WHAT RUSSIA DESIRES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6326, 28 September 1907, Page 7

WHAT RUSSIA DESIRES.

PORT FREE FROM ICE THIS ASPIRATION NOT YET ABANDONED. ANGLO-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright LONDON, September 26.

Tho ‘Daily News,” commenting on the Anglo-Russian Agreement, says: ‘Sir Edward Grey's despatch does not convince us that Russia had abandoned her old aspiration for a warm-water port. If so, the Agreement, even in regard to Persia, is incomplete; where it is not incomplete it is not new.” The “Tribune” says that the Agreement was communicated to the German Foreign Office, which acquiesced in the terms-

The despatch forwarded by Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to the British Minister at St. Petersburg, stated that the Convention did not contain any positive declaration respecting Britain’s special interests in the Persian Gulf. The Government believed that the question would not give rise to any difficulties between the two countries. This belief was held because Eussla. during the negotiations, stated explicitly that she did not deny the existence of Britain's special interests in that region. Sir Edward Grey added that Great Britain would continue to direct all her efforts towards the preservation of the status quo on the borders of the Persian Gulf, and the maintenance of British trade. He explained the omission of a special declaration by saying that the terms 6t the arrangement affecting Persia were limited to those parts of the Shah’s empire which border on British and Russian territories. The Gulf is not a part of these regions, its shores not being all Persian soil. Russia has long desired to obtam a sea outlet and naval station that would be open to navigation during the whole year. Winter navigation of the Baltic porta ia much impeded by ice, while Vladivostok, in the East, possessing one of the finest harbours in the world, is completely closed in for a considerable period of each year. Odessa, on the Black Sea, is rather better, ice only blocking it for two or three weeks at the worst season; but its value as a navaJ base is practically nil owing to the fact that none but Turkish men-o’-war may pass through the Bosphorus out of the Black Sea without the consent of the Sublime Port®. THE CONVENTION. RUSSIAN SUGGESTION OF ANOTHER AGREEMENT. (Received September 27, 10.30 pJn.) LONDON, September 27. “The Times” forecast of favourable Russian opinion on the Anglo-Russian Agreement is confirmed. The St. Petersburg “Bourse Gazetter” remarks that a Convention dealing with European questions should be a logical sequel to the Convention cieaL ing with Asiatic affairs, GERMAN VIEWS. NOT ALTOGETHER FAVOURABLE. BERLIN, September 27. In official circles in Berlin the attitude of the German Government is described as being in friendly agreement with the treaty. Germany’s commercial interests in the Persian Gulf are not affected, in view of Britain’s determination to maintain the “open door” policy. The “Deutsche Tages Zeitung” declares that the last stone has been laid in the building of the British coalition policy. From the standpoint of Germany’s Imperial interests Germany has no reason to feel satisfied when two other Powers arrange differences which in given circumstances might be more useful to Germany.