Bisbee daily review., 1912-03-24
POLITICS DEMAND SHARE OF
 PARLIAMENT TIME
Anglo Russian Alliance Keeps Pushing into
 Lime-Light
AFFAIR IN PERSIA

LONDON. March 23.-Foreign rela- tions are certain to occupy a good deal Of attention during the present session of the British Parliament, de- spite the heavy bill of local legislation forecast in the kings speech.
 On the government side of the house Of commons there is small but very busy body of members whose great interest is foreign politics. They have not been at all satisfied with the way in which Sir Edward Grey has been carrying on his office. and they ire quently criticise him. Thus far their chief grievance has been the treat ment of Persia by Great Dritian and Russia.
 So persistent have they been that Sir Edward in a recent speech occu- pied considerable time in replying to them. He contended that there has been tendency to review the Anglo Russian agreement from a wrong point of view. Great Britain had not tas- sumed any new responsibilities under that agreement as some seemed to believe. Great Britain had always wished to see the integrity of Persia preserved. so that the agreement in that respect was not an increase of responsibility.
 Russia Long Dominant.
 Russia had obtained a dominant in terest in Northern Persia long before the agreement was made ard to read into the agreement an object to work against Russian influence in that part Of the country was to read into it something entirely contrary to the spirit Of the agreement. Sir Edward reminded his critics that the agree ment dealt with Afghanistan and Tht bet as well as Persia. countries over which there had been frequent diplo- matic tension between England and Russia To remove that tension was the real reason for the agreement, and in this respect it had fulfilled eX- pectations.
 Besides having brought about better relations between England and Rus sia, the agreement would greatly i'm. prove the condition of Persia. Certain ly had it not been for the agreement matters would have been much worse there. When the agreement was made Persia was on the eve of revolu- tion, was falling into chaos, and the government was breaking up. Had there been no agreement when the revolution broke out Russia would have pushed on to Teheran and con- solidated her influence in Northern Persia. England would have had no security that that influence would not have been used to push on strategic movement, railway extensions and so forth to the Indian frontier. and she would have been pressed to take meas ures in territory bordering on the ln- dian frontier to secure herself against military aggression and strategic cX' pansion on the part of Russia. There would have been continual friction and, said Sir Edward, Lord Haldane would be asking for increased army estimates to provide for a further strengthening of our position on the Indian frontier
 Opposed Sending Troops.
 The government, Sir Edward said, was opposed to sending British troops to protect the trade routes ir the South and he believed the decision was we'll taken. The trouble there had been caused by the presence of the ex-Shah and now that Russia and Eng land had undertaken to see him out of the country Persia herself would be able to protect trade In the North Russia was withdrawing her troops and had given definite evidence of her intention and desire not 10 em- bark on any permanent occupation of Persian territory.