The fears of Turkey were fostered rather than dissipated by
the visit of the German Ambassador to Rifaat Pasha at Constantinople last Saturday. The German Ambassador said that he could not explain the Russo-German negotiations in detail, but he was instructed to announce that they referred only to railways in Persia, and to the connexion of the Baghdad Railway with those projected lines. On Wednesday the misgivings of the Moslem world were expressed in a Manifesto by. the Nedjef Mujtehids. The Teheran correspondent of the Times says that the Manifesto urges Sunnis and Shiahs to sink their differences and " com- bine to protect Persia from the pretensions of foreign Powers." It says that the Mullahs of the rival sects in Baghdad have come to an agreement. The correspondent indicates the significance of such a Manifesto appearing in the month of Mohurrum, when Shiah fanaticism used formerly to be at its height. Europe cannot, of course, hope to satisfy fanatical objections to railways ; but we are quite sure that if railways are built in Persia—in fact, if . an Indo-European route is opened—and-freedom of commerce is guaranteed, as it ought to be, a great benefit will be done to Persia. One of the chief means of saving the integrity of Persia is the raising of revenue through internal development.
