File 3852/1912 Pt 2 'Persia. Conditions in South Persia. German Documents' [‎321r] (273/280)

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FOR INFORMATION.
ENTENTE AMENITIES.
1
Previous Papers
“Noble Brothers in Rivalry,” much play is made in the
Press of Jan. 30 with an alleged letter, dated Teheran, April
7, 1915, from Sir Walter Townley, English Ambassador in
Persia, to the English Consul-General at Shiraz, O’Connor,
just as Townley was on the eve of quitting Persia. Although
ostensibly going on leave, Townley states that his departure
is final, and due to disagreements with the Russian
Ambassador, Korostovetz. He could not stand by and see
Russia gradually swallowing the whole of Persia. Two things
offended the Russians : (1) the appointment of Samsam to
Ispahan, and (2) the existence of the Imperial Bank in the
Russian zone .as the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. through which receipts were
transmitted to Teheran. When war broke out it was neces
sary that better relations should subsist between the two
embassies, so that both ambassadors had to go. The war
had revealed the deep hatred of all classes against Russia,
and, as Russia’s Ally, England came in for her share.
Then follows comment and explanation of the various
incidents mentioned in the letter designed to prove how
England strove to stem the advance of Russian influence.
The whole argument is clinched by the reproduction of two
confidential documents : (1) the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. to the Foreign
Office, March 4, 1914, signed T. H. Holder ness, enclosing a
secret memorandum of the Indian Government on the posi
tion of British v. Russian trade in Persia; (2) the secret
memorandum itself, Jan. 22, 1914, _ approving of the
encouragement of trade on the Bushire—Shiraz—Ispahan
line, hot only in the interests of Indian commerce, but from
political reasons, as a bulwark against the expansion of
Russian trade and therewith of Russian influence from the
north.
So much, concludes the article, for the “friendly rivalry ”
and the loyalty of England to her compacts.
Further evidence of friction is drawn from f the most un
expected sources. An apparently innocent map in the Geo
graphical Journal of Togo and Kamerun as at present
administered shows the French in occupation of the lion’s
share. Observe, however, says the subtle German, that
England has kept the best lands for herself, and has not
yielded to the long-standing ambition of the French to possess
Garna.
21517 I 1500 2000 11/16
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