AN AMERICAN VIEW OF THE SHAH'S VISIT TO ENGLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 24, 11 October 1873, Page 12

AN AMERICAN VIEW OF THE SHAH'S VISIT TO ENGLAND

There is another celebrity in London and a greater personage than the Shah — the heir to the crown of all the Russias — but the Londoners only want one excitement at a time. To be sure, the Ozarewitch joins all the excursions the Shah participates in, but nobody notices him. Indeed, he is rather under a cloud ; for many think he came here onlj as a spy to take care that England makes no convention with the Shah and treats hin? no more royally than Russia did. But if the Ozarewitch be all his enemies declare, he is not a whifc more mer» cenary than England. In the following extract from one of the leading political journals of London will be found, I fear, the mainspring of this great uprising and outturning of a people to do honor to the Shah : " Insignificant as is his kingdom," says the ' John Bull,' and feeble a creature as is the Shah himself, the geographical position of his country between our Indian possessions and Russian territory, and his attitude, are important to some considerable extent to us in the event of Russia ever entertaining the serious- design of invading India. We were never of the number of those who suffer from Russophobia ; but it is evident that through Persia will be the Russian attack, if ever there is to be an attack at all. It is well, therefore, that in addition to having the independent provinces which form our northwestern frontiers friendly to us, it would be well that the sympathy of Persia was with us. Russia already overhangs Persia on the west of the Caspian Sea ; and when Khiva is annexed it will overhang it on the east j and the late history of the northern empire shows that in due course of time it would have no objection to swallow and assimilate the dominions of the Shah. Nar-Ed-Deen has doubtless sense enough to see this, and has no wish to be swallowed up. To this we may fairly attribute his visit to this country. This limo he has visited Russia and Germany and Belgium j but he has plainly intimated England was the chief object of his journey. He probably understands that we have no wish to annex t<^r itOry ' thou S' 1 we nave some interest in pioventing Russia doing so. We by no means grudge him all the attention he will receive, nor the cost at which it will be shown. He is heartily welcome to it 5 and if, after all he sees and hears, he thinks it worth while to offer himself and his kingdom as a buffer to the advance of Russia towards India, by all means let us accept his offer, and promise what aid we can give him towards maintaining his independence." A candid admission, surely ! And this by no means the opinion of the editor merely. The Shah has already seen two reviews of the tnghsh navy, and by this afternoon will have seen two of the English, army. He is immensely interested in the fighting powers of England • and the English, as if they recognised that they were on trial with the Russians, are straining every neive to impress him favorably. Many people in this tax-ridden country ate doing nothing but counting the cost of this royal entertainment. Will it pay ? That is the question Will the Shah's visit stimulate trade, and will it in the slightest degree discourage Russia? If it accomplishes either of these objects, the English will regatd the necessary expenditure as well laid out.