The times., 1897-04-12
A NEW PERSIAN MINISTER
A Successor to Hadji HasSan
GhOoly Khan Expected.
WHY THE LATTER WENT HOME
The American Press Took His
Name in Vain. He Thought, and
Since His Departure the Mission
Has Remained vacant-Persia,s
Postal Congress Delegate.

Persia will send diplomatic representa-
tive to the Uuited States The last min
lister Of Persia accredited to the United
States was Hadji Hassan GhooIy Khan,
who came TO Washin gton in 1889, but be-
coming offended at the Ieyity with which
the press discussed him, he soon after
left for home
The Persian government has not seen fit
since to fill the vacancy, but it appears
that the present shah is now anxious TO
do so. The United States has not al
loved Hadji Hassan GhOoly Khan's irri-
liability and unceremOniOus departure
to interfere with our own diplomatic Ie-
IatiOns with Persia, but have conf jnued TO
be represented at TeheTan by minister.
TheInternationaI Postal Congress, " hich
meets in Washington next month, VIII af-
ford the shah good pretext for sending
over Hadji HasSan GnOOly Khan's sue
cesSOr. Persia is one of the nations be-
longing to the International Postal Union.
Matters Of great interest to her viii come
up before the postal congress, and so she
viii need 10 have representative present.
The members OF the congress VIII be guests
Of tile United States Government. Tho
Persian postmaster general had selected
SH American gentleman, who had for
merly served il a diplomatic capacity in
Persia, 70 represent her in this congress
This was not sufficient, however. in the
shah's opinion, to comply with the re-
quirements OF diplomatic prDpriety. so ne
ordered a prominent memberof the Persian
diplomatic corps to visit this country with
the tw9-fOld mission of announcing officially
70 President Mckinley the accession Of the
present shah TO the throne and or attend
ing the sessions OF the congress.
1t is quite likely that this diplomat,
after the adjournment Of the Postal Con-
gress, viii remain in this country as the
Persian minister. In that event. American
interests in Persia VIII be better served.
Not only will protection be afforded to
American missionaries, but aid viii doubt
less be given 10 them in extending their
work
There have been Roman Catholic mis-
siOnaries in Persia since the fourteenth
century, when they were rivals OF the
HISTORIANS in seeking the favor Of the
Grand Mogul Modern Protestant mis-
sions date from the beginning OF this
century. In 1911 Henry Martyr, passing
from India, took up his abode n Perssss..,
and translated the New Testament and
Psalms The BaSIe mission entered in
1929. but n 1888 their missionaries
were ex xpelled The American CoDgrega-
tionalists commenced work in 1884 Ia
1871 the mission was transferred TO the
American PTesbyterians. who with the
Church Missionary Society. which en-
tered III 1855. and the ArchbiShops' Mis-
sion, established in 1881, are now the only
Protestant missions in Persia There are
now 119 congregations. and thiTty-eighb
organized churches, with a membership
OF 2,S23. The PTeSbyteTianS have 50 male
and female missionaries. and 3S7 native
preachers and helpers. More than 49, 900
children attend their day schools. and
1000 their Sabbath schools
There is a field for American goods in
Persia at present business is mostly "A
the hands of the English and the Russians,
although the Germans and Austrians are
fairly represented One great difficulty in
shipping American goods is that in order
TO reach their destination promptly they
must crCss the Caucasus, and in so doing
must pay a heavy tribute to Russia for
transit duties. The only alternative is 20
ship tile goods via the Suez Canal and the
Red Sea 60 Bombay, and thence l. 500 miles
up the Persian Gulf, where the goods are
transferred to mules and carried 500 miles
70 the Persian capital There was formerly
a large business in the expectation of dates
from BassOrah, on the Shat-el-ATab River.
and many steamers were loaded directly
from there for points in he United states
American agricultural implements were
introduced into Persia number Of years
ago, but not to any large extent
The re-establiShment of the Persian min
istry at Washington would mean much, as
the diplomat selected for the office would
BE- one Of Persia distinguished
and influential men. His residence here
would hardly fail Co have results OF mutual
both countries.