Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-17


them in an attack upon the palace.
! There was a good deal of fighting in
the street. The shah, a great coward,
took refuge in the Russian legation.
Shah Is Deposed.
This act was accepted as equivalent to
abdication. a national council formed
under the supervision and advice of the
British and Russian ministers, formally
deposed Mahommed Ali and proclaimed
Ahmed Mira, his eleven-year-old son, a
plump. chubby-faced youngster, as liking
Of kings" rival of the SUM- and 1.-The
center of the universe" and conferred
upon him all the powers and preroga-
tives permitted by the constitution.
The leaders Of the revolution were given
important places in the new government
A venerable statesman Of experience was
selected as regent.
AS Mahomed Ali has thus made him
self superluous and homeless, the Car
of Russia invited" him to Odessa After
an undignified squabble over the crown
jewels and an annuity from the pariia-
ment. he was hustled to the shores of the
Caspian sea, led on board a boat and
brought to Odessa, where he has since
been living the life of an idle gentleman
The new government encountered many
difficulties. 1t Immediately summoned a
new parliament, reorganized the army
under Russian command and established
a military school with Russian instruc-
tors for the education of officers. The
finances were placed in control Of the
Belgians, economies were introduced in
various branches and the state expendi-
lures were considerably reduced.
Before any progress can be expected
can be adopted. Persia must have money
The stability Of the government depends
upon the negotiation Of a loan.
The minister of finance has asked for
10000 from Russia and England.
jointly. The leaders of the liberal party
would prefer to be under obligations to
Belgium or Holland or any of the lesser
powers.
That may be arranged. Negotiations
are now pending. The collection Of taxes
Is now In Belgian control. placed there
by the holders of outstanding bonds.
Wide Economies Possible.
Persia is in good shape financially The
debt Is comparatively small, and an adj
ministration which feels secure could re-
duce expenses enormously by cutting
down the pensions of mullahs members
OF the imperial family. poor relations of
former officials and other holders Of sine
cures who have been supported by the
taxpayers, without rendering any service
whatever, through the favor of the shah.
The Persian parliament is composed of
digniied and serious men. They are in
telligent and thoughtful, but they have
no experience in legislative affairs and
have all the faults that can be acquired
by successive generations of orientals
who have been subject to the whims of
despots.
The nationalists', or liberal, majority liz
large enough to control affairs, but there
is a great deal of rivalry and jealousy
among its leaders, and craving for au-
thority and glory and graft.
In August an extraordinary manifesto
was issued. signed by the sipahdar, or
prime minister, and all the most promi-
nent leaders of the several factions, an
nouncing that they had agreed to aban-
don all personal aims and jealousies and
to work together for the advancement
and welfare of their country They de-
clared that they have sworn on the
Koran to forget all past differences. to
forgive injuries they have suffered. and
to unite in the cordial support Of the con-
stitutional government.
The childish display of emotion in this
manifesto illustrates the earnestness with
which the Persians have undertaken to
solve the problem of self-government. and
the seriousness with which they regard
their responsibilities.