PERSIAN AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2993, 26 July 1911, Page 36

PERSIAN AFFAIRS.

NEW MINISTRY FORMED. TEHERAN, July 17. Salar-ed-Dowleh is proclaiming the deposed monarch, Mohamid All, as Shah. It is also reported that 800 of his horsemen have occupied Hamadau. The Mejliss unanimously resolved to recall Sardir Assad, chief of the Bakhtiari tribe, and ex-Minister Inetria to deal with the rebellious chief. July 18. The ex-Shah Mohamed All has reentered Persia. The number of the force accompanying him is not known. July 19. A new and active Ministry has been formed. The Nationalist leaders hastened to assure the Government of their hearty support .against the ex-Shah. The latter left Odessa on the plea of going to France for his health, and landed at Grnnei Stepe, near Astrabad, with half .a dozen followers, but he had secured the support of the Turcomans and other tribes.

| The loyalty of the 12,000 Bakbtiari in ! and around Teheran towards the Mejliss i (Parliament) is undoubted. \ The opinion in Teheran attributes the ex-Shah’s landing to collusion or gross carelessness on the part of the Russian authorities. Russia has been opposing Shuster’s financial reform and Major Stokes’s appointment.

July 20. The Mejliss has empowered Sipahdar, the Premier, to proclaim martial law.

Five hundred Bakhtiaris and 600 reformed cavalry are starting against the ex-Shah, and 2000 Bakhtiaris will operate against Salareddowleh. The Government has sent a strong Note to the British and Russian Legations recalling the frequent representations that had been made by it concerning the exShah’s intrigues. It maintains that Russia must be held responsible for the disorder and losses of property. July 22.

The ©x-Shah was welcomed on the frontier. The town of Astrabad has declared for him.