IS IT SATISFACTORY? BRITAIN AND RUSSIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1908, Page 7

IS IT SATISFACTORY? BRITAIN AND RUSSIA.

THE DECENT AGREEMENT. INTERESTING DEBATE. HOUSE OF LORDS EXPRESSES AN OPINION. By TelegraDh.— Press issocintlon.— Copyright. LONDON, 11th February. The debate started on Thursday last in the House of Lords on tho AngloRussian agreement, in which Lord Curzon criticised the absence of definite assurances from Russia concerning the freedom of the Persian Gulf for British tiade, was resumed yesterday. Lord Curzpn's motion was withdrawn. Lord Sander&on, formerly Permanent Under-Sscretary to the Foreign Office, emphasised the fact that this was the first occasion on which Russia had reciprocated the desire for a settlement of a group of Asiatic questions. Lord Lansdowne, late Foreign Minister, expiessed a similar view, and remarked that he, with some exceptions, viewed tie agreement on the whole with satisfaction. He did not think the conventions as regarded Perbia were favourable to Britain, since tho neutral zone would be likely to be of great advantage to Russia. T'ho success of the convention depended on Russia's loyal interpretation. If she upheld it, the convention would consolidate peace Earl Crowe, Lord President of tho Council, said ho was glad tho judgment of tho House was, on tha whole, favourable. He insisted that the dotails were advantageous to both countries, and would tend to secure the world's peace. BRITAIN'S .POSITION IN PERSIAN GULF NOT DENIED BY RUSSIA. (Received February 12, 9 a.m.) LONDON,' 11th February. The Earl of Crewe, Lord President of the Council, In the House- of Lords, said that ,M. Izvolsky, Russian Minister, had handed the Ambassador a document admitting that Russia had not denied Great Britain's position in the Persian Gulf.