The controversy that has arisen over the visit of the
Parlia- mentary delegation to Russia is much to be regretted. Violent and, in our opinion, wholly unwarranted language has been used by the opponents of the visit on the ground that its motive is largely financial and that it compromises the House of Commons. The participation of the Speaker is alone a sufficient answer to the latter charge. As for the insinuation that the visit is being manipulated to promote financial in- terests, and in particular the Trans-Persian Railway, we cannot see that any case has been made out for the charge. On the contrary, we have the explicit assurance of Professor Pares that every effort has been made to keep the visit free from any other consideration than that of English friendship for Russia, and that "no one has made it more clear than the Speaker that he could only take part in the visit if this con- dition were faithfully observed." Nor can we see that this laudable aim is likely to be frustrated if the visit should lead indirectly to the embarking of British capital in a scheme in the control of which it is desirable that British interests should be represented.
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