The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-15

| that 1t and not Constantinople is the
objective point of her present difference
with Britain is very evident to the
| initiated.
Not only are Russian agents excep-
tiona1ly busy at Teheran, but among
that powerful tribe feudatory to the
shah known as the Bakhtiaris they
they are fighting hard for Roadway.
The Bakhtiaris occupy position of
actual domination, not on the line of
the most natural and direct route to
ISpahan, which leads past the ruins
of ancient Persepolis to Shiraz and
thence descends the great mountain
ladder of Tars to BuShire, but on the
new trade route, better described as a
revival of a very old one, from the
Persian gulf to Ispahan, by the Karun
river and across the Bakhtiari noun
tains. This route is little more than
half the distance from Ispahan to the
gulf than that between Bushire and
Ispahan, which is the older one. The
new route is being actively completed
by British contractors, but it is, of
course, a matter of Indifference to Rus
sia who builds a route which may
eventually fall into her hands.
1t is to the Bakhtiaris, who control
this route, she must look rather than
to contractors. for they not alone con-
troll the mountain passes temporarily,
but could do SO irrespective of the
wishes of the Persian government
should they wish to do so. The Bakh-
tiaris have intact, before now expect
ed to establish a dynasty to take the
place of that of the ruling one Of Per-
STA and are far more martial race
being of pure Iranian strain.
Not only could they from their mil
lion or more tribesmen easily put 100,-
600 fighting men in the field at prompt
notice, but as the Arab tribes of the
lowlands are subject to their influence
and Shelkh khaZZal of Mohammerah,
who controls the great Kaab tribes in
the estuary of the Shattel-Arab, is his
ally, the influence Of the chief of the
Bahktiaris extends from the provinces
of ISpahan and Tare to the frontiers of
Turkish Arabia.
Owing undoubtedly to the machina-
tons Of Russian emissaries, the Bakh-
uarlS are now throwing all the impedi-
ments in the way of British influence
that they formerly threw in the way
of Russia.
government whom ! met the other day
at the club said:
Tn proportion as the Teheran gov
eminent is becoming a mere tool in
the hands of Russia, our readiness to
strengthen it by favoring it's central
izing policy at home seems to increase.
At any time during the last century we
central government in Southern Persia
by encouraging the various elements of
disaffection which have ever yielded
reluctant allegiance to Teheran. We
preferred to adopt an opposite policy,
and on more than one occasion we ac-
tually encouraged not only the CONSOLE
dalton but the extension of Persian
rule, in the belief that a strong Persia
would also be a friendly Persia. Even
the startling developments of the last
few years do not appear to have cured
us of that delusion, and we still seem
disposed to countenance the policy of
Capitalization by which her rulers
and especially the astute statesman
who now presides over the shahs gov
of the prestige they have lost abroad.
That Russia should encourage such a
policy is natural enough, and she is
only doing in Persia what she does in
China and in Turkey. So long as the
central government is sufficiently sub
serVient to her purpose she is quite
willing to let 1T have a free hand in all
non essentials especially in matters of
internal administration"
That Russia Is herself beginning to
take an active interest in the affairs
Of the Bakhtiaris is by no means cal
culated to reassure them. There have
been mysterious comings and goings
GERS in the Bakhtiari mountains, and
not only have the demands of Teheran
for "benevolenceS" from the Bakhtfari
chiefs grown more eXacting, but rurnor
is rife that the Persian government
means to take an early opportunity of
removing the present Ilkhani, who has
always openly prOfessed himself a
friend Of the English, and who builds
roads for the benefit of their trade. in
favor of Reza Kuli Khan, who was de-
posed from the chieftainship in 1890,
but now enjoys the privilege of Rus
sian patronage. That Russian infiu-
ence should become a factor in the
tribal politics of the BakhtiariS is an
entirely novel feature in the situation.
In their traditional detestation of Per-
sian rule the Bakhtiaris have been ac-
cuStomed hitherto to place their hopes
in the ultimate support Of England,
because EngliShmen are the only for
eigners who have cultivated friendly
relations with them.
But they would very soon learn to
turn their eyes towards Russia if her
ascendancy were once brought home
to them; and though it may suit Rus
STA to pose for the time being as the
champion of the shah's sovereign
rights, she is much too shrewd to
identify her influence permanently
with such a hateful formula, or to al
low such a splendid material as the
Bakhtiari tribesmen to be wasted and
debased by Persian methods. Early in
the last century, during the great Ma
poleonic wars, Persia was induced to
commit for a time to British officers
the thankless task of reorganizing her
army. Of the force which they created
none was more efficient and loyal to it's
British commanders than a body of
5000 Bakhtiaris raised with the con-
sent of the chieftains. In the hands of
born leader like Gen. Kossa goWsky,
the present commander of the Persian
"Cossack brigade" the Bakhtiaris would
furnish an army which would soon Sc
cure to Russia all over Southern Per-
STA down to the gulf the same and more
than the same ascendancy she she al
ready enjoys in the north.
"On to Teheran'' is now the cars
cry, instead of "On to Constantincple.s