Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-17
RULERS CONFERENCES
British Lords Treated to
New Methods of King.
PRECEDENTS SET ASIDE
Sovereign Talks With Foreign States
men as He Pleases.
SECURING ORDER IN PERSIA
Office Buildings to Take the Places
of Taverns in London Streets.
The Eucharistic Congress.
SECURING ORDER IN PERSIA
Special Corresnondence OF The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
LONDON, September g. 1908.
1t is not unlikely that when parliament
reassembles questions will be addressed
to ministers with reference to the king S
conferences with foreign statesmen. An
attempt is being made to Construe King
Edwards action as a somewhat grave de-
parture from constitutional practice. and
old precedents have been quoted in sup
port OF this view. The king has undoubt-
eddy acted contrary to long established
custom. In his conferences with foreign
soveregns and ministers his majesty has
not been accompanied by the foreign sec
rotary. But where matters of interna-
tional concern We're under discussion the
foreign office is invariably represented by
the permanent under secretary-a skilled
and experienced diplomatist, fully versed
in the questions raised and in intimate
touch with the views of the foreign min
lister and his cabinet colleagues. 1t is,
therefore, Straining the argument to sug-
geSt that a dangerous practice is develop
ing, and that the conduct of foreign at
fairs is being taken out of the hands of
the cabinet. To appeal to precedent is
to ignore the personality of the king
he now lives.
Previous Sovereigns We're not travellers
like King Edward, and having regard to
the unfailing triumph of his efforts in
the cause of international peace and good
will, it would be a singularly short-sight-
ed policy to raise an agitation of the
kind that is threatened. Probably no
sovereign has had such good influence
upon the settlement of veXatious and long
standing questions as the present king.
h. til, l.t
great deal for the improved relations
brought about with foreign countries.
few years ago Britain did not have a
single friend on the continent of Europe
Now, largely through King Edwards eff
forts, better and more cordial feelings
exist.
Situation in Morocco.
One of the most interesting features Of
the present complicated situation in Mo-
rocco is the relationship between Mula
Hatid the new sultan, and the band of
adventurous young Englishmen headed
by Mr.. Ashmead Bartlett, the nephew of
the Ashmead Bartlett, who married the
late Baroness Burdett Coutts who have
instituted themselves his unofficial po-
lltical advisers. How much of the con-
queror's action has been decided by the
advice of these young men cannot be
told yet, but there can be scarcely any
doubt that they have played a very con-
siderable. part in the course followed by
the eX-pretender. now monarch.
1t is not by any means the first time in
recent history that Englishmen have
stood behind native forces in the field and
directed their movements to victory. In
view of the present relations with France,
it may be said that. fortunately, this has
not always been the case When the
forces of the republic invaded Madaga scar
some years ago 1T was an English officer
Col. Shervinton, descendant of an old
fighting family-who directed the Hova
levies. But the material with which he
had to deal was unsatisfactory, and his
task was soon hopeless.
In the latter half of the eighteenth CEN
fury India was the golden land of such
soldiers of fortune, and the life stories
of some of those who placed their swords
at the disposal of the highest bidding
rajahs are among the most romantic and
entertaining pages of the history Of the
Indian empire. Many of them rose from
the lowliest positions to places of wealth:
power and eminence, and more than one,
unable to bear the burden of high place,
soon tumbled from it into poverty again
with equally dramatic suddenness.
The Changes in Persia.
Prince Ained-i-Douet, whom the shah
has dispatched to TabriZ as the new gov
ernor of the disaffected province of Aver
baijan, is considered one of the strongest
and most enlightened men in Persia AS
he is the present shah's uncle it can be
understood that he is not a young man.
In fact, he is about Seventy-fve He is
one of PerSia'S most distinguished states
men. He was grand VlZler In the reign
of the present rulers father and accom-
panied that prince to England when he
made his European tour.
In fact, it was Prince Ained-i-Doulet
whom the present shah intrusted with
the delicate operation of attempting to
purchase the young wife of very
distinguished French statesman, whose
beauty had piqued his imperial majesty's
fancy when he was officially received In
Paris. In this instance the diplomatic
energy of the Persian prince proved at
fault. 1t is probable, however, that he
has just as difficult a trust before him in
the settlement of the province of Aerial
jah as he had in Paris. 1t seems possible
that the revolutioniSts will prove as ada
mant against the shah's favors as did the
Frenchman, and 1t is doubtful, also, II
they will prove so indulgently polite.
Ained-i-Doulet seems to have apprecl-
at-d this, for he is bringing with him one
of the ferceSt Of the many generals IN
royal favor. This general has mania
for putting his enemies into plaster OF
Paris which is a refinement of death by
torture invented by this man and loaned
to Zillah-i-Sultan. and unknown outside
the kingdom of Persia The unfortunate
victim is enVelOped up to his nSck IN
swathe of wet plaster, and Is then put IN
the sun. As the envelope dries 1t slowly
contracts. and as gradually as 1t contracts
it brushes the limbs and body OF the VIC
tim until he dies in excruciating agony,
Taverns to Be Closed.
trade paper announces that several
taverns in the city are to be voluntarily
closed. the premises being now more
valuable as offices than as licensed
houses This is said to be due to the
changed habits of the community, the
competition of light refreshment rooms
and the upward tendency of rates and
taxes Undoubtedly the position of the
licensed Victualer in the city III u
greatly changed. Not only has the
business man changed his translation
of Refreshments to coffee and tea in
stead of brandy and soda COR, as in
Dickens day. goes of RUM. but he has
almost stopped the practice of working
late, which used to lead to late sittings
at taverns after the work was done.
Possibly the change of habits through
the day has allowed him to get through
his business before nightfall. 1t is, at
any rate, the case that many of the
eating houses that used to keep open
for clerks working overtime now close
at l. There is also the fact that fast
motor cars can carry people to the
West End restaurants in a third of the
time the journey used to take
A walk through the city streets the
other night after showed that Cheap
side had only one tavern lit up in its
whole length Fenchurch street had
three, but the proximity of the station