The situation in Persia was the subject of a abort
debate in the House of Lords on Wednesday. Lord Lamington, who introduced the question by asking for information as to the progress of the loan negotiations, contended that the preamble of the Anglo-Russian Agreement to the effect that the two Governments would respect the integrity and inde- pendence of Persia had not been carried out. He con- sidered that the conditions imposed in regard to the loan were too onerous for any self-respecting country, and that Persia was not allowed a free hand in her own regeneration. Lord Lamington condemned the action of the British Government as pusillanimous and calculated to impair our prestige with Mohammedans, and maintained that we could not blame Persia if she looked elsewhere for support. Lord Crewe, while admitting Lord Lamington's competence to deal with the subject, maintained that his speech had travelled far beyond the scope of his question. He had, in fact, impugned the entire policy of the Government in Persia. Lord Crewe confined himself, accordingly, to an assurance that the Government were inspired by intense feelings of goodwill towards the Persian Government and nation. After Lord Lansdowne had expressed approval of Lord Crewe's reticence, the subject dropped. We do not believe that Russia is acting in bad faith, and we hold it most important to maintain in the spirit and in the letter our understanding with her.
Previous page
