The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-26

The financial tanGie that has brought
government in Persia into an almost
chaotic condition il apparently after all
not 70 be Strengthened out by joint loan
from Russia and England Persia ac-
know Lodges The serious, pressing need
Of funds that has made administ rative
action almost impossible: vet a consid-
cradle party backed by the Parliament
declares that the conditions attached to
the loan, that tho Powers making il shall
have a guarantee that the money will
not be squandercd. il insulting to a re-
generated Persia.
The question Of an Anglo-Rus-ian
loan for s.. 500 600 was preached some
time ago and was az first received with
favor. 4 representation that Il was
merely an entering wedge for an Occu-
patton Of Persia by these two Powers.
and that Russia was gradually inCreas-
ing her forces in the northern part
OF the country and that England was
strengthening her position along the
Persian Gulf. brought a decided change
in public opinion. This found express
sion especially in objection tn the con-
ditions that the proceeds Of the loan
should be used first in the restoration
Of order and the development Of certain
natural resources. Tho members OF Par
Lament declared that they would raise
the money themselves by taxes, hut
the impracticability Of this plan became
apparent when they discovered that they
had no effective means OF collecting
taxes and that none would exist until
money for the restoration Of order was
forthcoming. The sale Of the crown
jewels was then put forward a. another
device for raising money. and VI. BIzoT.
the financial adviser 81 the Persian
Government. had a specialist sent from
Paris to make a valuation upon the
jewels. II was then Reen that a sale
except at ruinous differentiation was
unlikely, and that even az q reasonable
price the baubles would not bring any
thing like the sum which was urgently
required.
The next move was 80 force a loan
from the people. Most Of the great
native bankers, who arc Royalists and
had advanced money n the late Shah.
have gone into bankruptcy, while
the smaller money lenders with out
standing debts 10 merchants that are
unable to paw ara not much better OF.
So the appeal from Parliament was
directed 10 the merchants and small
dealers. In Tabriz the preachers in the
mosques exhorted their congregations
to sacrifice 70 per cent. Of their pos
sessions rather than accept a foreign
loan. At other places the people were
almost forced into subscriptions 70 the
fund. In southern Persia the charges
made upon the caravan carriers from
ShiraZ 20 BuShire became ~ extortion-
ate that merchants found IL almost
impossible TO obtain regular transports
az preposterously high rates. Vice-Con-
sui CHICK lays tho matter before the
British Foreign Office ss follows:
IL has been reekoasd On rood authority that
the number % mules working the road has de-
creased from T.ono 20 fewer than Ann. The e1Ae-
tons levied the transport Of merchandise have
increased 10 some IS krans tjs. sdJ . muls lnad
for tho nrsi inO miles OF the Journey alone Tho
suppression Of IevyinE these Illegal tsaes. Gensr.
ally known rAbiah. vas especially undertaken
BY the Persian GOvcrnment BY Article TT. OF the
Anglo Persian commercial conVenuon o. isoa. and
yet from the gate Of Bushirs far 80 Mare
Pun the muIetsers are forced to pay every fec
miles sfthsT IN coin or In sugar. Another Dsos-
Harry waBton method Of taxing trade r. By enact
ing aisfdad- I. o, nEod charge for fodder. az
arbitrary rates. Often doubIs ne markes prioe.
muIsteers being Bbuged 70 puEohssO from them
alone. and always . hEed amount mule
A. result Of this effort 20 raise
money trade IN the south has dwindIed
TO almost nothing. In the north &C
TabriE. Tehsran and many Of the other
larger cities the msrchanas have b.
Como % frightened by the dsmanGa
made upon thcSn that they ara sending