RUSSIA AND PERSIA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 6

RUSSIA AND PERSIA.

EXTERMINATION PREACHED, By Tcleffraph—Presa Association—Copyright St.. Petersburg, January 10., Russians at Tabriz state that some of th» clergy havo preached extermination of the' Russians. • . LORD; LAMDIGTON'S VISIT...'. " .■' London, January 10. LbrdLamington has started for Persia. The disturbed condition of tho- country, yrorontcd his wife accompanying him. . STATEMENT BY SIR E;. GREY. EFFECTS MAY BE "VERT SERIOUS." Sir Edward Grey, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, made important statements in the House of Commons on November 30 in answering a sories.of questions on the bubject of the crisis which has arisen in Persia. ' , .'Mr. Ponsonby (L'„ Stirling ■ Burghs)' ■.; asked him whether, in new of the fact , that tho Persian Government have yieid- ,'. td.to the two demands of the Russian ■Government, any fresh demands have '.' been formulated by the Russian Govern- ; ment-to justify tho retention-of their '■: troops in Persia. Sir E. Grey: I will ask the leave of the House to give a rather, moro exten'd- ';:«! answer than perhaps would bo justi- •«' lied by the actual-question on tho paper. .(Cheers.) Perhaps I should ask that it ; should :also include .my- answer- to a , question -of which I have received, pri- ; t vato notice, i The Russian•-Government' y have niHde-fresh demands. It will be, ■"■' clear to; tho-House that, though we-are ■;. not -directly concerned in the incidents .'•'.' that have precipitated a'crisis between ;,;' Russia and Persia, tho effects, direct or ;>- indirect, 'of the-action that Russia.may . feel herself obliged to tako may be very 'jserions in Persia. We are in communication with tho Russian Government on this point, and have received assurances os to- tho. temporary and provisional character of the stops that aro'being taken.- As to,,the causes that have brought about' the :prdsent situation: I have no reflection to make upon tho energy and good intentions of Mr. Shus- - 'tor.; but hi 3 persistence in appointing British subjects, to" administrative posts ' in the north of."Persia has made things impossible.. We,' of course, could not Bupport'. it/and'he has --rejected, any ad-, vice;pn; tho. subject. Tho appointment of fortigit subjects will always be regarded; <is>, a- possible linearis : of introducing -i'erCign' influence, and, if 'continued with-<out'-ettnsultation_ with .'British or Russian Governments . will always' be. liable to rive"' rise •■ to ! interference :or .political trouble, that;yrill' ho prejudicial' to the independence.'of..Persia.. : 'The. present crisis' -makes it', urgent, to'find some solution 'at Teheran that will avert the risk of theVrecur'rence of incidents.'calculated to disturb'the-basis of the Anglo-Rus-fian Agreement j,-It being the earnest desire of both Governments. to' prevent ■that Agreement' from being impaired, I do not doubt that a solution will be found. How it can best be secured in consultation with -.the Russian Government is occupying the serious attention of his Majesty'siGovernment; and I cannot v mnke a more definite statement, though' wo have alreadv. been inepm- .. muhication with the Russian '■ Government, and shall ..continue to do all in our,'power, to promote a .settlement' that is in..the best interests of all the three' countries concerned. •■• Mr. Dillon (N/, ''East. Mayo): Is- the statement correct that the Russian Gov-

ernnient has 'used the name of tho British Government in delivering this ultimatum, and has that action been taken with the consent of his Majesty's Government?

Sir E. Grey: I would ask for notice of that question. The lion, member will see from tho answer'l have given that we hare exnressed tho opraion that the action of Mr. Sinister had niade things impossible, and that, there ought to he consultation with tho British and Russian Governments before foreign subjects

arc appointed by the Persian Government. I oertainlv have expressed that opinion. How far that opinion has been used by the Russian Government in anything that has.been said in TeheTan I' do not know. \

Mr. Ponsonby: Has the right hon. (jcfiitloman received any communication from liis Majesty's Minister at Teheran fiaying whether. Mr. Shuster has himself been responsible for the distribution of tho pamnhlet which tho Russian Government .'objects to? Sir E. Grey: I must ask for notice of that question. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Morrell (L., Burnioy): Do the terms of the ultimatum include a (kmand far payment of a.u indemnity for the Russian troops kept in Persia? Sir 11. Grey: I must ask for notice. (Onnosition cheers.)■ Mr. Wedgwood (L.. Nowcastle-undor-Lyme): Has tho right lion, gentleman ■had any' communication from the American Government on this point? Sir.E. Grey: No; ive have had no.communication whatever from tho American Goverriniont. Major Anlstrtithor-Gray (TJ., St. Andrews Burghs): May wo understand that the occupation , of Persia' by -Russian troops is purely temporary arid provisional? Sir E. Gr<>y,:_ I have already, said that. We have" received assurances that 'that vill bo so, but 'the atiswer I' hn'vo ; already given .fllakes it plain that tho situation which has arisen is ono which demands serious attention on the part of both Governments with regard to its possible ultimate consciences in PerBia. Sir W. Bylps (L., Salford, North) asked tho Foreign Secretary whether he had seen a manifesto of Manchester irterchants, engaged 1 or directly interested in trade with Persia, addressed-to the Manchester .Chamber of. Commerce, alleging that 'the persistent hostility of Russia to the Persian 'Government 'was having n. hadefffet ou the interests <-f Lancashire trade: and having regard to the readiness .of tho British-Government to defend British trading interests all over tho world, whether he would insist, on both the firms and the spirit of'.tho Anglo-Russian Convention -being loyally carried out. Sir E. Grey: I have seen the. manifesto to which the Hon. member refers. Tho Rnarchial condition of tho Southern Prorinofs. which is the cause of the.decline in, British trade, is not duo to any recent action taken by the "Russian Government. As the formation'of an efficient Persian gendarmerie must necessarily lake some months lo accomplish, his Majesty's Government decided, as tho hon. mombor is aware, to strengthpn tho

Tonsillar guards in, Southern Persia. .Assurance* have been r"ccived from tho tvtissinn Government that they intend to act in ncconlan<"o with tho terms of the Anelo-Rn=sian Convention. Mr. Ponsonby asked how many Russian tioons have now entered Persian territory, and to which'districts have they bc»n sent. Sir I!. Grev: The number of Russian troops sent to Persia in connection with the recent .demands is ns follow:—At Jlcsht, 1'220; at Enzeli, 800.