Asiatic Quarterly Review (Full Title: The Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review, and Oriental and Colonial Record): Volume XIII, No. 26 [‎446r] (16/238)

The Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
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exist a cause of disagreement between us, the Russians
having no thoughts of invading India. Would there
remain, then, no issues with her in Central Asia, to say
nothing of Asiatic Turkey and the Far East ? Would
the pressure become less felt because more near ?
For my own part I refuse to believe in the efficacy of
any such concession, whether it be made to Russia or to
Germany. I have no doubt both Powers would like to
repeat on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. their procedure within quite
recent times in the Gulf of Pechili. Kiaou-Chaou and
Port Arthur are very useful precedents for the seizures
of Koweyt and Bunder Abbas or Chahbar. d he main
argument of the advocates of this “concession to Russia
is that with her assistance we would succeed in keeping
Germany out of the field. Did ever notion more fatuous
enter the brain of the political schemer ? On what grounds
could we refuse a German demand for equal measure ?
No! We must either resist any infringement of the
status quo as contrary to our vital interests, or we must
be prepared sooner or later to see both Powers established
on the confines of our Indian Empire.
I say “ established,” for is there anyone sufficiently in
genuous to credit the hypothesis that the lease or acquisition
by either Power of a port on the Gulf would bring us to
the end of the matter ? To be of any use in these little
governed countries, the possession of a port would entail
the control of the territories behind ; and the political
importance and potential resources of these countries com
bine with their vast extent and scanty population to render
them a prize well worthy of a Great Power, and one which
is free from the difficulties besetting similar enterprises in
China. Germany in Mesopotamia, and Russia in Southern
Persia, would be much more likely to come together and
squeeze the Englishman out of Asia than we to secure, at
all events for any length of time, the assistance of the one
against the other. I am now brought to the very kernel of
my subject. The interests of the British P^mpire are so