'MISCELLANEOUS. PERSIA 1882-1898: Maps, Government Papers etc.' [‎30r] (59/202)

3
RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN
PERSIA.
(TROII OUR CORRESPONDENT.) o
ST. PETERSBURG, Monday Nioht.
The Persian frontier question's still to the
fore ; the rivalry between England and Russia
at Teheran for political ascendancy and com
mercial supremacy having never before been so
keen. The opening of the Karun River to navi
gation, immediately after Prince Dolgorouky’s
departure from Teheran in September, v.-.ir; ro-
j warded here as a breach of faith on the part of
' Persia, by which England secured very serious
I advantages. As it was useless to seek the re-
i scinding of that act, it was determined to set
, about' obtaining compensation iu tue Aorth
without delay, and, if necessary, by the exercise
| of verv strong pressure. _ ^
i Prince Dolgorouky returned to his post with
i instructions to this effect, and even in the short
time that has elapsed he has secured some
1 results, while other and more important advan
tages arc already looked for with conhdence. A
Russian Consul is already installed at Meshed,
the obiections of the Persian Government on the
score of Mahometan fanaticism having
vanished at the first real insistence. Persia
has moreover, renewed her promise to construct
a '->-ood road from Meshed to the north-west,
to Tom the Russian road from Askabad.
A communication in to-day’s Xovosti, evi
dently from a well-informed source, states that
Russia further insists that Persia shall open to
Russian navigation the lagoon Murd-ab, which |
lies between Enzeli and Pera Bazar, near Resht,
and that she shall commence at once the con
struction of a high road from Resht to Teheran.
We are informed that the Persian Government
fully agreed to these demands. Rules for he
navigation are being drawn up, and, together
with a Decree opening the lagoon to Russian
vessels, will be published shordj. _
The precise value of these concessions on the
part of Persia is rather difficult to estimate. If,
instead of a road, a railway were to be built
from Resht to Teheran, it would be a vei>
complete set-off to the opening of tae Krmm.
Even if a good road were constructed north
ward from Shuster, without which a mere
right of river navigation is of little value
strategically, the advantage would be absolutely
on the side of Russia. .There is no private
enterprise in Russia, however, and unless tne
Government takes the matter m hand jvhich it
seems disinclined to do, it is probable that no
railway will be built for a long time to come.
! Meanwhile, what is really important to Eng
land is to note that Russia is qmte dctermined
to keen her hold over northern Persia, botu
commercially and strategically ; and that every
privilege or concession we obtam from the
Government of the Shah will be followed im
mediately by demands for at least equivalent
advantages for Russia. Russia is, ol course,
extremely well situated to enforce compliance
with her wishes.
(THBOUGII ItSUTES’S AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ') /