Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-29
Foreign
Affairs.


should be some man truly
wise and deeply versed in the worlds pol
itics.
The Persian parliament is a very intelli-
gent and even learned body Of representa-
tives, and the reader will find 1t interesting
to look upon the proceedings in session.
which are conducted according to the
"Nizam-Nameh" or code Of arrange
ments.
The sittings are held in the handsome
building 1.-The Baharistan." the former resi-
dence Of the late Sebah Salar Hadj Mira
Hussien Khan, purchased by the people for
their .Iejliss or council chamber.
Over the gate is written the inscription.
Oar Ush-Shuara-i-Mill Place
of the Councillors Of the People of Persia
ticket gives the holder permission to
pass in as spectator From the ceiling
hangs the glass chandelier, the Characters
tic establishment of all Persian palaces. On
the walls are portraits Of the late shah
and his father. The spectators are sepa-
rated from the members by a stout railing
the members and public alike being seated
on the floor. There is a large class of the
priesthood who advocate religious equality
and extension of the franchise to all sects
and religions situation which shows
that the Persian is far ahead Of all modern
people in this particular.
When the president has taken his seat
before the dimfnutive table the business of
the day commences. The proceedings indeed
are so much like those of the United States
Congress that 1t Is quite unnecessary to re-
cite them here. Any member who wishes
to speak makes q sign, whereupon the presi.
dent rings a hand bell calling the attention
Of his colleagues.
An oriental mob and an oriental assembly
are two worlds wide apart One is a howl
ing yphcon, the other is a
Legislative calm at sea. Order In the
assembly Is heavens first
law. All is quiet repose and
dignity. You may not imagine the oriental
deputy telling his colleague that he is
liar, or rushing at an adversary with up
lifted fists and feet!
The London Times correspondent writes
from Teheran about the parliament and
concludes by adding: 1T would be perhaps
premature to say more about the assembly
till its stability is proved for the old char
acteristic of the Persian, intrigue, bribery
and diSafrection fostered by the funds which
are being secretly disseminated by the roy
alists and other anti-constitutional parties,
are already beginning to have disintegrat-
ing effect upon that body, whose position is
daily rendered weaker by wholesale anarchy
in the provinces and lack of funds.
The fact is Mr.. Lynch seems to be much
better informed than the London Times
about Persian affairs, and there is nothing
in his communication to warrant what is
said in the foregoing. On the contrary. the
PerSians are represented by those who know
them as an honest and honorable people
whose aspirat tons for liberty and independ-
ence should merit the sympathy and en-
couragement of all free peoples.
The editor of the London Times charac-
terizes the Persian parliament the pre-
cocious outcome of a paper constitution"
adding that ''it represents at best wild
and almost desperate attempt to graft alien
institutions onto an oriental body polite
in the last stage of disintegration." Ger
tainly this is not the opinion of Mr.. Lynch.
and the harsh criticism of the Times ap-
pears to be intended a sort of excuse
justification for the Anglo-Russian agree
ment which would strike down a nation
struggling to regain the greatness 1t at
tanned under the great Cyrus.
The Times insists that the Anglo Russian
agreement will result in good and ''set a
term to the rivalry which was imperiling
the integrity of Persia
The all-absorbing question is that peril
nently propounded by the writer of the let
ter to the Times. namely: What view will
Germany take of the agreement And IL
Germany's acquiescence has been obtained
THE progress of Germany to the Persian
CULTS this the price of the Anelo-Rus-
sian agreement?'
The lion, the bear. and the black eagle in
peaceful accord? Surely the millennium
has stolen upon unawares.
CHI. CHAILLE-LONG.