THE LIVING AGE Founded by E.LITTELL in 1844 NO. 3926 OCTOBER 4, 1919 BRITAIN IN PERSIA EDITORIAL NOTE: The following précis of the Anglo-Persian agreement has been taken from the columns of the London Tablet. 'After prolonged negotiations between the British and Persian governments an agreement has been concluded which should provide internal peace for Persia and should contribute to the security of the northwestern frontiers of India. The British and Russian spheres of interest delimited in 1907 are abolished and Great Britain undertakes to provide Persia, at Persia's expense, with the expert assistance and advice which will enable the state to be rebuilt. Among other things the Persian Government desires to establish a uniform force into which shall be incorporated all the various elements - Persian regulars and gendarmerie, the Cossack Brigade, the South Persian Rifles, etc.- which have hitherto existed in various parts of the country. Great Britain proposes to lend such officers as may be required to organize this force. Further the Treasury has agreed to make an advance to the Persian Government of £2,000,000, to be shared equally by the government of India and the Treasury, and to be secured upon the Persian Customs revenues, in order to allow the Persian Government to initiate the reforms which are in contemplation. This country will also back Persia in her desire for the revision of treaties, her claims for compensation for damage inflicted by other belligerents, and for the rectification of her frontier. At the same time it is announced that the Shah, who has been a warm supporter of the agreement, is on his way to this country on a visit to mark his good will. While we gain neither territory nor domination we do obtain a position which should enable us to do much for the security of peace in the East. In the French press, while some organs regard the agreement as a virtual protectorate, others admit that we have shown good conduct of our own affairs.'] 1. An Approving View THE recent Anglo-Persian agreement will be welcomed by all who have the interests of Persia and the British Empire at heart. In itself it is a simple, straightforward, sensible arrangement, which, in a few words, covers the whole matter of correct policy, and reflects the greatest credit upon Lord Curzon, Sir Percy Cox, and the Indian and Persian governments. With the exception of some criticism in the French press, mostly made with an eye to French ambitions in Syria, the agreement has met with unanimous approval. VOL. 16-NO. 785 The amount of the loan, £2,000,000, seems a very modest sum for such an ambitious programme, but no doubt subsequent aid will be forthcoming as required. With a population of about 10,000,000, the present public debt of Persia is a mere nothing of about £7,000,000. Given a proper administration, a very much larger revenue could without hardship be collected for development purposes. An objection to the agreement as it stands is the absence of a time-limit after which British personnel would be withdrawn from control of Persian departments. Twenty-five to thirty years, during which a new generation |