THE PERSIAN PROBLEM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 95, 5 December 1911, Page 6

THE PERSIAN PROBLEM.

MR SHUSTER’S ACTIVITIES. At the beginning of October the officials of tne Russian Consulate, with r“ Cossacks, threatened to faro on several gendarmes wno were sene, at me instance of .Mr Shuster, to seize the property of Shua-es-Sultaneh, who is tne uncle of Shah, and father of tiie ex-Shah. The gendarmes on that occasion withdrew.

it was subsequently explained that Mr Morgan Sinister, who is 'TreasurerGeneral of Persia, first of all notified the Russian Minister at Teheran of his intention to seize the property of fc>Juia-es-Suitanoh. He then sent 100 gendarmes under an American officer to carry out ids intention. The Cossacks, who threatened to lire on the gendarmes, causing the latter to desist, then retired, and the Russian Consul subsequently protested to Persia, claiming that Snua-es-Siiltaneh’s property was mortgaged to a Russian bank.

Early in that month, on the ground of an, insult offered to the Russian Vice-Consul, M. Petorhof, on the occasion of the foregoing Cossack-gen-darme incident, Russia notified the Persian Government that she would occupy tiie provinces of Ghilan and Mazanderan, unless Persia tendered an apology. The reply of the Persian Government was couched in candilatory terms, but stated that Persia was unable to acquiesce in the Russian demands.

Subsequently, Russia demanded the dismissal of Mr Morgan Shuster, and an indemnity of £300,000, after massing troops m readiness. Mr Morgan Sinister, the TreasurerGeneral, is described as a remarkable man, and the President of the United States, who personally recommended him, has certainly done Persia a signal service in introducing to her one who had already worked wonders in the Philippines (.says tiie Teheran correspondent of ‘‘Tne Times”)- Endowed with the most useful gift of all, a forcible and attractive personality, Mr Sinister appears to have completely non tlie confidence of that somewhat fickle assembly, the Mejliss. His position is that he is its servant, and that lie will make no payments which it has not authorised. Both the English and the .Russian hanks, in accordance with the new law, refuse the payment of all cheques which do not bear his signature. in the past certain Ministers have been in the habit of issuing drafts at their own will and pleasure. The Sipahdar, for instance, lately asked for an authorised credit of nearly £IOO,OOO for “extraordinary expense on the army.”

Mr Shuster’s name is already in the months of all, “The Times” remarked lately, not only in Teheran, but in the provinces. All the best elements in the country, and all those who have no handling of public funds, are naturally enthusiastic. Battle is, in fact, formally opened between the forces of honesty and dishonesty. Against him are the ignoble army of speculators, from high Ministers to petty officials. Mr Shuster bases himself on the law of the Mejliss, the only fount of authority. He has already stopped all illegal payments cut of revenue, and is .elaborating a scheme for a “Treasury gendarmerie,” under European ofncersj..to secure its proper collection. If flip Mejliss.roimains in its present .'.tginpe'r, and is loyal to tiie interests of the conntry, and if the new gendarmerie can be specially organised, the authority of the Treasury, will be firmly established, and the foundations of reform will lie laid. The battle will certainly he interesting, and it seams evident that Mr Sinister can rely on the sympathy of Great Britain.