The Persian reply to the British Note was delivered last
Saturday, and was in accordance with expectations. It pro- poses that the suggested surcharge on the Customs three months hence should be made at once, and that the Persian Government should itself use the proceeds for restoring order on the trade routes. The result would probably be less than nothing. When it became known in Germany that the British Note had been misunderstood, and that there was no thought of occupying any part of Persia, criticism of British policy became more moderate. On Sunday there was a remarkable meeting in Constantinople, at which the Moslems present, including many officers of the Turkish Army, drew up an appeal to the German Emperor to step in and save Persia. Amidst much enthusiasm Great Britain was denounced, and the German Emperor, whose "services to Morocco at Algeciras" and speech at Saladin's tomb were recalled, was hailed as the saviour of Moslem States. We shall not assume that this meeting represented the true feelings of the Young Turks, nor that even the members of the meeting can have forgotten that the only country which has occupied Persian territory without excuse is Turkey herself. We write of the whole question elsewhere, and need only say here that there seem to be many reasons why Germany could not act as the saviour of Moslem States even if she wished to do so.
