A DANGER POINT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 10 February 1908, Page 1

A DANGER POINT.

M. Francis Delaisi's article on the Bag-dad railway in the first November number of "La Revue" may be usefully read in connection with the above article. He recapitulates the history of the Bagdad railway scheme, and the difficulties Germany has had to contend with down to the summer of the present year, when the 3 per cent, increase of the Turkish Customs dues was instituted to assure the Turkish guarantee for the railway. The railway, he says, is to make Bagdad five hours instead of 55 days' distant from Constantinople, and it will enable the Turks to convey troops rapidly to their most distant frontiers. In short, it will consolidate the Ottoman Empire. It will accelerate tho present route to India and the Sue 7 Canal will lose much of its commercial importance. Naturally the Germans wish to retain for themselves all the glory of the scheme— and the profits ; but England, France and Russia being opposed to such a monopoly, the railway for the last four years has been the axis of European policy. Times have changed since the railway was first projected. Franco is no longer ready to offer her capital unconditionally, and tho Powers insist on the railway being an international affair. It is to be hoped that the railway will not lead to a European conflagration, but until the question is settled the nations cannot dream of disarmament.