Arizona weekly citizen., 1885-09-26
ex-mINlsrER s. c. w. BENJAMIN
Gives a Reporter Account of His Ex-
 perienes While fin Persia.

perienee While in Persia
 New Yor< Sun InterviewI
 sHow do the Persians treat Christians and Europeans?"
 Not badly. if their fanaticism is not aroused Then they become dangerous. A few years ago if European consorted with Persian woman he was killed at once. or obliged to turn Mohammedan and marry her Even now 1t would ere a;e the greatest trouble, so that Euro peans cOnfine their attentions 10 the Ar menian women of the native Christian population. When the shahs wives drive through the streets men go ahead to clear the streets and warn all persons to conceal themselves If a man has no chance of getting away be turns his face around and does not look, on pain of be- ing roughly handled or perhaps killed on the spot Europeans are compelled to do the same thing.
 In June of last year, owing 10 the in- tense heat. 1 was compelled to move my family out of the city. On my way 10 the country l met large force of soldiers sscorting the shahs wives If Persian had chanced to glance at the royal ladies in such circumstances he would have fared hard. but the foreign legations have rights and privileges of their own, so l stood my ground. Some twenty O. the mounted guards violently attacked us and beat my servants and their horses in the effort 10 drive them back I directed them to stand their ground. and things were looking serious. when one of the queens who recognized the servants of my lega- ton by their badges. sent her chief eunuch to call the soldiers away. We were then allowed to pass through without further molestatiOn
 This attack was an insult to the dignity of the legation too great tO be overlooked. and l wrote a note to the minister of foreign aG airs demanding satisfaction i'm mediately. The reply to my note being tardy and evasive. felt it my duty to in- form the minister of foreign affairs that unless my terms were granted in thirty six hours 1 should haul down the flag and demand my passport The result justified my action Without going into details. l may say that not only was the most ample satisfaction rendered us within thirty six hours but my course received the ap- proval of the entire diplomatic corps and added to the high prestige awarded to foreign legations at the court of Persia
 ~On another occasion a servant of one of my attaches nearly killed Persian. This immediately created the greatest ex- Citement, and Q mob formed with the in tention of attacking the legation. The minister of foreign affairs notified us to be prepared. I ordered our military guard to load their arms, and stationed them at the weak points where the mob might enter. making preparations also to send my family 10 a place of safety Hap pily the earnest efforts of the authorities 1 were successful in quelling the riot
 Last spring the official paper. Shereef. | published an article that was disrespect- | full to President Cleveland I immedi- | ately demanded that a full correction | should be made and a new article printed, | in which he should be treated with the | greatest honor. After much persistency | this was done. Visits were very cere- | moniOus. and it was necessary to send mo- tice beforehand. and servants would come | out 10 meet us as a mark of honor