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endeavoured to show that the rupture of friendly relations between Great Britain and Persia, arose, indirectly in the first instance, out of the unsettled state of the political atmosphere of Europe, and from the desire of the Persian Government to be permitted to play some part in the drama which then occupied the stage of the world. The Sedr-Azem was probably incapable of pursuing a consistent line of policy throughout the negotiations that preceded the war. It is considered statesmanlike in Persia to conceal one's real intentions up to the last moment; to endeavour to take advantage of every opening for finessing, and of every pretext for gaining time. We are almost, as I have said, driven to believe that the Sedr-Azem had of fixed purpose, for some reason best known to himself, adopted a line of conduct towards the British representative which would drive that representative into the alternative of striking his