The negotiations between the Russian representatives at Teheran and the
Persian Government for the withdrawal of the Russian troops seem to be, as the Times correspondent says in Wednesday's paper, dangerously near a deadlock. The Atissians insist on the grant of certain concessions as a sign of Persian "goodwill" before withdrawing their troops. One 'concession demanded is that of the copper mine at Karadagh, 'and another is the right to maintain a motor-service on the Resht-Teheran road. It will be remembered that Sir Edward -Grey declared some time ago in the House of Commons that the Russians had undertaken to withdraw when there was no -longer any necessity for them to stay to protect foreigners. We need hardly point out, therefore, that the policy of demanding concessions as a condition is a later development. And it seems that the two concessions we have mentioned are required in return for the removal of only one of the three distinct Russian forces in Persia. The demand for concessions might thus continue indefinitely.
