Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-18
PEACE WITH RUSSIA
Little English Enthusiasm Over
Recent Agreement.
LACKS BINDING QUALITIES
Friction Over the Duke of Con-
naught's Salary.
PASSING OF THE HANSON CAB
Duplicate Of Watts physical
Energy" Statue Placed in
Kensington Gardens.
LACKS BINDING QUALITIES
PASSING OF THE HANSON CAB

Special Correspondence of The Star.
LONDON. September %. 1907.
The new AnglO-Russian agreement has
fallen rather fiat, though politically 1t is
regarded as good move. 1t is welcomed
as ending the estrangement between the
two countries which has lasted for two
generations. 1t was an Improbable en-
nifty, as 1t played into the hands of Ger
many. whose policies challenge British
naval ascendancy on one side and Rus
sian interests in the Balkan and Asia
Minor the other. The agreement Is
criticised as any agreement with Russia
short of a treaty is, because one is never
sure that Russia will or can keep faith.
The new document says that Russia
has agreed to do thus and so. 1t would
be more in keeping with the truth to
say that the Russian minister for foreign
affairs. in the exercise of his extremely
limited discretion and without commit
ting either the car or any of his col
leagues. has agreed to do this or that
Such formula would not only be more
accurate. but would prevent. or at least
modify, those outbursts OF angry sur
prise that are apt to follow the rupture
of compact formally. and. as 1t would
seem, authoritatively sealed.
There Is no council or cabinet or de-
partment that has the power to enforce
it's decisions on all the representatives
and agents Of Russian government. The
foreign minister cannot bind the war
minister: the war minister has no au-
thority over the minister of finances. Sub
ject to the imperial will, each official Is
the master In his own sphere and Inn
potent outside Of it. Russia, in a word,
lacks plenipotentiary. 1t is a serious
want. and has had serious consequences
Foreign ministers who negotiate with
Russia through the ordinary diplomatic
channels can never be sure that they
are in touch with the final and control
ling authority. Thus, while the Berlin
and the Russian foreign office were dis
GUESSING the details of Russo-German
partnership in the formation Of a Russo
Chinese bank. the minister of finance
broke in upon their discussions with the
SCATTERING announcement that he had de-
cided to find the required capital himself
A precisely similar fate awaited Lord
Salsburys negotiations for joint An
glo-Russian loan to Persia In 1895
Personal Agreements.
Those who criticise the agreement say
that an all-rounu understanding between
--ng Edward and the car would prove
more fruitful, as 1t would carry the guar
antees attaching to personal agreement
4 e Russian foreign Office is not necessari-
ly Russia. This is a truth that has been far
more clearly realized on the continent
than in England. Germany, France and
Austria have each grasped the fact that
durable agreements with Russia can only
be negotiated by and through the car
The dynastic friendship between the
Hohenzolerns and the Romanoffs. for in
stance. has been worth many treaties.
1t was an unwritten and offhand. but
none the less faithfully observed. promise
of Nicholas II that assured to the kaiser
aSStnn n KfQn.phnn no or
Russian convention was concluded be-
tween the present rulers of the two coun-
tries; the dual alliance was the personal
work Of Alexander III and the French
president. In all Of these cases the func-
lions of the Russian foreign Office scarcely
exceeded those of confidential amanuen-
sis. The car was as much his own for
eign minister Cromwell or William Ill
In his authority there is a foundation on
which anything may be built. In spite of
the revolution his will is still supreme
1t is characteristic Of the attitude Of
Europe that the opinion of Persia on a
subject which concerns II more intimately
than anything else Is almost ignored. Per-
STA Is divided up into spheres of influence
apparently with as little consideration for
its feelings as II it were a turkey on the
dinner table.
Future Of Persia.
Persia. however, II the two powers keep
| strictly to the terms Of the agreement
will probably reap some advantage from
it. 1t needs money badly for its develop
ment, and outside capitalists will lend
money there on good security under the
| auspices of Russia and England The
cessation Of rivalry between two countries
who had been pulling against each other
for years must be very beneficial In giving
sense of stability. OF course, for the
moment things are at a standstill, owing
to the intransigeant attitude of the Per-
| slams with regard to foreign loans. They
are proud, and their obstinate cry Just
| now is = ersia for the Persans,"
No doubt. apart from the undeveloped
| resources of Persia. there is great accu-
muiated wealth in the country. Though
| the pubic treasury is empty. there is UNI
questionably secret trea sury, but that
would only be touched in some dire strait
of the dynasty. Then individual Persians
are wealthy, though they hide that fact,
and 1t is sedulously kept secret, but they
| ernment There Is nothing a wealthy Per
sian breads SO much a notification
| that he will be honored with a visit from
the shah. He knows what that means.
Many such men in Persia have large
sums of money invested in London and
Paris They feel that it is safer there
and out of harms reach. AS western
Ideas spread in Persia, and with money
and honest administration. there is no
reason now why Persia should not be
very prosperous. What it needs is to
cultivate honesty as we'll as pride
Penny Wise Policy.
In a recent letter 1 mentioned the great
number of designs sent in under inter-
national competition for the new London
county hall. 1t is now stated that the
members of the new moderate council, in
their anxiety to justify their election cry
of economy. are bent upon cutting down
the estimated cost of the bui,ding-R1,-
800, O03-by no less than E25O.OO0. This
they will do by reletting one-thrd of the
site to tenants already in possession.
Though it apparently emnates from an
inspired source it is difficult to credit the
report. A more fatuous attempt at econ
omy could scarcely be imagined.
The council invited competitive designs
for the hall from British and foreign ar
chitects. About hundred Of these were
received. and during the past week or two
Mr.. Norman Shaw. with the councils ar
chitect, has been examining them and
making a short list: while eight of the