Asiatic Quarterly Review (Full Title: The Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review, and Oriental and Colonial Record): Volume XIII, No. 26 [‎448v] (21/238)

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The Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
it is our trade that in the main will pay the bill, we should
first secure that the projected railway shall be ot real use to
our communications. This would not necessarily conflict
with Turkish requirements. We ought also to obtain a
predominant voice in the management of the Mesopotamian
section.
Whether the ends which we should have in view can best
be obtained by the declaration of a Protectorate over certain
portions of the littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , is a question
which must be left for decision on its merits according to
circumstances. But I am certain that the general lines of
the policy I have ventured to commend to your readers’
attention do not involve any obstruction to the legitimate
aspirations of either of the new-comers, Germany and Russia.
Germany in Asia Minor—by which I mean, of course, the
highlands—and Russia in Northern Persia and Armenia
have enough to accomplish to provide them with useful
occupation for at least a century. No German colonist
could bring up his family in Mesopotamia or Southern
Persia, and the case is the same for the Russians. This
clamour on the part of Russia for outlets for her popu
lation in Western Asia is nothing but a herring drawn across
the scent. On the other hand, I am equally confident that
this policy is vital for England, and that it must be taken
in hand before it be too late. If we pursue it, we not
only safeguard our communications with India and the
Par East, but we maintain and increase our intercourse
with markets which will grow in importance as those of
China commence to feel the pressure of American competi
tion, assisted, as it will be, by the completion of the canal
across the Central American isthmus. But if in fancied
security and with lordly generosity we lend our ear to
insidious phrases about “understandings” and “conces
sions , if we surrender, one by one, our dearly acquired
markets and the outposts of our Indian Empire—sooner or
later the majestic fabric which we have raised in Asia will
fall in pieces to the ground.