German Policy in Persia.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 13, 29 March 1911, Page 59

German Policy in Persia.

Dr. E. J. Dillon, writing in the '‘Contemporary,” describes a well-authentieat-ed” plan which has been communicated to him as to the course of German policy in Persia. “Persia,” his informant remarked, “was divided up into three spheres by the Anglo-Russian Convent : o», the northern being Russia’s domain of influence, the southern that in which British interests and influence are predominant, and the neutral belt, which is a political Tom Tiddler’s ground. Now if Russia can veto a certain class of concessions in the north and Great Britain another of the same kind in the south, on the ground that they are incompatible with their respective political privileges there, who is there to say nay to Germany’s designs in the middle belt? No Great Power has reserved it as a sphere of influence or interest. Neither polit'eal, nor commercial, nor railway, nor mining claims have been put forward by any nation to any part of that territory. Therefore, from the point of view of the Anglo-Russian Convention, it is res nullius, and Germany can enter in without let or difficulty. But consideration for the ..great Mohammedan nation of Iran

will move her to proceed on quite other lines. Recognising the right of the Persian people to give and withhold privileges and concessions of all kinds in their own realm, she will negotiate with the Government, and content herself with what is ‘voluntarily’ offered her, and in return will tender her services to the Persian nation as champion against all who harbour designs against its integrity. That would involve,, as already a condominium of three. The result will be to take Persia out of the guardianship of two Powers, and place it under the protection of three, one of whom has an interest to check the action of the others.”