Evening star., 1909-05-16
PERSIA Is AGAIN CONSTITUTIONAL

an inevitable point OF political and eco
nomical attraction. be-
The Way cause Persia now, as In
q IN, ancient days. Is the great
pathway to India. Dis
patches from Teheran Of the 9th instant
announce that the shah had signed two
proclamations. one declaring the resump-
ton OF the constitution, the other grant
ing political amnesty. Said-el-Dowleh
had been appointed minister OF foreign af-
fairs and Nasr-el-Mulk premier. A new
electoral law was in course of prepara-
ton. in view Of the elections which would
take place on or before July 10. when the
new parliament will assemble at Tehe-
ran.
Mohammed ALI Mira, son of the late
Muzzaffer-ed-Din, was crowned Shah Of
Persia. January 10. 1907. His reign. SO
far, has been a troubled one and the con-
stant changes Of front from absolutism
to constitutionalism. and vice versa, are
due perhaps more to political conditions
Of which Persia Is the victim. rather
than the temperament Of Mohammed Ali
Mirza.
The Anglo-Russian accord, for a fact.
is the apple Of discord, which has bred
violence and disorder among all classes
In Persia, who thus protest against the
danger of absorption by both England and
Russia. This situation is apparent to the
most distant observer OF events in Persia
But dispatch dated May 5. reporting the
occupation of Urumiah in northern Per-
sia by Turkish troops, is not so clear, al
though 1t may be recalled that Urumiah
fa1 hxyU rtcl~ ,Iop
1908. and the positions were abandoned
only after Persia's protest.
The present situation at TabriZ which
rather than Teheran Is the key to the
Persian door. marks q crisis In Persian
matters. On the 23d ultimo Russia ad-
dressed q circular note to the powers re-
ferring to the situation at Tabriz, then
besieged by the shah's troops, which pro-
posed to starve out the fnsurgent con-
stitutionalists. and at the same time
threatened the lives OF the consular Of
ficials and foreign residents. The Rus
sian representative at Teheran was in
structed to declare to the shah that II
provisions were not Immediately con-
veyed to the foreigners in Tabriz. az we'll
as the non-combatant townspeople, the
Russian government would send troops
there. Despite the promises Of the shah 8
government to provision the besieged
city nothing was done. Accordingly,
russian troops were ordered to advance
was restored in Tabriz and the lives and
property Of the consular representatives
and Russian and foreign subjects were
out Of danger the detachment would be
withdrawn.
The Russians, under Gen. Snarsky,
reached Tabriz April 20, and are doubt
less in control Of the city
Russians The London Times, COM
m menting upon this event,
says: Few things would
have seemed more incredible a short time
ago than that Russians should have gone
there. not merely with the cordial as
sent. but actually at the suggestion of
the British governments remarkable IL
luStration OF the change In international
relations. of which the Anglo-Russian
agreement is the basis"
The Times says that the shah assumed
tnat the ancient rivalry between England
ana Russia was undated. but the ap-
proacn @ OF Gen; Snarsky must have dis
appealed to their ''unkind father" the
shah, to rescue Persia from partition.
Iney would rather perish all than be
delivered over to the foreigners" The
shan suspended the siege and granted
amnesty. and parties were thus appa-
rently brought together The Times mem
tons the appointment by the shah of
Naib-es-Sultanah about that time as
the backbone OF the reactionary party,
ana fears the shah has again hardened
MS heart" There Is mention also OF a
reversion Of the attitude Of anjumans, or
political clubs, which are reported as
having rejected the shah's offer to grant
constitution, ETC., and Satar Khan and
his Circassian revolutionaries are accused
OF misapplying the provisions and replen-
iShing their own stores
Sir Edward Grey, replying to the inter-
pellatton OF Maj. Anstruther April %
in the house OF commons about disorders
In Persia, said:
and Russia at Teheran had obtained
from the shah six days armistice at Ta-
briz, during which food had been intro
duced into the town. Bluejackets had
been landed at Bushire from his majes-
tvs ship Fox for the protection Of the
lives and property Of foreigners. The only
way to put an end to the present state
OF affairs" said Sir Edward, lis for the
shah to introduce reforms, to dismiss ad-
visers who are both reactionary and in
competent and to convoke an assembly
Tabriz Is the one place where the situa-
ton Is critical, and should negotiations
during the armistice fail to effect a set
tlement the Russian government, which
is alone In a position to act there. has
made arrangements which will secure
the opening Of the road to supplies and
the protection Of foreign subjects
DR.. Dillon In the Contemporary speaks
Of the present state OF Persia as desper-
ate. The unfortunate
Chaos in people are without gov
ernment. the ministers
have no power. the SOL
diers lack ammunition and pay. crime is
unpublished, and anarchy comes as near
to realization as is compatible with the
existence OF a loosely jointed community
formed Of the members Of once highly
civilised branch OF the human race. But"
adds Mr.. Dillon. III the shah had followed
the advice Of the two powers and sum-
moned a second mejliss on the basis Of
franchise, he would have forfeited his
crown, IL not his life.'
Mr.. Dillon finds no remedy for the
malady from which the Persians are suf-
fering. But the absolutist regime, at all
events, which died with Muzzafer-ed-
Din in January, 1907, cannot be resusci-
tated. Parties In Persia are numerous
and are divided thus by DR.. Dillon: RE
publicans, constitutionalists, monarchists
absolutists. disruptionists, anarchists and
cutthroats.'
In Iran political axioms, social aims,
religious beliefs. many Of them subversive
Of the old order Of things. are now COM
ing into vogue. OF which the most daring
reformer did not dream five or six years
ago.