THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14611, 19 February 1908, Page 7

THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received February 18,'10.44 p.m.) LONDON, February 18. In tho House of Commons, Earl Percy moved that while welcoming the principle of tho Anglo-Russian convention, the House considered that its terms involved a material sacrifice of British interests and loft room for international misunderstanding. Sir Edward Grey, in a masterly reply, declared that tho agreement made the peace of the world more secure. Ho denied that Britain had sacrificed great commercial prospects in Persia. He admitted that strategic considerations had beon paramount with the Government. Danger to India through Persia was now very remote. Ho explained that if a special provision had been inserted respecting the Persian Gulf, it cculd only have affected tho Persian sido of the gulf, whereas in future, probably the Mesopotamian sido would be more important, The right of the Ameer to develop Afghanistan as ho pleased was not restricted. Tho British position in Tibet remained unaltered. Mr Balfour declared that tho Government had not scored a great diplomatic success, though lie admitted it would be a strategic gain if the agreemeut prevented Beistan becoming a base for attacking India, Mr Morley described the convention as a most momentous instrument in connection with the defence of India. The motion was eventually withdrawn.