RUSSIA AND PERSIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 79, 2 April 1912, Page 7

RUSSIA AND PERSIA.

. « BOMBARDMENT OF A MOSQUE. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. TEHERAN, Ist April. The Russians bombarded a moeque at Meshed, in north-east Persia, in which a large number of armed men, allegedly supporters of the ex-Shah 4 were gathered. STATEMENT BY SIR E. GREY. • During a debate in the House of Commons on 22nd February, Sir Edward Grey said that Ruß6ia was entitled to take steps to defend her etrategical interests. After stating (reports The Times) that before the Agreement Persian independence was conditioned by tha influence of Ruesia in the North, Sir E. Grey told the House that as far as the ex-Shah was concerned he 'ffad taken a strong line, and said that we could not, recognise him again; and the first important thing to do was to get him out of the country. If the Persian Government were strong enough to turn him out there would be no question of a pension, But as matters stood he could only bo induced to leave on terms. t Having stated the conditions on whioh the loan to Persia would bo made oy Britain and Russia, among them being one securing that the. Persian Government should recognise the principle of the Anglo-Russian Agree- I f ment a« to spheres of interest, he dealt with the question of trade, eaying that we might nave taken measures for con* trolling the Southern roads like those I which Russia had taken in the North. In refraining from doing this ho thought we had done right, because both this country and the Indian Government would have Deen put to large expense, which might indeed have been bo large as to exceed the whole value of the trade iuvolved. That was why troops had not beon isent to guard the Southern >"oads. Concluding with a general enunciation of the lines on which our policy should proceed, Sir E. Grey said that any British intervention in Persia must be based on British interests, for it was impossible fo»- us when disputes arose between countries to intervene as arbiters. He could not undertake to pronounce judgment from day to day on what took place in the North of Persia. He recognised that the future presented difficulties and the restoration of order would be difficult. Without the AngloRussian Agreement, however, these things could not bo done, for there would De jealousies and suspicions tnat would aggravate the situation. If there had not been confidence between Russia and Great Britain we might have been forced to assert out authority in Persia in order to safeguard our Indian frontiers. Then indeed we should have come near to the partition of the country.