THE H.B. TRIBUNE. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1911. THE PERSIAN TROUBLE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 13, 28 December 1911, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. T HURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1911. THE PERSIAN TROUBLE.

Tur. intliappy development of Persian alYairs caiim,: fail to awaken the' keenest, regret amongst all those who have taken an interest in this romantic country. This regret must | be doubly k'r n when it appears i plain to Rriii.sh subjects that the : Imperial Government is not alto- ! get her blam-'less for the t rouble v.bicli has fallen upon a people who. il'iooi internal disruption ami politi- ‘ cal chaos, are practically powerless ho protect their own interests. It is, 1 I of course, formally pointed out that i t tie Powers have no ulterior motive in demanding reformation tn Persia, i but it <k>cs not need a particularly [clear vision to see that Russia and j. Bi-ilaii: have settled dvvvn to a <ii I ;d».niatie g.'iine which has for its i prizes the spoliation of the Persian people. It also appears plain that Britain has. so far. got by far the vorst of tiie play. There are plenty I of plausible excuse.- put forward io lustily the Russian aggression and 'dr. Shuster, the Treasurer-General < f Persia is held up as the chief ; grievance. Now. why is it that Air. : Shuster has caused ibis Double with ■ Russia.* It is. we believe, because he has ciidetruuireil to carry through xv it 11 his magnificent ability the task j allotted to him. Mr. Shuster was ■ bringing wholesome feeling into i Persian public affairs. He made war ■ iipo.j the men who were corrupting public hie i’:!' l squandering the people'- mom ".. He was awakening a I spirit of national backbone i:i the i *'?J*‘|l:.- and had the sympathy cml ie-lp iif those who lookeii and hoped for ;i rejuvenation of Persia. I Russia, however, does mil w;mt to I rec a sound, healthy rejuvenated per-Jan Empire. Site prefers tile J <llsorgarrised. sickly' form of (to\ t‘i'n- * ment which makes easy the path of ’ her Maeliiav elian diplomacy. Mr. Sl,r:-:e: stopped illegal pay ment s -and ie-tituted ••Treasury gemiarJmeiie" who enforced the proper collection of the revemte ami it is here although Russia professes such keen de-ire for the welfare of р, rsia that the rupture occurred. Mr. Si. '-I'l seized property belongiir" to a 1 ir< it her of flic ex Shah dethe protests of the Russian с, and :ti thus performing his «ii:tx ire ha-- liioilglit bloodshed upon [-..mi: ry' nml disgrace ami di-mis- ■ d iii'i'ii l'. , ri--... V rilrini to flic | ■ ■ in - - I'ti Not em*i**i’ 1 '. Mi. s h u -- - ter -..ivs: "No one «ho has been in

Persia a week can Fail 1 <• realize that ail possibility of reforming Persia's; finances is absolutely dependent upon the prompt restoration of order throughout the Empire and the creation and maintenance of a strong central Govm'iimenl. powerful enough to make itself f"!t and its decrees respected to the furthermost parts of the country. So long as the present policy of thwarting the upbuilding of smh a Government continues — so long as it is the manifest attitude of the Powers to nullify all serious efforts on one pretext or another (but always selfish) and to ruin the Government s prestige in tli<‘ eyes of the Persian people themselves, meanwhile keeping the country in a state of financial collapse- just that long will any efforts at financial regeneration be as unavailing as certain documents written on the sands of temporary advantage <>r as promises of a neutrality which does not neutralize. The internal diilieiiities of Persia are great enough to tax her resources to the uttermost limit : th< v alone will retard her progress for many years. If to them we are to add flagrant bullying by outsiders, varied by ••finger-on-the-nose” diplomacy, the situation is very bad. “If money is to be obtained for permanent improvements, it must be taken on impossible political terms ; if railroads are to be built, they must be conterminous with our old friends “the spheres of influence” ; if rifles are to be bought, the;.’ must be paid for io a rich and friendly foreign Government at just three times their market )>riee ; if officers of experience arc to in- taken into the Persian sari ice to hasten progress, they mitsi come iiom a minor Power, or prove themselves to liin-e been of the : pinek ss. nerveless type <.f which rhe tools of fmcign inteiests are produced : even if they aie from a minor Power, there must not be so main of them taken as to indicate a sei ions attempt at reform.’

In an article the “Times tries to justify such interference as lias taken place upon the threadbare allegation of Persia’s dependence upon Britain and Russia, but the excuse will not stand examination. Mr. .Sinister was appointed for the express piupose of “pulling Persia together. ' He promised to succeed so well that the Powers participating in the spoliation of the country find b.is removal advisable. Russia's establishment in the Pcrsain Gulf looms up as a certainty in the near future.