The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-10
Servia Is to Be Divided Be-
tween Russia and
England.


By La MARQUIsE DE FONTENoY.
II RE many months are past En-
peror Nicholas and his cousin,
- King George, will be compelled,
nolens volcns. to divide between them
the ancient kingdom OF Persia. and
there is no doubt that this eventuality
formed the subject of discussion be-
tween them on the occasion OF their
recent meeting in Berlin, at the we'd
ding Of tho kaiser's daughter. Con-
ditions in Persia have reached such
pass that immediate Intervention is
inevitable.
If any doubts about the matter
exist, they will be set at rest by
perusal Of the extraordinary report of
Sir Walter Townley. just presented to
Parliament, in London. by the Foreign
Office. When Sir Walter was living
in this country. as councillor OF the
embassy al Washington. it was his
clever wife. Lady Susan. n sister of
Sir Derck and George Keppel, who was
credited with all the literary abilities
OF the family. her pen being as point
ed as her tongue.
But In the report which he has
drawn up. as British minister pleni-
potentiary At Teheran, on the state OF
as wonderfully able writer. More
than that-as an historian. In fact,
his report might be described as the
Decline and Fall OF the Persian EN-
pire." were it not for the fact that
whereas Gihborss monumental work
on the fall OF the Roman Empire. is
contained In six volumes, Sir Walter
manages to give an almost equally
graphic and telling story of Persia In
six thousand words
Its perusal leaves one with a deep
impression of the utter hopelessncss OF
the situation in Persia. The child
Shah. the absentee regent (who was
at oxford with Sir Edward Grey), the
helpless and dishonest Cabinet. which
resigns once week, and to whom. in
the words of Sir Walter, corruption
Is an agreeable and natural diversion"
the treasurer general wringing his
hands in asonized appeal for money to
I'LL an empty treasury, are only the
more conspicuous figures adrift upon
a sea of dismal anarchy. According
TO Sir Walter. II is not misrule. but
the absolute disappearance OF all or
der and coherent rule. Government
authority as we'll as tribal authority
and organization, are in complete dis
solution"
The sole industry that seems to
thrive Is the despoiling OF caravans
and the murder and robbery of chance
travellers. Provincial governors after
corpering the grain and then proceed
ing to collect the taxes of the district
for their own particular benefit, with
out regard to the national treasury.
are rebelled against and murdered by
the starving populace. which embarks
upon a perfect orgy OF plumber and
riot.
The only quarter in Persia where
anything like order can be said to
exist. Is ir those northern districts
where the Russians have already cs
tablished large sarrisons, which have
saved Tabris and other cities in the
north from destruction. 1t only re-
main now for Russia to still further
extend her military occupation
throughout that moiety of the king
dom which Is her sphere, and tor Eng
land to devote portion Of her fine
Indian army to the seizure OF the
whole OF Southern Persia-recognized
as her sphere-where trade is now
completely at n standstill.
The maintenance OF the national
integrity of the Persian empire was
formerly regarded as Indispensable to
the peace of Russia and Great Britain.
SO as to serve as n buffer state be.
tween them. But since the Anglo
Muscovite understanding, and de facto
alliance. this necessity no longer eX-
lists, and 1t is now agreed. alike In
London and ST. Petersburg, that a well
ordered. we'll covered Northern Persia
in the hands of Russia and Southern
Persia under the control Of the Eng
lish will be far more conducive to the
maintenance of friendly relations be-
tween the two great empires, than
the present anarchy and chaos pre-
vailing in the kingdom Of the Shah.
Only the robbers, the cutthroats and
the bandits would oppose an occupa-
ton by the two powers In question.
Every Persian who owns any property,
great or small, or all who derives
his existence from trade. industry or
agriculture. yearns for the re-estao-
lishment OF authority, even II the lat
ter be foreign. in order to give him
some assurance of protection Of life
and livelihood.
About the sole thing that has not
been looted as yet to any extent, SO
far as can be learned, is the wonder
full collection OF crown Jewels at Te-
heran. Sir Edward Grey has repeated
ly recommended that they should be
pledged for foreign loan, declaring
that England could lend no more
money without such collateral. What
will eventually become Of these jewels
1t is difficult to foretell II they had
already been stolen. as some people
Insist Is tho case. II Is probable that
they would ere this have come upon
the market, IL not In Europe and
America. at any ratio in the Orient.
some Of the gems hdving International
celebrity. But unless England and
Russia take steps to secure tho Jewels,
In order to assure Il future income for
the boy Shah. and to reimburse them
for soma OF their loans, which have
served mono but dishonest Persian
statesmen and politicians. the collec-
ton Is likely to disappear In some
final coup by bandits tempted by tho
value OF the loot
The collection contains the finest
engraved diamond In tho world, on
grayed with tho axma Of England. It