The Middle East

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 3, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 39.

If the mishaps of the journey equal the mishaps of the starting, none of the men who are competing for the $50,000 prize for flying across the continent will win. All of them seem to have had some very hard times.

The Middle East.—The Weekly London Times of August 25 states that there are negotiations now in progress between Great Britain and Turkey concerning the Bagdad railway question. These are not progressing wholly favorably; that is, there are proposals and counter-proposals. Great Britain wishes to participate in that Bagdad railway, and desires economic equality with other powers, because she fears that some other power may have control and affect British interests on the Persian Gulf, and it is felt that to sacrifice any of her interests on the gulf would be a serious mistake. The power which Great Britain seems to fear above all others is that of Germany. She feels that there is great danger of Germany's having a controlling influence not only in Turkey, but upon the Persian Gulf. There has also recently been an agreement arrived at between Russia and Germany on Middle-Eastern questions. But the London Times thinks that this will not affect Russia's alliance with France, or her friendship with England. It solaces itself with the thought that in this agreement between Germany and Russia there is nothing that can be productive of misunderstanding between Russia and her friends; that it is simply and solely a trade agreement, or what might be designated by a broader term, economic agreement. But in this agreement there is a promise given by Russia not to oppose the Bagdad railway scheme, but rather to further the connection of the line, when connected with the Persian capital by means of railway from Teheran to Khanekin on the Turko-Persian border; and if this line is not completed within four years, Germany becomes free to apply herself to the Persian government for the concession. On the other hand, Germany pledges herself not to support the construction of any railways between the Bagdad line and the Russian and Persian frontiers; but this aroused such a storm of indignation in Constantinople that the existence of the agreement was denied. The Times, however, declares that altho it is not included in the public agreement, "it would be rash to assume that no understanding has been reached on a point to which Russia is believed to attach considerable importance." All of which things go to show that the Middle-Eastern question is far from settled, but that in all the agreements and questions which arise, and in all the progress that is made, Germany seems not only to hold her own, but to make certain gains.