Publications, Newspaper Cuttings, Photographs and Correspondence about Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎189v] (379/879)

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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS.
May 27, 1910.
viz., import duties and railway receipts. All these
factors show that patience is necessary before the
country can be said to have regained its former
prosperity.
In the domain of economic exploitation, interest
has been excited by the discovery of petroleum at a
spot on the margin of the Red Sea, about 160 miles
south of Suez. At a depth of 1,290 feet a flow of
oil under high pressure was obtained, and the well
was successfully capped. A second flow of oil was
met w’ith close by in September, 1909, and that well
has been also capped. The analyses of the oil have
given good results, and other companies are now
actively prospecting in the neighbourhood.
The long and laborious negotiations which took
place last year between the Egyptian Government
and the Suez Canal for the extension of the conces
sion to the latter resulted in an arrangement for a
prolongation of the concession for 40 years from 1968,
and for the profits during the further period to be
equally divided between the Government and the
company. The question was not one on which the
Government were compelled to consult the General
Assembly, according to the terms of the organic law,
but, on the advice of Sir E. Gorst, the Assembly
were convoked to consider it, with, however, negative
and unfavourable results as far as the approval of that
body was concerned.
As regards legislation where foreigners are con
cerned no progress can be recorded, though several
important proposals towards this end are under the
consideration of the Powers. It is quite a labour of
Hercules, so Sir Eldon remarks, to get the assent of
fifteen Powers to any alteration in the Mixed Codes,
and until some change can be effected, foreigners
resident or having interests in Egypt must continue
to bear with resignation the imperfections and de
ficiencies of the law.
Good work has been done by the Legislative
Council during the past year but further progress has
to be made before it proves as useful as it should.
The members occasionally fail to take a broad view
of matters under discussion and to discriminate be
tween what is important and what are matters of
detail. Another shortcoming is the constant opposi
tion to grants for the Soudan. The Council seems
unable to appreciate what a small price Egypt is
paying for the entire control of the waters of the
Upper Nile, which are vital to its prosperity, or to
understand that the only way of ultimately relieving
the budget of the annual grant in aid for the Soudan
is by supplying funds for the material development
which will enable that country to become self-sup
porting. Another regrettable point is that the
weaker members are often led astray by the more
turbulent spirits, the chief pre-occupation of all being
to avoid being abused in the native Press for want of
patriotism, which is the invariable result of any
support, however mild or platonic, being given to
Government proposals.
(To be continued.)
THE UNITED PROVINCES EXHIBITION,
ALLAHABAD.
During the half-century which has elapsed since
the last Provincial Exhibition took place at Alla
habad, the commercial and industrial importance of
Agra and Oudh has been steadily increasing, and it
has now been decided to hold another exhibition next
winter, from December 1st, 1910, to February 28th,
1911. These dates have been fixed so as to include
the great bathing festival or Magh Mela, which draws
large crowds of people from all parts of India.
The site of the exhibition is an open plain on the
banks of the Jumna, between Allahabad Fort and
the city. To the north of the enclosure will be laid
out camps for European and Indian visitors. The
management is under the control of an executive
committee, which numbers among its members the
principal leaders of the European, Hindu, and
Mohammedan communities, representatives of the
Upper India Chamber of Commerce, Government
officials, and others intimately associated with the
industrial progress of the provinces.
The main object of the Exhibition is to encourage
the arts and industries of the United Provinces by
displaying their products and methods of production,
and by introducing from other countries such com
modities and appliances as are required to supplement
indigenous arts and industries. A special feature
will be made of running machinery. The Exhibition
will be divided into eleven courts, dealing with agricul
ture ; forestry; textiles ; engineering; fine and applied
art; wood, stone and metal work ; general industries ,
native States; Japanese fine art ; education and
women’s work. A fine polo ground has also been
provided within the Exhibition enclosure where two
important tournaments will take place, and it is-
interesting to learn that this ground will also be the
scene of the first aviation meeting to be held in the
East. Further particulars may be obtained by in
tending exhibitors from the Secretary of the Exhi
bition, Allahabad, India, or by intending visitors-
from Messrs. Thomas Cook and Sons, Ludgate-
circus, London, E.C.
THE STUDY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
IN GERMAN SCHOOLS.
Throughout Germany, the systematic training of
the youth in foreign languages has made rapid pro
gress during recent years. The effort has been
especially marked in the great industrial and commer
cial centres. In Chemnitz, for example, it is re-.
garded as absolutely necessary that a young man
entering the counting-house of a factory An East India Company trading post. , a bank, or
a large commercial house, should be familiar with one
or, better, two foreign languages. Ample provision
is made for such instruction in the higher schools.
Excellent facilities are afforded in the business
colleges. Courses are organised under the auspices,
of mercantile associations, which enable clerks to-