THE PERSIAN TROUBLE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12632, 8 December 1911, Page 2

THE PERSIAN TROUBLE.

ANGLO-RUSSIAN ACTION,

-m- -,••,' L °NDON, Dec. 1. Jhe British and Russian Governments are m close communication with a view to the speedy settlement of tho Persi:*:i difficulty. Replying to a question m the Commons last night, Sip Edward' Grey, Secretary for Foreign' Affairs, denied that .joint British n^d- 'American action had been taken with regard to Mr Morgan -Sinister, the Persian Treasurer-General, whose dismissal has been demanded by Russia. . ..

Britain's interests m Persia are perhaps of more -geographical than commercial importance. Her sDhere of influence is 137,000 fiauare miles, with a population of 690,00'0j and a net Customs revenue of £50,000. The figures for the Russian sphere are: Area, 305,---000 square miles ; population. 6,900,000 ; Customs, £305,000.. Then there is the neutral sphere, with an area of 188,000, a populatiOn'..,of 1 1>910,0Q0, <amd a Customs revenue of £18O'j*0OO.'' ' In 19C7 Great Britain and Russia agreed' between themselves to limit the spheres of their respective interests to the provinces adjoining the Russian, frontier on the one hand, and the British -frontier on the other. The two Powers respect the integrity "and independence of Persia, but, at the same time, oontemplate the possible necessity . of financial control m conformity with the principle of the agreement. •