16 



sacred Mussulman places and Russian claims in Persia and 

 Afghanistan. ] 



After Italy's entry into the war our desires were communi- 

 cated to the Italian Government, which on its side declared itd 

 agreement on condition of a victorious conclusion of the war, of 

 the fulfilment of Italy's claims in general and in the East in 

 particular, and of our giving to Italy rights similar to those given 

 to France and England in the territories conceded to us. 



Confidential telegram of the Russian Minister for Foreign Affair* 

 to the Russian Ambassador in Paris, March 18, 1915, No. 

 1,226. 



On March 8 the French Ambassador, on behalf of hid 

 Government, announced to me that France was prepared to take 

 up a most favourable attitude in the matter of realisation of our 

 desires as set out in my telegram to you, No. 937, -n respect of the 

 Straits and Constantinople, for which I charged you to tender 

 Delcasse' my gratitude. 



In his conversations with you, Delcasse" had previously more 

 than once given his assurance that we could rely on the sympathy 

 of France, and only referred to the need of elucidating the question 

 of the attitude of England, from whom he feared some objections, 

 before he could give us a more definite assurance in the above 

 sense. Now the British Government has given its complete 

 consent in writing to the annexation by Russia of the Straits and 

 Constantinople within the limits indicated by us, and only 

 demanded security for economic interests and a similar benevolent 

 attitude on our part towards the political aspirations of England 

 in other parts. 



For me, personally, filled as I am with most complete 

 confidence in Delcasse", the assurance received from him is quite 

 sufficient, but the Imperial Government would desire a more 

 definite pronouncement of France's assent to the complete satis- 

 faction of our desires, similar to that made by the British 

 Government. (Signed) SAZONOFF. 



(Manchester Guardian, December 12, 1917.) 



From a confidential telegram of the Russian Minister for Foreign 

 Affairs to the Russian Ambassador in Paris ( ? London), 

 March 20, 1915, No. 1,265. 



Referring to the memorandum of the British Government 

 (? Embassy) here of March 12, will you please express to Grey 

 the profound gratitude of the Imperial Government for the 

 complete and final assent of Great Britain to the solution of the 



