RUSSIA AND BRITAIN.

Evening Post, Volume 27, Issue 77, 27 September 1907, Page 5

RUSSIA AND BRITAIN.

THE CONVENTION. AFGHAN A BUFFER STATE. THE AGREEMENT WELCOMED. 0 By Telsjra'ph.— Viem Asiaolation.— Copyright LONDON, 26th September. Tho Anglo-Russian Convention provides that, Afghanistan shall be maintain, ed as a buffer State. The Times, in a leading article discussing the convention, says — "It is to us that tho Peisian Gulf territory owes whatever civilisation exists there. We havß broken the power of many of its peoples iD the interests of order, and have assured them of our protection and support. bir Edward Giey (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) and the Liberal Government have rendered a real service to tho Empire by recording in a, clear form and in emphatis words their determination to preserve the position we have created." Newspapers of all shades of opinion in Great Britain have welcomed tne Agreement, while in Paris the AngloRussian entente is bailed with unmitigated satisfaction. The St. Petersburg correspondent of The Times predicts that there will not be a single unfavourable comment in any prominent Russian organ. s Sir Edward Grey's despatch to the British Minister at St. Petersburg states that the convention does not contain any positive declaration respecting Britain's special interests in tho Persian Gnlf. The Government believes that tho question will not give rise to any difficulties between tho two countries. This belief is held because Russia, during the negotiations, stated explicitly that Great Britain will continue to direct all her efforts towards the preservation of the status quo on the borders of the Persian Gulf, and the maintenance of British trade. The Secretary of State explains the omission of a special declaration by saying that the terms of the arrangement affecting Persia are limited to those parts of tho Shah's empire which border on British and Russian territories. The Gulf is not a part of these regions, its shores not being all Persian soil. A WARM-WATER PORT. GERMAN FOREIGN OFFICE NOTIFIED. (Received September 27, 7.20 a.m.) LONDON, 26th September. The Daily News, commenting on the Anglo-Russian Agreement, cays : — "Sir Edward Grey's despatch does not convince us that Russia had abandoned her old aspiration for a warm-water port. If so, the agreement, even in regard to Persia is incomplete ; where it is not incomplete it is not new." The Tribune says that the agreement was communicated to the German Foreign Office, which acquiesced.