THE MIDDLE EAST.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 299, 16 December 1911, Page 4

THE MIDDLE EAST.

The .position of affairs in Persia just now is precarious and disquieting in the extreme—not that there is any danger of a serious revolution in the coiwitry. For the Persians are manifestly unable to .resist the. demands of cither fktgland or Rnssm, and as the two Powers have evidently agreed to coerce Persia into submission to their Trill, the crisis can have only one outcome. But it is impossible to repress a certain amount of apprehension as to the possible results of the line of policy on which England has now embarked. The events of the past few months have proved that Sir Edward Grey regards England as practically cnaninitted to the Russian interpretation of the Anglo-Russian Convention; and the course that Russia is taking is clearly intended to render it impossible for the Persians to reorganise their finances or their constitution, or in any way to assert or to maintain their national independence.

\o recent event proves this more conclusively than the treatment that Mr. Shuster has received since he entered upon his duties as Financial Adviser to the Persian Government. After the revolution which drove the Shah from the throne. England and Russia, as th* 1 Powers chiefly interested m Persian affairs, requested the. United States as a neutral party to nominate an official to take control of the Persian Treasury. Mr. Taft proposed Mr. Morgan Shuster. an experienced Government financier, and he duly took office. Mr. Shuster speedily put down the corruption rampant j in the State departments, but he offended j Russia bj appointing a British officer to, organise the Treasury Guard for the col- \ lection of taxes. Russia .protested thai i Major Stokes would hold military power in the Russian sphere of influence, and though Major Stakes offered to resign his commKKion in the Indian army. Sir Edward Grey insisted on hie removal. Since then the Russians have protested constantly against; Mr. Shuster, accusing him of infringing their rights and stirring up Persian enmity against, them. Mr. Shuster, who has won the admiration and confidence of the British residents, is trusted absolutel}' ! by the Persians, and he has not hesitated to speak his mind with characteristic American frankness. He has declared publicly that England has joined hands 'with Russia to render the regeneration of Persia impracticable, and that the Anglo-Rus-sian Convention is being wrested from its original purpose so as to render it impossible for an independent Persia to oppose any obstacle to Rnssia's southward advance. The tone taken by the Persian Committee seems to jus-trfy Mr. Fhusters view. For Lord Laminjrton, its President, has just warned England to beware lest Persia should share the fate of Khiva and Bokhara, which were absorbed by Russia, and which now provide her with a splendid base of operations against India. But Sir Edward Grey evidently feels that he is committed irretrievably to the policy of backing Russia in the Middle Fast, and that he mast stand, or fall by it. And all the time there is the danger that at any moment it may suit Rnssia's purpose to co-opera-fe with Germany against us in the Middle East; while there is now the added fear that if Mr. cluster is dismissed, fis Sir Bdward Grey seems to intend, we may find that we have hurt and alienated the American-? through •overvaluing the friendship of Russia, Truly the burden of Empire carries with it heavy risks and responsibilities.