Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-01-03
THE TROUBLE IN
PERSIA.

Russia's aggressive action IN Persia
becomes the cause OF anxious speeu-
latien.
Before going into the Europeanl
complications Involved or indicated by
the action Of Russia and the inactiOn
0f Great Britain. e may be veil tnI
recall the status Of those powers with
regard to Persia.
The Independence OF Persia r. OIL
far greater consequence TO Great
Britnin than Il Il 20 Russia; the yis-
ion 90 Cossack bands on the indlen
frontier is an older and much more
realistic one than that OF German
aoroplanos over london. Great Brit
aims Indian frontier ls well defined
geographically; Russia. on the other
hand never has seemed 20 know just
where her territory ends and that OF
Persin bsgine For years her attitude
toward the buffer strife has 0een one
OF slow ana secret aggression.
Until 1907 Great Britain convorsed
IN vain with diplomats Of the czar;
Russian Influence grew unchecked, In
that year the relations OF the powers
were defined by a convention which
prescribed their individual spheres of
influence and guaranteed the intoE- |
rity and independence Of Persia" The
idea was that the two powers would
serve as a check on each other and
the loss OF Influence sustained by
Russia through the success Of the
Persian nationalists In 1903 was look
ed upon as strengthening Great Brit
aims hand and further assuring the
terms OF the convention. With tho
appointment OF an American. w. Nor
gan shuster, to safeguard financial in-
teresss IN tho country, permanent
solution seemed 20 have been accom-
pllshed.
But now a strange thing has hap
pened Russia IN violation Of the
terms OF the convention. demanded
the dismissal OF Shuster. Great Britt
ain made no objection. The demand
was granted Sir Edward Grey. Britt
ish foreign secretary, made no public
protest. Russia Increased her extra
conventional demands, which, II ac-l
coded 10. would place her In pow
orful advisory" position similar TO-
that of Great Britain In Egypt; the
cars troops. instead Of being retired
from the country, as previously ae-
handed, advanced to within striking
distance OF Teheran, the capital. And
sull Sir Edward Grey gave no sign
OF opposition.
The weakness Of tho British policy
Is what Is now everywhere discussed
In Europe. Sir Edward Groy's repu-
tation Is one OF character rather than
1 skin, OF honesty rather than subtiety,
so far as purely Anglo-Russian rela-
: tions ana relative influence are con-
1 cerned there Is nothing to explain his
! apparent puslianimity. He would
havc-the support Of Liberals ana Con-
scrvatlves alike IN uphoiding the
terms OF the Persian convention. ri
/ word OF warning. an INSPIRED" edi-I
| toricl ia representative London
/ newspaper, Would serve TO notify RUS
I STA that the convention would be up
\ held: II would be equivalent 20 a threat
threat. 90 put y In Kansas language.
i thet unless Russia kept her hands on
4 Persia Great Britain would put her
| hands out, too. But Sir Edward
Grey has said "enothing' inspired
nothing. until now even the peace
loving Radicals OF England are be-
ginning to demand action
But what Is holding the British for
n eign secretary's hands? This Is where
al the EUNWUNHH hnaflfiA'ANtWNf" NAh h''Nf
when France and Germany We're de-
batting spheres Of Influence and such
t..ines in Morocco. Great Britain
. pushed into the chair and gave me
II casting vote 10 France. II rs row
/, suggested that Germany Il payine
hack In kind the humiliation OF those
days. Germany has Interests in Per-
| sia. considera ole railway plans for one
/ aAAtnIl saa1l a
. new convention. Of which the Onlg re-
4 suit could be an enlargement 81 inc
q prestn Mt sphere Of Influence" II not
!. more, q Is hardly conce.V' bic tha'
d Germany would neglect 20 ask for her
y share. This would be douhly unwel-
= come 70 the British, giving vision
I OF two unfriendly neighbors looking
down the wealthy valleys and plains
. OF india.
a., with this Ia mind the action Of
Russit in Persia appears In every way
% similar 90 that Of FrgrSe In Morocco
* But Great Britain, apart from ths
al humiliation OF her diplomats and the
oh very serious serious blow 20 her pres
/ tige in Asia which such a consumma'
tiOn would involve, cannot auord "a
give way to Russia IN such thor
r ough manner ns Germany resigned "a
ri France IN Morocco. A Russian Per-
a sla would be intolerabie; the parti'
1 ton Of Persia would be scarcely les.
y welcome. for IL Is not 20 be expected
4 that Russia would respect an imagih'
- airy line drawn across the Persian
% plains-she would. Ia time, inevitabis
4 spread her influence and her troops
If 20 the gates OF india.
b, In the secret drama Of diplomacy
now being played, Europe sees there
= fore. not a dispute between slrons
!. European and weak Asiatic power
+ not n silent conflict between I've
n European powers over Aslatlc influ'
ence-but another unfortunate turn
4 OF anairs IN Which Great Britain p
n confronted Dy Germany, an aggrieves
!. ana vengcful Germany. For N no
other way THAI as an attempt 70
avert something worse-an Offensive
alliance between Russin and Germany
n war On Asia md AZ home, with un'
rest In India and q risk OF ail imper'
I ial prestige no less consequential
, manner can Great Brsteln's deser-
I N..U