New-York tribune., 1911-12-12
Great Britain'S "PIianCy," She
Thinks. Opens to Cars
Army the Way to the
Persian Gulf.
rEHERAN TO BE OCCUPIED
Confident That the Peremptory
Language from England Which
Alone Can Prevent That
/ Eventuality Will Not
Be Forthcoming.

St Petersburg. Dee. 11.-Rejoicing not
squalled in many years prevails among
Russian expansionists. Engands pliancy
n Persia has led them to jump to the
conclusion that the way to the Persian
Gulf is opening before the Russian
army. and the conservative and the pro-
governmental organs are frankly jubi-
liant
Northern Persia is already occupied
10y Russia. For two years Russian gar
rison has held Tapriz. and now kasbin
has been seized, as well as the ports Of
Resht and Enzen
only peremptory language from Eng
land can prevent the occupation Of Te-
horan and the complete triumph Of Rus
sia in Northern Persia. That the Rus
sian commander in chief considers his
advance permanent is indicated by the
construction OF regular barracks at Ia
briz and Kasbin.
government 10 take still more energetic
measures. recommending the restoration
of the ex-Shah TO power, the destruction
Of the Persian constitution and the re-
moval from northern Persia of every
on-Russian foreign administrator.
The rising outcry i'm England against
Russia and the British government
policy in Persia has caused the govern
ment here to issue diplomatic sedauVes.
out talk Of preserving Persian indepen-
dence while Russia is represented in that
country by thousands of troops is recog-
nized here as mere cynical imposture
Inquiries show that neither the Czar nor
his ministers really fear effective oppo-
sition from England in northern Persia
They say that England, no matter how
hot public opinion may become, will
never 90 TO war and drive Russia out
Sixty thousand Russian troops are
being held ready 10 march into Persia
a moments notice. These can be de-
tached instantly from the Transcau-
casian army. If this happens both the
ex-Shah and his son will give place in
Teheran 10 a Russian governor general
appointed from St Petersburg.
Confidential conversations in high po-
Htlcal quarters here are now marked by
Jokes and ridicule touching the naivete
Of the English foreign policy in the
middle East in recent times. During
the whole Of the nineteenth century
ENGLAND fought to keep Russia as far
as possible from India. Afghanistan
and Persia were jealousy preserved as
buffer states, and the passes over the
Pamir plateau were guarded so care
fully that the cleverest Russian officers
could not approach them.
Yet the same Colonel Liakoff who
bombarded the Persian Parliament as
commander Of the so-called Persian Cos
eacks. and who, as admitted by Sir Ed
ward Grey in the House Of Commons.
vas in the Persian state service dis
euised as a merchant and provided WITH
Persian passports. surveyed these passes
and collected information as to where
water was 10 be found and where cat
tie. horses. provisions and forage for
troo,e might he obtained
This precious information was not for
the shah. IT is now safely in the pos
session Of the General staff in Tiflis ana
81 Petersburg It was for this service
that Liakoff. then a captain, vas pro
NOTED 10 the rank Of colonel in the Rus
sian army. Yet Sir Edward Grey is 50
III informed as TO assure the House Of
Commons that Colonel Liakoff is not
connected with the Russian army or
with Russian interests.