The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-03
PERSIA A MENACE TO PEACE.
AN ANGLO-RUSsIAN WAR NAY FOL
LOW TIE SHAFTS DEATH.

a secret Convention Granting Rus
sia the Right 20 Occupy Northern
Persia known To he In Existence.
Great Britain Determined 10 Pre-
vent Russia From Gaining a Foot
hold on the Persian Gulf.
London, May 2-Ohicial opinion here re-
CARDS the death of the shah with grave
apprehension, as il is feared that it will
hasten a collision between British and
Russian interests in Persia. The forelgn
Office holds a copy OF a secret convention
signed 10y the deceased shah conceding
to Russia the right to occupy Northern
Persia I'm the event of a foreign. meaning
a British, attack or International discord
menacing his reign. or the succession OF
Crown Prince Muzafer-ed-Din. The shah
himself communicated the convention to
the British minister, explaining that he
did not doubt the friendship Of Great Bri-
tain, but submitted the convention as help
ing TO foil the Russian plans for the an
neXation Of the province of Khorassan
and Mazanderan. Prince Muzafer-ed-Din s
knowledge Of this treaty led to his adhe-
sion to Russia. Though him Russian
agents obtained special privileges. includ-
ing the concession for the construction Of
"a railway which IS now approaching the
Persian Gulf 1t may not be a groundless
suspicion that Muzafer-ed-Din's adherents
were concerned In the assassination of the
shah. Recently a bitter fued existed be-
tween the shah and Muzafer-ed-Dln over
the misuse of taxes collected in the pro-
vinces ruled over by the prince. This trou-
ble led the shah to threaten to nominate
IA 4 Al F...
| cessor,, though Prince Massul suffers from
glaucoma. He was operated upon by an
occulist in Paris last year. He is of weak
physique, If not intellect. He has i've sons
and a numerous following supporting his
claims to the throne. In the event OF a
dynastic war, Russia will certainly seize
the northern provinces under the con-
ventlon and this will cause the gravest in
ternational complication. as the British
| government Is determined to bar Russia s
way to tho Persian Gulf and will intervene
In Southern Persia.
The queen, through Premier Salisbury,
| has sent a dispatch 10 Muzafer-ed-I)in, the
new shah of Persia, expressing profound
sympathy at the tragic death OF his faith
| er, the late shah. The queen congratulated
| the people Of Persia in having in the pres
ent shah a worthy and illustrious sue
| cessor to the late Nasr-ed-Din.
The Persian legation here announces
| that II is now definitely established that
| the assassin Of the late shah was MEM
Der of a secret society known as the
| Babi. composed of religious fanatics, and
! which organization the shah tried TO sup
| press.
Teherin, May 2.-The following details
Of the assassination of the shah yesterday
were obtained through official sources this
morning. The shah, accompanied by the
| Grand Vizier Asghar and a number OF at
| tendants, paid a visit to the shrine Of
Shah Abdul Azim. His majesty traversed
the outer court Of the shrine, where he
stopped and gave a bank note to an Arab
| and spoke few kind words to a water
| carrier Two chains barred the way TO
/ the inner court of the shrine. The shah
! had just passed the first chain when the
! assassin approached him, and when within
! a few feet Of him fired a revolver. The
! bullet struck the shah near the heart. His
| majesty fell forward upon his knees, but
| rose to his feet and walked a few PAGES,
| when he fell again. The assassin was inn
| mediately seized and hurried away.
| The shah at once became unconscious
! and was Immediately taken to his carriage
/ and conveyed to the palace at Teherin,
| whittier doctors were summoned quick
| ly as possible. When the physicians ar
| rived at the palace they found the shah
! dead, and certified that his death was
| caused by a bullet which lodged in the
| perlcardial region, between the sixth and
| seventh ribs. Muzaffer-Ed-Din, the head
| monarch's $ second son, and heir to the
throne, has been proclaimed shah.