se of Russia and that of her allies. In effect,
public opinion in these countries, responsive to all that is
meant by the national ideal, has long since pronounced itself
in this sense, but you will understand that I cannot go into
this question very profoundly, seeing that the Governments of
these countries, with which we enjoy friendly relations, have
not yet taken a definite decision. Now, it is for them to
arrive at this decision, for they alone will be responsible to
their respective nations if they miss a favorable opportunity
to realize their national aspirations.

I must also mention with sincere gratitude the services
rendered to us by Italy and Spain in protecting our
compatriots in enemy countries. I must also emphasize the care
lavished by Sweden on Russian travelers who were the victims
of German brutality. I hope that this fact will strengthen the
relations of good neighborliness between Russia and Sweden,
which we desire to see still more cordial than they are.

Referring to Russo-Persian relations, M. Sazonof said:

Before the war with Turkey, we succeeded in putting an end to
the secular Turco-Persian quarrel by means of the delimitation
of the Persian Gulf and Mount Ararat region, thanks to which
we preserved for Persia a disputed territory with an area of
almost 20,000 square versts, part of which the Turks had
invaded. Since the war the Persian Government has declared its
neutrality, but this has not prevented Germany, Austria, and
Turkey from carrying on a propaganda with the object of
gaining Persian sympathies. These intrigues have been
particularly intense in Azerbaijan, where the Turks succeeded
in attracting to their side some of the Kurds in that country.
Afterward Ottoman troops, violating Persian neutrality,
crossed the Persian frontier and, supported by Kurdish bands,
penetrated the districts where our detachments were in
cantonments and transformed Azerbaijan into a part of the
Russo-Turkish theatre of war.

I must say in passing that the presence of our troops in
Persia is in no way a violation of neutrality, for they were
sent there some years ago with the object of maintaining order
in our frontier territory, and preventing its invasion by the
Turks, who wished to establish there an advantageous base