Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-20
THE COMPLEX PERSIAN SITUATION.

structors at Teheran. about which no
The roads desired by Russia are those
that give access by rail from the north
to Teheran. mac6damized road from
Djoulfa to TahriZ is the first move of con-
struction of routes and entertainments
from the transcaucasian TO Teheran and
from the transcaspian TO Meched ana
khorassan. These regions i'm the imme-
date geographical neighborhood OF the
Russian frontier are comprised i'm the
zone attributed to Russian influence by
the Anglo-Russian convention OF 1907.
England was attributed zones in the re-
gions south toward Seistan or by the
ire-Chouster-Teheran commercial
route.
There has existed an Anglo Russian
convention since 1885 by which the con-
tracing parties engaged not TO construct
railways In Persia before 1850 The ef-
feet of that convention has been to pro-
long the period by mutual consent, that
Is. until March %. 1910.
Thus 1910 marks the term of treaty
concluded by Persia with Russia by
a railway concession to any other nation
whatever without having obtained I'm ad
vance the consent of Russia The eX-
piration of that treaty has not passed un-
noticed by jealous diplomats who would
oppose English and Russian interests In
Persia by the own.
Germany has been accredited for o
long time with desiring TO obtain CON-
cession for a railroad be-
Railway tween Khaniken. Herman.
p-.:. chol, Hamadan and Tehe-
AAVJSs"' ran. which by it's central
position In the heart of Persia would
give to the Bagdad railroad the best Of
terminals. Should circumstances forbid
the building OF parallel road German
commerce might adopt. Professionally at
least, substitute by way of Armenia.
Lake Ourmia and Azerbeidjan. a con-
cession granted a German company to
navigate Lake Ourima was considered at
st. Petersburg as tending to organize
along this last route a system of trans
ports and thus dispossess the Russians OF
a preponderant commercial position which
they occupy at Tabriz.
The Berlin kreuz-Zeitung declares that
Great Britain and Russia are taking steps
to effect the partition of Persia. The
allied English and Russian" il says,
seem 10 be getting tired of dry diplo-
macy and are setting out to swallow to-
gether the fat morsel which they have
long been coveting. Some days ago we
reported the mortgage of the customs
dues of the Persian gulf ports to England.
and suggested that 1t must be regarded
as the first step toward the partition of
Persia"
\ Since then, continues the Kreuz Eng
land has thrown off the mask and has
now announced in sharp language to the
government I'm Teheran her real inten-
tons: England, says the Kreuz. first at
tempted to induce Russia to withdraw
| from Persia and to leave the spoil to
England alone. When Russia demanded
compensation for the cost of her expedi-
| tion. it was agreed to proceed together to
| settle up the Persian question.
The London Times comments at length
on the British note. and says in substance
that the British authori-
Trade ties have addressed many
49, notes to Teheran about
Aso"soo' the condition of its south
ern trade routes. 1t emphasizes the con-
ditions already cited. 1t believes the loan
which Persia is endeavoring to float IL
London through the Imperial Bank will
be effected. But the Times expresses
doubt that the loan will be applied to the
specific purpose of restoring order in the
south. There are no guarantees. The
discouraging fact remains that with or
without funds the authority in Teheran
Is very questionable. There are no rail-
, ways. no metallic roads apd trade must
pass along mule paths which are often
times perilous and even imperceptible.
Due to the chaos now existing in all adj
ministrations even these paths are almost
effaced.
Chiraz is the scene Of fierce rivalry be-
tween the two forces of wild tribesmen,.
the Bakhataris and the Kashgais.
On the coast the Tangistanis are per-
petually menacing the port of Bushire.
No mans life is safe. Harmless travel
ers are the victims of bandits. who way
lay them, and even military parties. UNI
less in considerable force, are attacked
Great Britain, declares the Times, has
endured the gradual ruin of her trade, and
1t expresses the hope that Sir Edward
Grey's note will secure its object. Great
Britain has already so many oriental re-
sponsibilities no one could wish to see
them increased. The settled policy of
Great Britain is to leave Persia to work
out her own destiny. I'VE seek no terri
tory In Persia, nor do we dream Of parti-
ton. England has no desire to add di-
rectly another acre to her possessions in
and around her Indian empire. The
strain of holding what she has is great
enough"
1t is just to England to state that the
Times article is but a reiteration of the
concluding paragraph of the Anglo-Rus-
sian convention of September ). 1907.
which runs thus:
80