POSITION IN PERSIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1917, Page 6

POSITION IN PERSIA

STATEMENT BY LORD GURZON.

THE WORST PAST.

LONDON, February 21. Speaking in the House of Lords, with reference to Persia, Lord Curzoin. said : The movement reached its maximum in August, when the • Russians from the north under General Baratof recovered the position and effectively barred the Turkish way to TeheranIt was a, strange position to have the great Russian Army now acting ns a ' screen for our Indian dominions.

We bad captured most of the Geyman agents,.in Persia and there was a more, stable Government, which was entirely friendly to the, Allies now. We had established a Teheran force of 5000 gendarmerie under Sir Percy Sykes, - who was preparing to drive out the brigand camps. •

, The recent Kut niicceasea had materially improved the situation, but it was 'not altogether free from anxiety. must,turn out the Turks from the western parts, -and there was still some 'disorder in,the hinterland. The Persian Gulf trade routes had not yet been reopened. It was idle to pro-' nhos-v the future of the East, which had often proved the grave of statesmen’s prophecies, hut we .pould think that the worst was over.