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Show BEAR AND LION MAY BUNK TOGETHER Status qf tho Much-Forecasted Anglo-Russian Deal at Present. LONDON, April 9. The exact status of the much forecasted Anglo-Russian understanding Is as follows: After King Edward had given his personal assurances to Emperor Nicholas Nicho-las that the anti-Russian comments In tho British press did not represent the feeling of his Government, Foreign Secretary Lansdowno Informed tho Russian Embassador, Count Benken-dorff, Benken-dorff, that he would be glad to reopen tho negotiations looking to a settlement settle-ment of all matters now in dispute between Russia and Great Britain. Lord Lansdowne did not stipulate any basis or enter Into any details. Embassador Benkendorff expressed his pleasure at tho offer and transmitted It to St. Petersburg, where Lord Lans-downc's Lans-downc's action Is understood to have been taken as a material expression of King Edward's personal messages. There, for the moment, the matter stands. Negotiations beyond Lord Lansdownc's offer have not been commenced com-menced and are not likely to assume any definite phase in the near future. No great hope was felt here that they could ever reach a conclusion satisfactory satisfac-tory to both countries, though in view of the Anglo-French agreement even the most pessimistic are unwilling to be too dogmatic on this point. Queen Alexandra's Influence. Both King Edward's personal action and the step taken by his Foreign Secretary Sec-retary arc due to a' great degree to the untiring solicitation of Queen Alexandra, Alexan-dra, who has been greatly distressed over the war, which has Involved her Russian relatives and Great Britain's ally. Diplomats accredited to .the Court of St. James express surprise at the fact that Lord Lansdowne has gone even so far as he has. It was believed, especially In German quarters, that the suggested negotiations lived only In the Imagination of the press and that the authorities at St. Petersburg and London tacitly sanctioned tho fallacy fal-lacy In the hope of reconciling the British and Russian publics. That Lord Lansdowne has taken such an .Initiative, while Great Britain's ally Is still at war with Russia, 19 regarded as being a somewhat bold and unexpected unex-pected step, all the more so because It is understood here that all the Russians Rus-sians at SL Petersburg still studiously studious-ly avoid visiting the British Embassy. One of the members of the diplomatic corps here, on learning what Lord Lansdowne had done, said: "That Is an olive branch with a vengeance!" ven-geance!" Not tho First Attempt The Associated Press learns that Russia and Great Britain secretly negotiated nego-tiated to the same end eighteen months ago. but tho attempt to draw up an agreement camo to an abrupt end "when Lord Lansdowno announced In tho House of Lords that under no considerations con-siderations would Russia be allowed a port on the Persian gulf." Since then that question has been regarded as a deadlock. Under the changed conditions and with the good offices of the French Government, secured through the recent re-cent agreement. Lord Lansdowne Is said to genuinely entertain the hope of an eventual settlement by which the Anglo-Russian spheres of Influence throughout the world may be determined deter-mined and the ceaseless and costly rivalry ri-valry between the two nations ended forever. Ho Is also actuated by a strong desire to cement the Anglo-French understanding un-derstanding which, as the Westminster Gazette points out, can only be made Immutable by a complete understanding understand-ing with Russia. "If, in a moment of great difficulty," says the Westminster Gazette, "Russia "Rus-sia appealed for nralstnnce to France on the pain of transferring her affections affec-tions to Germany, no consideration for us would prevent Franco from responding respond-ing to the appeal, since an alliance between be-tween Germany and Russia would be a catasthrophe for which no understanding understand-ing with Great Britain could compensate compen-sate her." On all sides It 1h pointed out that an agreement on outstanding matters with Russia is far more difficult than the recent re-cent arrangenwnt with France. The paramount questions are the delimitation delimita-tion of the Afghan frontier, access to the Persian gulf and the spheres of Influence In-fluence In Persia. Charles Hardlngo, the new British Embassador who goes to SL Petersburg at the beginning of May, has been selected for his expert knowledge of the Persian question. It Is surmised in well-informed quarters that Great Britain Is willing to cede to Russia a sphere of Influence In northern north-ern Persia If Russia agrees not to interfere in-terfere In southern Persia. What Russia Wants. It Is thought that Russia's request for a port on the Persian gulf never will be granted, but the Associated Press learns that Russia lately has exhibited a keen dealre to acquire Interests in Abyssinia so as to gain access to tho Red sea. This might be arranged In lieu of a port on the Persian gulf. Emperor Em-peror Menellk. Is Is reported here, has been Informed of the Russian designs, and his amiability In opening up his country tp American enterprises Is attributed at-tributed here to his desire to secure American support against any possible Intention on the part of Russia. The delimitation of tho Afghan frontier fron-tier Is not believed to present Insurmountable Insur-mountable difficulties, provided Russia is willing to renounce the designs always al-ways accredited to her in Great Britain on the Indian empire. Tlie questions of the far East and tho Balkans are not thought likely to enter Into the pending negotiations, though Russia doubtless will endeavor to secure se-cure British Influence toward rescinding rescind-ing the provisions of the Berlin treaty which closes the Dardanelles to the passage pas-sage of Russian fleets. |