336 THE NEAR EAST. 



That, at any rate, is satisfactory. We have a definite 

 declaration of policy, and all the world now knows the 

 attitude of his Majesty's Government towards any 

 Power endeavouring to encroach upon declared British 

 interests, so long at least as the Government that made 

 it remains in power — a contingency which, unfortunately, 

 has to be postulated in any declaration of British policy. 

 But words unsupported by deeds are of little value, and 

 it is in the outward and visible signs of the intention 

 and purpose lying behind mere oratorical declamation 

 that men judge the worth and probable results of any 

 policy. Here, too, recent years have been fruitful of 

 much that is satisfactory. The declaration of Lord 

 Lansdowne concerning the Persian Gulf found concrete 

 embodiment in the royal progress of an Indian Viceroy 

 through its waters — an expression of actual power so 

 pregnant of meaning to the oriental understanding. 

 No cryptic utterances were those that fell from the lips 

 of Lord Curzon as he defined the position of Great 

 Britain for the benefit of the littoral chiefs : " We were 

 here before any other Power in modern times had shown 

 its face in these waters ; we found strife, and we have 

 created order; it was our commerce as well as your 

 security that was threatened and called for protection 

 at every port along the coasts ; the subjects of the King 

 of England still reside and trade with you ; the great 

 Empire of India, which it is our duty to defend, lies 

 almost at your gates; we saved you from extinction 

 at the hands of your neighbours ; we opened these 

 seas to the ships of all nations, and enabled their flags 

 to fly in peace ; we have not seized or held jomy terri- 

 tory ; we have not destroyed your independence, but 

 preserved it." ^ 



Such were the dictions of the highest representative 



1 Lord Curzon at Shargah. 



