Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-23

One OF the consequences Of the much
discussed and still outrageous and mys-
FERROUS interview at Potsdam-a mystery
even to diplomats-is to place in the polit-
ical foreground the question Of railroads
in Turkey In Asia, the general trend OF
which IS toward the Persian gulf. This
question coupled with renewed trouble
in Albania as reported by recent dis
patches and Turkeys political aspirations
and predictions constitute Turkey
point Of general interest. The situation
may be briefly summed up as follows:
Germany has overcome Russia s secular
opposition to the construction OF the Bag
dad-Bahn railroad.
HusSiaS Secular and the German COM
pany Is actually oc-
0Ppooi'A"A' cupied in procuring
the necessary capital for the construction
of the second section Of that line.
Russia in abandoning her opposition
has been accorded the privilege of join
ing her future Persian branch to the pro-
posed branch Of the Bagdad Balm.
France has been approached by the
Turkish government with different propo-
sitions as to the construction OF railways
IN Asia Minor as we'll as in Albania.
England was still negotiating with the
Turkish government with the object or
obtaining important concessions lof hef
capitalists in the construction of the road
from Bagdad to the Persian gulf. How
times have changed for England. VINO
once commanded where now she PLEADS!
England. as may be imagined, Is niue
pleased over this condition, but in politics
England may lay the flattering JUNCTION to
ner wounded spirit By recalling the max
i'm that the race is neither to the swift
nor the battle to the strong. for Eng
land, it will be remembered. threw away
her opportunities in Turkey.
But England is still in the game, IN
proof of which Sir Edward Grey March
in the house OF commons declared that
IL Turkey constructed or caused to ne
constructed railways in Asia disadvan-
tageous to England the latter would re-
fuse to consent to the augmentation OF
per cent in Ottoman customs cues
augmentation which Turkey had vainiy
claimed as indispensable In the payment
Of the kilometric guarantee OF the Basdad
line
Lord Curzon on March 30 interpellated
the government on it's oriental policy. and
notably on it's attitude toward the Bag
dad railway. After intimating that
France should be asked to renounce the
facilities afforded gun running at
the Bagdad railway.
In 1908 the British conservative govern
ment had broken off negotiations because
its conditions had not been accepted. 1T.
as reported, the Bagdad company had
concluded an arrangement with the Turk
ism government. the German company has
gained a great advantage. 1t gains ac-
cess to the most important pert on the
Mediterranean, port which Will drain
all the commerce OF Mesopotamia. In
Mt thn IN N u
cedes its rights on the Persian gulf Sec
ticn to the Turkish government.
The British interests in the Bagdad
railway were commercial and economical
on all sections from
British Interests Mediterranean to the
in Bagdad. we're political stra,
tegical and imperious on the sections
adjacent to the Persian gulf.
The ENHANCEMENT, Bagdad-khan ikin.
inspired Lord Curzon with disquiet On
that route English commerce amounted
to million pounds ten times that Of all
other nations combined. He feared that
If the Russian road were constructed from
Teheran to the Turkish frontier all the
would flow no longer by habitual caravan
routes, but to the German ralrt ad. A
letter from the shah several years ago
promised that if cessicns Wee ac-
corded In the north OF Persia they should
be cOunterbalanced by concessions for
English railways in the south. The Per-
sian gulf was the maritime frontier of
India: the peace and integrity CT the
Indian empire were Joined to her politi-
cal status; 1t was fundamental principle
that England could not admit rivals in
the Persian gulf. To express himself
in English" Lord Curzon declared frank
~. he did not desire the extension Of the
Bagdad route to the gulf. There was dan
ger in such extension. and, concluding
Lord Curzon said: II ask tie govern
terview at Potsdan,, to tell Us that what
has been concluded has been concluded
with its knowledge and its sympathy. to
assure us that our accord with Russia
has not been eakened, that our interests
have not suffered"
Lord Morley replied for the government
that there was no occasion to discuss
the negotiations at Potsdam. He would
reassure tie chamber on the situation
in Persia, and he remarked that France
certainly would not abandon her rights
over Muscat without proper compensa-
ton. Speaking of Bagdad, Lord Morley
said:
The noble lord has ventursd on dan
of the conservative government in 1909.
Events have proved that the cabinet
should have - ,epted what had been
offered 1t. The present cabinet could not
be held responsible for its present diff
culties.'
The government could not oppose the
construction OF railways In Turkish ter
ritOry, but the government need not ia
cilitate construction which might modify
the situation in Mesopntamia to the det-
riment of English merchants. 1t was
ment on the question of railways in
Mesopotamia. england desired sincerely
an arrangement which would diss; pate
tile atmosphere of distrust and suspicion
which had surrounded the whole ques-
ton. 1t was necessary that Germany
the first ''concessionnaire.' should give
her assent TO that arrangement.
1t cannot be concluded from the fore
going explanations that the situation is
satisfactory. On the contrary.
The satisfactions demanded by France,
according to NJ. Robert de Caix In the
Questions Diplomatiques ct Colonia les.
should be In Syria. to which France Is
bound by old traditions. Syria possesses
already in the north section OF French
railways, with Beirut as the center.
At Kayak the line branches off to the
north toward HONS. Hannah and Aleppo
and to the south toward Damascus and
Mzerib. HONS. besides, is connected
with Tripoli by line soon to be inau-
gurated. Also in the south France has
constructed the line from Jafa to Jeru-
ural order of things the point of depart
ure-the head Of the line Bagdad- Medi-
the distance of $50 kilo-
meters hetWeen the two extreme DOiutS