SITUATION IN PERSIA

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 29

SITUATION IN PERSIA

STRONG FEELING AGAINST RUSSIA.

EXTERMINATION URGED

ST. PETERSBURG, January 10. The Russians at Tabriz state that the Shiekh-ul-Islam Persian clergy are preaching the extermination of the Russians.

January 14. Twelve persons (including a newspaper editor) were executed at Tabriz.

The bazaar is closed owing to the agitation promoted bv the mullahs. TEHERAN, January 12. The commissioners who were assisting M. Mornard have resigned.

LONDON, January 9. Th-3 Times foreshadows the possible occupation of ports on the Persian Gulf. The Daily Telegraph's Calcutta correspondent says that Great Britain is committed to take definite action. The creation of a buffer State under indep?ndent sovereignty may be necessary. January 10.

Lord Lamington. chairman of the Persian Affairs Association, has started for Persia to make a tour of investigation and inquiry on the ground. Owing to the disturbed condition of the country Lady Lamington does not accompany him. PROBLEMS OF PERSIA. OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE. A few weeks ago The Times published a long letter from Mr Morgan tfhuster, the Treasurer-general of Persia, criticising Russian and British policy in that country. Mr Shuster charged" Russia, an<l to a lesser degree Groat Britain, with having interfered in the internal affairs of Persia in a way calculated to weaken the authority of the (Constitutional Government and to hamper the work of financial reorganisation. ' He wrote :

No one who lias been in Persia a week can fail to realise that all possibility of reforming Persia's finances is absolutely dependent upon the prompt restoration of order throughout the Empire, and tho creation and maintenance of a strong central Government, powerful enough to make itself felt and its decrees respected to the furthermost parts of the country. So long as the present policy of thwarting tho upbuilding of such a Government continues—«o 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 the 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 cortain documents written on the sands of temporary advantage, or as promises of a neutrality which does not neutralise. BULLYING BY ONLOOKERS.

Tho internal difficulties of Persia, continued Mr Shuster, are great enough to tax her resources to the uttermost limit; they 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 t<> be obtained for permanent improvements it must bo taken on impossible political terms: if railroads are. to be built, they must be eontermino(.is

with our ok! friends "the spheres of influence"; if rifles are to be bought, they must bo paid for to a rich and friendly foreign government at just about throe times their market price. Moreover, if officers of experience are .to be taken into the Persian service- to hasten progress, they must oome from a minor Power, or prove themselves to have been of the spineless, nierveless type of which the tools of foreign interests are produced; even if they are from a minor Power, (hero must not be so many of them taken as to indicate a serious attempt at reform. Surely, concludes Mr Shuster, in these days of humanitarian principles and international comity, the land of Cyrus has fallen upon evil times. NOT REALLY INDEPENDENT.

In a loading article commenting on the letter The Times eaid:. 'lt may be admitted at once that both Russia and Great Britain do interfere in Persian affairs, and that they interfere in a way which would be- improper were Persia a roaUy independent country in the full meaning of Ino word. Mr Sh aster's letter is throughout based on the assumption that Persia is such a country. As a matter of fact., and largely through the fault of th<i Persians themselves. Russia and Groat Britain exercise a control over Persia, akin to that exercised over a minor by his guardians. "Mr Shuster speaks a> "if difficulties were wantonly put in his way by the two Powe s and he even says in so many words that it is their policy to keep Persia weak and disorganised. We can assure him that the exact opposite is the case. Our interests have suffered more than enough from the state of anarchy that prevails in Persia. Nothing would suit us betfcp.r than that she should pull hertelf together, restore order in her provinces, and take her place as an independent country capable of avoiding: causes, of complaint and intervention on the part of her neighbours. We welcomed Mr _ Sbuster's appointment, rmd hoped to rejoice in his success. It is a matter of deep regret to us that he has chosen to jeopardise that success by ignoring the interests and the authority which we and Russia possess in Persia."