Evening star., 1909-07-17

succeeded him. During the latter part of
MuZzafars reign he had practically given
up the government, and affairs of state
were handled by his fayorite son, Mo-
hammed Ali.
During this period of his fathers i'll
ness Mohammed Ali served first as pro-
vinciai governor over part of the Persian
domains. and subsequently as regent
The nationaliSts during this period
started movement for constitution
The heir apparent was their chief op-
ponent. The display of force shown
by the constitutionalists forced the MuZ-
zafar to resume authority for period
long enough to grant this constitution.
Ali's Mother Not Kajar.
II is within the power OF Persian mon
archs 10 alter the law Of succession and
leave the crown to any member of the
royal family. but preference is generally
given, however, as was indicated above,
to son whose mother was kajar
princess. The fact that Mohammed Ali
was not the son of kajar princess may
be one reason for the uprisings which
started soon after his succession to the
throne.
The first Persian monarch to begin
his reign under a constitution. he obeyed
this instrument only to certain extent
When he came on the throne all sixty
senator's of parliament were elected. Mo-
hammed appointed thirty himself. leav-
ing the other half only for the people to
choose.
Like Abdul Hamid, the late Sultan of
Turkey. Mohammed attempted to limit
the powers of his parliament. Parlia-
ment prevailed temporarily, when, much
against the shah's WILL? it dismissed
three of the cabinet ministers, a power
which was the parliament's, according
to the constitution.
The quarrel thus begun between the
shah and his parliament was later ag-
gravated by a plot in which Saler ed
Dowler. Mohammed Ali's younger broth
er. was implicated. together with several
important members Of the constitutional
parliament.
Two bombs We're thrown at the shah
while he was out riding in February. 1905,
but both missed him. He considered par
Lament an accessory to this attack, and
called uton it 10 give up the guilty MEM
bers This demand was met with open
defiance: and the advisahility of the
shahs deposition was openly mooted.
Fighting followed in various parts of
the country. This was continued until
the shah withdrew from his palace and
lntrenched himself on the outskirts of
Teheran. Col. Liskhoff with body of
royal troops was sent to lombard the
parliament buildings at close range. cap
turing them only after several hundred
persons had been killed.
Six Months of Fighting.
Following the dissolution of parliament,
great part of the country broke out In
insurrection, particularly at Tabriz. which
fell into the hands of the nationalists
after brief but fierce fighting While the
shah was trying to cope with this situa-
ton in the north the Bakhtiari tribes
men. the fighting race of Persia, arose in
the south and. early this year, penetrated
to 1spahan. 21O miles south of Teheran.
After capturing that city the tribesmen
began a long march to the capital. the
advance guard arriving in front of Te-
heran about the middle of June
On several occasions Mohammed Ali
promised to restore the constitution, but
his promises were not fulfilled. The lat
est proclamation to this effect was issued
last May, when the shah. realizing the
serious situation with which the country
was confronted. announced that 'as a
constitutional regime alone is capable of
restoring order and promoting the welfare
of the country, his majesty accords a
constitution to the nation
Elections were fixed for September and
the opening of parliament for November
check the advance of the nationalists,
who were determined to press the issue
to the end.
In addition to her internal disorders,
Persia has been beset by serious situa-
tionS on her frontiers.
On one side. Turkey has invaded Per-
sia in the direction of Urumiah. this sec
ton being based on a frontier dispute of
long standing. and at the present time
the city of Urumiah is practically sur
rounded by Turkish troops and Kurdish
bandits.
On the other side the British and Rus
sian governments have been using their
influence to induce the shah to summon
a representative assembly, so as to bring
the hos.ilities to an end, and Russia. act
ing In full accord with the British gov
has sent a military expedition
into Persia from Baku for the protection
of foreigners. The commander of the ex-
pedition. Gen. Mussnitsky. however, had
strict orders not to intervene in the fight
ing between the Persian Cossacks, under
Gen. Lakhoff, and the Bakhtiari tribes
men.
Mohammed Ali is largely Russian in
taste and appearance. During his reign
he had kept Russian advisers around him,
and he appointed Lieut.. Col. Liakoff. a
Russian officer. commander of the royal
troops, and governor of his capital. In
doing so he evidently looked to the Rus
sian government for support to keep him
in power-an expectation which has not
been realized.