NEW CONSORT FOR SHAH

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28537, 17 March 1958, Page 3

NEW CONSORT FOR SHAH

Search Sequel To Divorce (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) TEHERAN, March 15. Persian Court officials were tonight considering the choice of a new consort for the Shah of Persia, who yesterday divorced Queen Soraya because she has not given him an heir to the Throne. The communique announcing the dissolution of the seven-year-old marriage said the Court Council had recommended that a Crown Prince and heir to the Throne must be of direct descent from the Shah. The communique said the Shah had reached his decision “with deep sorrow.” The Queen, who has been staying in West Germany, said in a statement: “I will with the deepest regret. . . sacrifice my own happiness and declare my consent to a separation from his Imperial Majesty.” Courtiers said that Queen Soraya would receive 10,000,000 rials (about £48.000) representing her marriage portion, as well as a pension, and would keep all the jewellery the Shah has given her, except the Crown jewels. Court circles said that high officials would begin considering the choice of a Persian girl from a non-Qajar family—the dynasty deposed by the Shah’s father—to become Queen after a medical check-up. According to the Persian Constitution, if the Shah has no son, he can appoint a Crown Prince with the approval of Parliament, provided he is of Persian origin and not a member of the Qajar family. But as soon as a son is born to the Shah, he will become Crown Prince. None of the Shah’s brothers can succeed to the throne because their mothers are Qajars. The Shah’s only rion-Qajar brother was the late prince Ali Reza who died in a plane crash in 1954. According to the Islamic code. Queen Soraya herself cannot remarry until three months and 10 days after the legal and religious formalities of divorce.