The record-union., 1896-05-03
May Hasten Collision Between the
Two Governments.
The Deceased rIOnarch Conceded to
Russia the Right to Occupy
Northern Persia i'm the Event of a
Succession of the Crown Prince
to the Throne.

LONDON, May 2-Official opinion
here regards the death of the Shah with
grave apprehension, as it is feared that
it will hasten a collision between Brit
ish and Russian interests in Persia.
The Foreign Office holds a copy of a
secret convention, signed by the de-
ceased Shah, conceding to Russia the
right to occupy Northern Persia in the
event of foreign (meaning a British)
attack, internal discord menacing his
reign or the succession of the Crown
Prince Muzafer Ed-Din.
The Shah himself communicated the
convention to the British Minister, eX
planning that he did not doubt the
friendship of Great Britain, but sub
mitted the convention as helping to
foil the Russian plans for the annexa-
tion of the provinces of Khorassan and
Mazanderan.
Prince Muzafer Ed-Din's knowledge
of the treaty led to his adhesion to
Russia. Through him Russian agents
obtained special privileges, including
the concession for the construction of
a railway which is now approaching
the Persian Gulf.
1t may not be a groundless suspicion
that MuZafar Ed-Dins adherents were
concerned in the assassination of the
Shah. Recently a bitter feud existed
between the Shah and MuZafer Ed-Din
over the misuse of the taxes collected
in the provinces ruled over by the
Prince. This trouble led the Shah to
threaten to nominate his second son,
Mazzul MirZz, as his successor, though
Prince Mazzul suffers from glaucoma.
He was operated upon by an oculist in
Paris last year. He is of weak phys
ique, if not intellect. He has five sons
and a numerous following supporting
his claims to the throne.
In the event of a dynaStic war Russia
will certainly seize the northern prov
inces under the convention, and this
viii cause the graveSt international
complication, as the British Govern
i ment is determined to balk Russia's
wav TO the Persian Gulf and will fntel- 4
vene in Southern Persia.
When the colonial vote is discussed
next Friday the Liberals will insist
upon the Ministry making full dis
closure of the latest Transvaal devel-
opments If the Government tries to
postpone the debate on the vote the
Liberals will raise it by moving the ad-
journment of the House.
1HailneTldln IOii0WerS Ueny IndL
he has any desire to conceal anything
or any interest in so doing. Cham
berlain wants to appoint a commission
It inquire into the affairs of the British
South Africa Company, and awaits a
decision of the Cabinet on the question.
He proposes, it is said, to Immediately
summon Cecil Rhodes to London to
stand trial beside Dr. Jameson. 1t is
reported to-day that the directors Of
the company have sent dispatch to
Mr.. Rhodes advising him to volunta-
rily surrender himself, and stating that
they are ready to relieve him from the
managing dictatorship.
This fact, coupled with credited dis
patches from Cape Colony that Presi-
dent Kruger. still holds in reserve some
crushing revelations concerning Mr..
Rhodes and his colleagues, completes
his downfall from the leadership in
South Africa. 1t is doubtful if he will
surrender or await arrest. AT last re-
ports he was at Gwelo, en- route to
Buluwayo, with a strong force of Mat
abeles awaiting his approach along the
Salisbury road
At yesterdays meeting of the Anti
Parnellites an open rupture with the
1-AptfdlS was sought be dNciucd by
reframing the definite decision of the
party to vote for the education bill.
Nevertheless, every Anti-Parnellite will
vote with the Government, and the Lib
erals will not be duped. The dissenters'
organs warn the Irish party that the
consequences of their interfering with
an English bill aiming to crush the
evengalic non-conformists will be dis
n
home rule in England as well as in
Ireland" says the Methodist Times"
Irish tyranny here is as odious as
English tyranny there"
Prime Minister Salisbury's arrival at
the belief that at an early period woman
suffrage will be conceded. as evidenced
IN a speech delivered by him last Wed
nesday. does not mean that the ques-
tion is before the Cabinet. On the con-
trary, it is not probable that the pres
ent Government will ever consider the
question A majority of the Ministers
strenuously oppose the granting of the
franchise to women. Arthur ]. Balfour,
First Lord of the Treasury, is the only
member of the Cabinet who sides with
Lord Salisbury in this matter. Cardinal
Vaughan, Archbishop of Westminster,
has written a letter to the Woman Suf-
frage Committee saying that the fran
chise ought to be granted to them. II
would be just and beneficial, he adds,
and would tend to raise the character of
legislation
American cattle are flooding the Lon
don market. The weeks record at Dept
ford Landing shows that 10000 head
were killed and sold at an average price
CT two pence per pound.
CORONATION OF THE GAR.