Two curious rumours are afloat as to the agreement made
at Skirnievice. One is that Russia has asked, in return for certain concessions in the Balkans, for a "free hand" in Armenia; and another, that she has intimated an intention of advancing in Persia. We fear the Armenian story is not true, as the liberation of the province from the Pashas would open the whole Eastern Question, which it is the object of the meeting to keep closed ; and we doubt the Persian rumour. The Czar has no one to consult in his action at Teheran except England, which sent no one to Skirnievice. We rather wonder, however, why Russia, which is out of the scramble for Africa, does not seriously menace Persia. She alone can attack that State easily ; there is no resistance possible unless England fights, for Persia has been bled to death by the Kajar dynasty; and the kingdom would in a few years be a large revenue-paying pro- vince. Persia, properly governed, would be as fertile as Italy; white men can plough in half her satrapies, and she not only could support, but would attract the over-spill of all Russia, which, as the population of the Northern Governments moves steadily to the South, is becoming considerable. Why should a human being who knows anything, and can dig, remain in the circle of Archangel, when he can find wheat-growing plains without leaving his own country ?
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