THE PERSIAN CRISIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14580, 20 July 1909, Page 6

THE PERSIAN CRISIS.

Tun similarity between the recent history of Persia and that of Turkey can hardly escape notice. A Sultan and a Shah have at brief intervals set their strength against that 'Of the upholders of a hard-won and jiowlv-acquiml Constitution, and each has in turn suffered deposition. .Mahomed Ali has been the loser in tho revolution that has agitated Persia for the past year, ami, like Abdul Ham id, has had tho privik-no of seeing his successor proclaimed. Persia, has been quoted as a .striking example of the futility of adoptiug the letter without the spirit of popular government. Oppression and tho example of tho Russian Dujna incited the Persians to revolt, and, with the aid of the priesthood, they wrung a Constitution from Mahomed Ali's predecessor just before his death in January, 1907. The Constitution involved the creation of a National Council, or Mejliss, to he elected every two years. This Parliament has from the beginning had a most troubled existence, and the first Prime Minister was killed by a bomb. It was soon made evident that the new Shall, notwithstanding his formal ratification of the Constitution, was by 110 means disposed to accept quietly thlegaey from his predecessor. In December, 1907, a conflict arose over the question of the Civil List. It terminated in the Shall yielding at tho last moment to tho parliamentary decree. Tliis victory apparently led the National Council, which is credited with having shown itself' at once corrupt and incapable, to overrate its strength, with tho result that rather moro than a year ago it attempted to make an end of the Courtclique, and sent, an ultimatum to the Shah, who replied with a startling coup d'etat. Tlio city of Teheran was dominated by the Persian Cossacks, who' up to the time of the Shah's deposition remained an effective weapon of (ho Reactionary party, and tile bombardment and destruction of the House of Parliament and the shooting or arrest and execution of prominent members of the popular party seemed to have aimed a blow at constitutional rule in Persia from which its recovery was doubtful. But the' Nationalists, though defeated in the capital, were strong in some of the provinces—notably 111 Azerbaijan, the chief town of which, Tabriz, was successfully held hv their tresps against-, the ,Shall. Tho forcible dissolution of the Mejliss was .followed by tho promise of an election in three months. In September last Great Britain and Russia, which, under the Anglo-Russian Convention of August, 1907, engaged to respect tho integrity and independence of Persia, presented a joint note to 1 the Shah with regard to the provincial disturbances, and with special refcretico to the danger to the lives and properly of foreigners in Tabriz. The Shah was urged to issue his promised proclamation on the subject of the new elections in order to reassure the people concerning his determination to maintain the Constitution. But the method of the Shah's undertaking under pressure to call another "popular" Assembly left no room for doubt that 110 intended this to be well under his own control, albeit it was, according to the terms of one of his proclamations, to be " composed of upright and pious men," and was to "remove all vestige of the disorder produced by the unjumans." Tho anju•mans we associations which hive been

Conspicuous in fomenting political agitation and whose ideas and methods are represented ns not very different from those of the extremists of India. But Mahomed Ali gave only too much justification for tlio belief in his inherent opposition to constitutional government. Ho evaded his responsibilities and deferred the fulfilment of his promise.-; until, as wo have seen, the forces against which lie pitted himself have accomplished his overthrow. No longer pressed back on Tabriz, within the past few days the Nationalist troops engaged the Shah's bodyguard of Cossacks within the capital itself, and have emphatically asserted the trumph of the Nationalists, for tho present at anyrate, over the party of reaction. ; The Cossacks under Colonel Liaklwff, who have been allowed to retain their arms in order that they may serve the new Government, were instrumental, it is interesting to remember, in reducing the Parliament Buildings to ruins rather I'iwa than a year ago. LiakhofF, it is to bo noted, acted as commander of the. Shah's guard under the terms of an arrangement made by the British and llussiim Legations, and lii.s participation 111 the hostilities marks no interference on the part of llussia. in tho recent struggle. In tho meantime the Shah has found the foreigner in Persia a very convenient friend to whom to fly for refuge. Tho Persians may or may not be fit for the responsibilities of constitutional government, but it is evident tllilt tlicy lire not gung to bo debarred from giving the change a thorough trial, and that they have acquired n ta.ste for political liberty that is not to bo cosily dispelled. It i.s devoutly to be hoped that the recent sensational events are the torerunner of an era in which law and order will replace the revolution and anarchy tinder which the dominions of tho Shall have suffered too lone. Muhoined Ali is still a young man, and the Crown Prince, Ahmed Miiv.a, pro. claimed as his successor, is not yet of an ago to rule. To this circumstance is due the appointment of a Regent.