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RUSSIA AND PERSIA.

TO THE ' EDITOR.

Sir, —Your issue of Saturday contained a very interesting letter from your London correspondent. In alluding to the political situation in Europe and Asia he said: "And Russia not only is quietly pursuing her annexation of Manchuria, but also has practically ' bagged' a British-owned Chine a railway, and has allowed to ooze out an agreement made with Persia for free passage of Russian -oops in case Russia should bo embroiled with England and want to attack Afghanistan and India. All these things are ominous."

Inasmuch as Russia is now strongly fortified at Vladivostock and Port Arthur, which brings her within about IS days' steam from New Zealand, it is most interesting to us to watch her political development in the Far East.

Mr. Archibald Colquhoun's works. "Russia Against India" and "The Problem in China," enable " the man in the street" to form an intelligent opinion on the question raised by your correspondent. A glance at the map shows what, a strong strategical position Russia acquires for an attack on India, by the Russifieation of Persia, because several authorities show that once being in Persia cavalry can easily operate in Behiehi.-tan. It is said that " Northern Persia is rapidly becoming Russian, and will at any rate probably act with Russia." In a late issue of the Times we were told that Russia is industriously establishing consulates and agencies throughout Persia. Mr. Colquhoun says Russia not only desires an accredited agent at Kabul, but she is also ambitious of running a railway southwards, and obtaining a port on tho Persian Gulf. Our author alleges that in pressing for such a port she desires "to be before the Germans," because Britain intends to extend her Indian railway through Beluchistan to the Persian Gulf to join Germany in Asia Minor, *and thus complete the Indo-vEuropean railway system, and cut Russia off from the Indian Ocean.

The seriousness of the situation may be inferred from the following quoted opinion of Lord Curzon, than whom perhaps few persons know more about the Far Eastern problem. Some years ago, beforo Russia had drawn the net so closely round India, Lord Cnrzon is said to have regarded the concession of a port upon the Persian Gulf to Russia by any Power " as a deliberate insult to Great Britain: as a wanton rupture of the status quo, and as an intentional provocation to war; and he should impeach the British Minister who was guilty of acquiescing in such a surrender as a traitor to his country." That was strong language by an eminent politician who weighs his words, but who knew that experts have frequently pointed out that " through Southern Persia lies the easiest overland route from Europe to India."

Russia is already crouching at the door of Herat, to the border of which province her trans-Caspian railway runs; and it is believed that Britain can 110 longer remain indifferent to Russia's designs on Southern Persia. Mr. Colquhoun says: "Since the early part of the present century Russian influence hps made itself increasingly felt. On two occasions Persia has, at Russian instigation, even attempted, though unsuccessfully, to obtain possession of Herat; and at the present time the whole of the province of Ivhorasan, in Northern Persia, may he said to bo practically under Russian domination, a consummation in part affected by the completion of the trans-Caspian railway." Concurrent with Russia's activity is a vigilant patrol of the Persian Gulf by British gunboats. Hence the significance of your London correspondent's information about the " agreement made with Persia for free passago of Russian troops in case Russia should be embroiled with England, and want to attack Afghanistan and India."—l am, etc., F. G. Ewington.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19010219.2.12.1

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11580, 19 February 1901, Page 3

Word Count
619

RUSSIA AND PERSIA. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11580, 19 February 1901, Page 3

RUSSIA AND PERSIA. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11580, 19 February 1901, Page 3

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