7 SEPTEMBER 1912, Page 2

We mention these things, which we sincerely hope may turn

out to be exaggerated, since they are not supported in most respects by the reports from the British Consul at Tabriz, lest it should be said that we ignore facts which tell against our co-operation with Russia. In our opinion the use of these horrible barbarities as an argument against the Anglo-Russian Convention is irrelevant. We have never de- fended the conduct of all the Russian agents in Persia. On the contrary we have deplored it. All we have said is that the Anglo-Russian Convention, which was drawn up when Russia already controlled Northern Persia, has enabled us, among other things, to exercise some check on Russia, and without that Convention we should have been able to exercise none.