19 



territory and subjected to a special regime to be determined by 

 agreement between Eussia, France, and England. 



As a general rule the contracting Powers undertake mutually 

 to recognise the concessions and privileges existing in the territories 

 now acquired by them which have existed before the war. 



They agree to assume such portions of the Ottoman Debt as 

 corresponds to their respective acquisitions. 



(Manchester Guardian, January 19, 1918.) 



NOTE. The following passage occurs in an undated Memorandum 

 forming one of a series of diplomatic documents published by the Izvestiya 

 on November 23, 1917, and referring to a Memorandum of March 4. 

 1915 :- 



" The Russian Government, while, on the whole, agreeing to these 

 demands [placing of the sacred Mussulman places and Arabia under an 

 independent Mussulman rule, etc. see above, under heading *' Con- 

 stantinople and the Straits"], nevertheless made certain stipulations for 

 the sake of defining our own wishes with regard to the sacred Mussulman 

 places. It is necessary, without delay, to establish whether these places 

 are to remain under the rule of Turkey, with the Sultan as Caliph, or it 

 is contemplated to form new independent States. In our opinion it would 

 be desirable to separate the Caliphate from Turkey. In any case, complete 

 freedom of pilgrimage must be secured." 



NOTE also Article 12 of the Agreement with Italy. 



VII. PERSIA. 



From a confidential telegram of the Russian Minister for Foreign 

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

 March 20, 1915, No- 1265. 



The Imperial Government confirms its assent to the inclusion 

 of the neutral zone of Persia in the British sphere of influence. 

 At the same time, however, it regards it as just to stipulate that 

 the districts adjoining the cities of Ispahan and Yezd, forming 

 with them one inseparable whole, should be secured for Russia 

 in view of the Russian interests which have arisen there. The 

 neutral zone now forms a wedge between the Russian and Afghan 

 frontiers, and comes up to the very frontier line of Russia at 

 Sulfager. Hence a portion of this wedge will have to be annexed 

 to the Russian sphere of influence. Of essential importance to the 

 Imperial Government is the question of railway construction in the 

 neutral zone, which will require further amicable discussion. 



The Imperial Government expects that in future its full 

 liberty of action will be recognised in the sphere of influence 



