NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE St. Petersburg correspondent of the Times learns that the Anglo-Russian Convention will be ratified next Mon- day, and will be published soon afterwards. Meanwhile a forecast of the Convention has appeared in the Retch, which is usually well informed. According to a summary sent by Reuter, the Agreement provides that the Russian sphere of influence in Persia shall extend northward of a line drawn from the junction of the Afghanistan, Persian, and Russian frontiers to Kasri Shirin, almost due west of Kermanshah, on the Turco- Persian frontier. The British sphere of influence will be to the southward of this line from the junction of the frontiers mentioned above to Bandar Abbas. Each country binds itself not to hamper the acquisition of commercial rights, such as railway and mining concessions, in the other's sphere of influence. The Retch adds that, while the richest provinces fall to Russia's sphere, Britain is guaranteed against Russian extension in the Persian Gulf. Russia furthermore recognises the predominance of British influence in Afghanistan, and agrees not to maintain a diplomatic agent there and to deal with the Anglo-Indian Government as intermediary. Tibet is made taboo to both Russia and Britain. In the zone separating their spheres in Persia both countries will have equal commercial opportunities. Britain undertakes that Afghanistan shall not be used as a place d'armes against Russian possessions. It would be idle to comment on this Agreement till we are sure of its terms, and these ought to be before the public next week.
