The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1912. "THE STRANGLING OF PERSIA."

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 1 November 1912, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1912. "THE STRANGLING OF PERSIA."

Last year when Persia resolved to set her house in order, one of tho first things she did was to get an expert from America to bo her Treasurer-General and to re-organise her finances. Tho man selected was Mr. W. Morgan Sinister. Ho was admittedly a smart and able man, but tho task waa so difficult and so complicated as to bo virtually 'l superhuman. Mr. Shuster's dismissal

was a matter of world-wide interest at the time, and he has -now, in a book entitled "The Strangling of Persia," given his version qfjthe whole incident. The book has not yet reached us, but according to the reviewers Mr. Shuster writes as a man with a grievance, indeed, with several, and he gives his version of tho case in a most outspoken way. Tho whole controversy is so secret that at this space of time it is possibly too early to decide the merits of tho'■whole affair. Russia from the beginning viewed his: arrival with an unfriendly eye, and Sir Edward Grey found his continual appointments of British subjects a source of endless inconvenience, and an ever-present cause of friction with other Powers. A strong Parliament would have backed him up, but constitutional government in Persia has still to find its legs, and the Mejliss was powerless to support him when Russia demanded his dismissal on his selecting Major Stokes to organise the gendarmerie. The great part of tho book is described as a vindication of his own policy, and an attack upon tho attitude Russia adopted towards him, and wMle it must be regarded as an ex part© statement, it gives an extremely interesting account of a phase of history unlquo in the annals of an Oriental country. Moreqverj.it is not only for its historical value that this book will-bo read. Persons whose enthusiasm fails to kindle at matters of haute politique will enjoy the graphic and often humorous 7>icitures lie gives of an Eastern capital with its wire-pullings, corruption,^ and frank venaliity. This is what ho found in fcho cosmopolitan European colony at Teheran. "Imagine, if you will, .a fast decaying Government amidst whoso tottering ruins is a heterogeneous collection of Belgian Customs officers, Italian gendarmes, German artillery sergeai'ts, French savants, doctors, professors, and councillors of State, Austrian military instructors, English bank clerks, Turkish and Armenian courtiers, and last, but not least, ~ goodly sprinkling of Russian Cossack officers, 'tutors, and drill instructors. All go through their daily task of giving tho Imperial Persian Government a strong shove towards bankruptcy, with a sly side push in tho direction of their own particular I political or personal interests.'' Theso ,- confused and conflicting elements made his position a difficult one, and it was mado wprso by the flagrant and unashamed' ■ dishonesty of tho Persians themselves. Everyone claimed bacshish as a right, or at least, demanded that tho author should wink at their financial jugglery. As an instance of this, tho case of such an exalted official as tho Minister for War must suffice. "Tho Amir Azam," says Mr. .Shuster, "was a man whoso general reputation would warrant a .long sentence in gaol. I had an agent look into some of the financial transactions ff tho War Office, and particularly into tho private bank balance of tho Minister. When,-therefore,"in ! Council, he proclaimed that a general rising of tho army would take place the following day, if a mere 42,000 tummans woro not immediately forthcoming for their pay and rations, I politely asked him what disposition ho had made of a similar, sum which ± had given him for a'months' arrears only 10 days before. 'Gone,' said his Excellency; 'all disbursed to.tho pool-, starving troops of tho army.' ... . . I thought it convenient at that point to pull oat a privato memorandum showing that his Excellency had deposited the last month's pay and several other sums for military purposes, in all .85,000, tummans with a native banker with.' whom it rested at that moment. . . . jlus Excellency, Amiz Azam, vice and acting Minister for War, lifted his 2501b of brain and adipose tissue to his full height of 6 feet 5 inches. Placing his hand upon his heart ho proudly demanded to know whether his honour was being aspersed. It was, and after an interlude in which his Excellency consulted his accountant, he then returned, and 'with a metallic smilo of joy and friendship upon his countenance, assured the council that E was right—in fact, correct. —since he had just learned to his intense surprise that tho preceding month's payment had not been mado to tho troops. ... It waa all a maviso intelligence.' " Such episodes constantly occur, and while laughable to read of, were less amusing to tho Treasurer-General. Indeed, they explain how ho failed to satisfy everyone, and left Persia with his task uncompleted. To complete it was beyond tho power of anyone with tho moans at his disposal.