Page:England & Russia in Central Asia,Vol-I.djvu/227

207 RUSSIA AND PERSIA. 207 fortune both for Turkey and for Persia, neither of whom can afford to exhaust its strength in quarrelling with the other. During the progress of these negotiations Russia had done much to identify herself with the cause of Persia, and the litigants and their supporters, instead of being impartial hearers, appeared to be divided into sides whose demands and views it was found to be impossible to reconcile. Russia's sympathy with the Persian cause was made clearer by the insertion in the Treaty of Berlin of a clause securing for the Shah the small border district of Khotour. This little-known place, with a small town of the same name, lies eightj^ miles south-east of Bayazid, in the neighbourhood of Khoi, and in the same latitude as Van. It always formed part of the province of Khoi until wrested from Persia by the Turks in the last century. Its actual importance is more nominal than real ; but the significance of its restoration to Persia is to be found in the fact that it is a proof of Russia's desire to champion the Persian cause. It has been put in the light of a reward to Persia for her neutrality during the late war, and it certainly admits of being considered as such, although its practical value is doubtful. Moreover, at this date (January 20th) it has not been surrendered by Turkey. The frontier question is quite apart from this, and still remains as unsettled as ever before. There can be no doubt on this point, that Russia has not abandoned her old designs in Persia. The annexation of the Armenian fortresses and of the harbour of Batoum has placed at the disposal of Russia a fresh