porte,
however, does not wish to interfere, know
ing that Bulgaria will pay no attention.