Evening star., 1909-06-06
PERSIA UNDER YOKE
Shah Yields Autonomy to Eng
land and Russia.
GERMANY Is AUTHORITY
Denial by British Foreign Office Not
Conclusive.
OF TREATY ARE GIVEN
Meeting Of Car and Kaiser Believed
to Have Bearing on This
Agreement.

Special Cables,am to The Star
LONDON, June 5.-A political sensation
of the first magnitude was created
throughout Europe today by the publica-
ton in the semi-official Vossische Zeitung
of Berlin Of the circumstantial announce
ment that Great Britain and Russia nave
assumed joint sovereignty over Persia.
The terms of the treaty which the
paper declares has been adopted are
such as completely to deprive the shah's
kingdom Of its independence and to re-
duce the country almost to the vassalage
of Egypt.
Terms Of Treaty.
The vossische Zeitung gives the terms
of the treaty which, 1t says, has been
signed not only by Great Britain and
Russia but by Persia as follows:
The shah is to restore the constitution.
without alteration, and proclaim general
amnesty.
All financial affairs of Persia shall be
controlled by Great Britain and Russia.
ject to the approval Of Great Britain and
Russia.
No new concession shall be granted
without the knowledge of Great Britain
and Russia.
Persia shall contract no loan without
the consent of Great Britain and Russia.
Great Britain and Russia undertake to
protect the shah from all acts OF violence
on the part of the Persian people.
They guarantee the safety OF life and
property and of the throne to the shah
They guarantee a large loan to Persia
England's Denial Not Conclusive.
This startling announcement, consid-
ering its source and the intrinsic evidence
of it's official inspiration. received full
credence until a few hours later. when
the British foreign office issued a denial
of its authenticity. The statement was
broadly to the effect that there was no
foundation for the statements Of the
Vossische Zeitung.
Great Britain and Russia made joint
representations to the shah respecting
the advisability of a restoration of the
constitution. This denial can hardly be
accepted as disproving the matter.
The Persian situation has reached such
a critical stage that both Great Britain
and Russia decided recently that it was
imperative to deal with it by radical
measures. The present shah is utterly
incapable either of governing himself or
OF pursuing any rational policy for the
restoration of law and order in his dis
rupted kingdom.
Sharp foreign Intervention alone Will
avert the worst horrors Of internecine
strife. Russia and Great Britain are In
full agreement on this point. The only
question is how far they are prepared to
go in the direction of assuming control
OF the internal affairs Of the country.
Answer to Kaiser.
If the Vossische Zeitung is right they
intend going very far indeed. The seizure
- $o.x -
Anglo-Russian reply to Germany's high
handed action in coercing Russia into a
settlement OF the Balkan dispute.
This aspect OF the situation fully ex-
plains the coming meeting of the kaiser
and the czar. The German press had been
busy this week exploiting this meeting
as political event Of momentous i'm
portance.
The semi official organs assert with sig
niflcant insistence that the two sovereigns
will meet on the initiative of the czar
The truth is the exact reverse.
1t is safe assumption that the kaiser
will seize the occasion to use all his
powers Of persuasion in an endeavor to
remove the effects of the recent assault
upon Russian amour propre. He will
strive to reach a friendly understanding
with the car upon the whole near east
question.
He will 90 further according to the
man press during the last few days. and
will try his best to drive a wedge. II
there is cleavage. in some form into the
Anglo-Russian entente.
Germany, indeed, in departing from her
traditional policy Of friendly relations
with her great eastern neighbor. Is al
ready reaping fruits little to her liking.
Her interests In Persia are great, es-
pecially in connection with her Bagdad
railway scheme. She sees them doomed
TO disappear IL the version Of the treaty
published today has any basis in fact.
The kaiser's influence with the cZar
has always been strong especially when
he exerted ii in personal interviews. 1t is
satisfactory to know that each monarch
will be accompanied by his chief Of gov
ernment and foreign secretary.
Gear to Pay Visits.
Another point Of importance is that the
car in a few weeks will make personal
visits almost Immediately TO President
Falliers and King Edward. These three
meetings of the heads OF the greatest
European nations are likely to have a
far-reaching effect upon the immediate
political history of the old world.
War between Turkey and Greece over
Crete is quite topic of the day in Con-
stantinople. The Turkish government is
making serious preparations for such
an eventuality.
The idea is certainly popular among the
Young Turks. They believe that such
contest will unite all Musselmans even
more effectually than the new constitu-
ton.
In Greece there Is much bellicose talk,
as there was on the eve Of the Graeco-
Turkish campaign twelve years ago.
There Is no reason to suppose that Greece
would make any better show in the field
today than she did then.
Moreover, there is less reason to believe
that the present situation will develop in
actual hostilities. None of the great
movers is anxious to see that f1asco re-
peated. 1t is we'll within their power
to hold Greece under restraint.