The question of Persia was raised in the House on
Wednes- day by Mr. Ponsonby, who moved an amendment to the Address to the effect that our failure to preserve the integrity and independence of Persia in accordance with the Anglo- Persian Agreement constituted a grave menace to the Empire. Sir Edward Grey defended his policy much on the lines of his Manchester speech. He laid stress on the historical connexion of Russia with Persia, and argued that but for the Agreement the state of Persia would be much worse than it actually was. He regarded the Agreement as a limitation rather than an extension of our action, and also as a corresponding limita- tion of the action of Russia, who had in no way used her influence to prejudice us strategically, as she would have used it in the past. He deprecated our embarking on a forward policy in Central Asia, which would be involved in acceding to the demands of his critics, and main- tained that we had done right in not sending an expedition into Persia. As for railway development, he held that our proper policy was to encourage the trans-Persian railway. subject to the Indian Government approving the gauge and routes. The future, he admitted, was not free from difficulty and he hoped there would be no partition of Persia. Mr. Ponsonby professed himself deeply disappointed with the Foreign Secretary's speech, but as his object was rather to get the subject discussed than to divide the House he with- drew his amendment.
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