PERSIAN INTERESTS BRITISH AND RUSSIAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 424, 15 November 1930, Page 5

PERSIAN INTERESTS

BRITISH AND RUSSIAN

A BANKER’S IMPRESSIONS

It is not often that the affairs of Persia are discussea m New Zealand. Air J. W- Burland, who for some years occupied a responsible post in the imperial Bank of Persia (a British bank operating under a special concession), and who is now staying in Wellington, made a statement recently as to the conflicting interests of Britain and Rus sia iu Persia, especially concerning the valuable oilfields there- At the conclusion of the war, Mr Burland, an officer of the Bank of Ireland, accepted a position in the Imperial Bank of Persia.

“The Persian political situation.” he said, “has always occit a very diflicut one. lu the north there has long existed a strong Russian interest and in the tho soutu a predominant British interest and these two political claims have frequently clashed. Beyond question, Britain had the biggest interest iu the general trade of the country. All the great undertakings are in British hands. Thu most important is the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, whose vested interests iu Persia may be regard as far as the British are concerned as a national asset, in view of the fact that, except in Burma no oil has been found within the Empire. Valuable Oil Fields

“The likelihood of the Irak mandate ceasing in 1935, will no doubt affect the political outlook as regards the protection of these very valuable oilfields in youth-west Persia. During tho last few years Persia has been developing a very decided nationalist outlook. Her previous policy consisted mainly of playing off Russia against Britain, and was compelled to give due consideration to the two Powers especially interested

n her. Until two years ago, foreign subjects in Persia were protected by extraterritorial rights but in 1928 these were relinquished with the result that all foreign subjects in Persia arc now subject to Persian law.

British Prestige.

“The immediate effect of this change was to slightly weaken British prestige in Persia, but there is now evidence that we are regaining some of the ground which we had lost. We have had to face strong, although disguised, opposition from Russia. During recent years the opposition of that country has "taken the form of deliberate attempts to li .it British trade in Persia, and to a great extent that has been successful. The Russians were anxious to flood Persia with supplies of oil from her refineries at Baku, in opposition to the activities of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company; but it is pleasing to know that quite lately the British company has so far succeeded in overcoming the opposition as almost to monopolise the supplies of commercial and household oils. Russian exports being subsidised by the State, liberal terms have been given to North Persia, with the object of defeating British interests.” As regards the outlook, Mr Burland said there was a feeling that, with the recovery of British prestige, our interests would be well maintained. So long as we kept the friendship and respect of the Shah and his Government, there seemed little occasion to fear the future. Persia realised the tremendous value of her oilfields, as operated by British capital. Persia would be unable to handle such an undertaking herself, and it was probably well for her that the oil concession was in the hands of that nation which was the most powerful east of 'Suez.