Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-11
Ex-MINISTER 8. G. w. BENJAMIN
Gives Reporter an Account Of his Ea
perience While in Persia.
New York Sun Interview

Gives c Reporter Account Of His Ea
perience While in Persia
New York Sun Interview
sHow do the Persisns treat Christians
and Europeans?"
Not badly. if their fanaticsm 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 it would Gre
ate the greatest trouble, so that Euro
peans confine their attentions to the Ar,
menian women of the native christian
population. When the shah wives drive
through the streets men go ahead to
clear the streets and warn all persons to
conceal themselves If man has no
chance of getting away he 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 TO the in
tense heat, / was compelled to move my
family out Of the city. On my way to
the country met large force of soldiers
escorting the shah's wives. If ersian
had CHANGED TO glance at the royal ladies
in such circumstances he would have
Jared hard. but the foreign legations have
rights and privileges of their own, so
stood my ground Some twenty of the
mounted guards violently attacked us and
beat my servants and their horses in the
effort to drive them back. directed them
to staud their ground, anG things we're
looking serious. when one OF the queens
who recognized the servants of my lega-
ton by their badges sent her chief eunuch
10 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 | wrote a note to the minister of
foreign a airs demanding satisfaction i'm
mediately The reply TO my note being
tardy and evasive. / felt il my duty to in
form the minister of foreign affairs that
unless my terms were granted in thirty.
six hours should haul down the fag and
demand my passport The result justified
my action Without going into details.
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
Son another occasion a servant of one
of my attaches nearly killed Persian
This Immediately created the greatest eX-
element and mob formed with the in
tention of attacking the legation. The
minister of foreign affairs notified us to
be prepared / 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 to a place of safety Hap
PLY the earnest efforts of the authorities
were successful in quelling the riot.
Last spring the official paper. Shereef,
published an article that was disrespect-
full to President Cleveland | immedi-
ately demanded that full correction
should be made and new article printed.
in which he should be treated with the
greatest honor. After much persistency
this was done. ' isits were very cere-
monious, and il was necessary to send no
tice beforehand, and servants would come
out 10 meet us as mark of honor.