Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-17
become Russian subjects. Thus the popu-
lation is gradually becoming ''Russofied."

lation is gradually becoming "Russofied.'
There are many interesting stories told
/ of the protection which the Russian
minister and consuls and military off,
GERS have extended over the Persians. 1t
| is asserted that the brother Of the late
shah Prince Naib-es-Salteneh, and his
sister, the Princess Baina-uzna, have both
become Russian subjects.
| One of the most effective influences"
has been notorious bandit named RAJ
robbers have committed murders by
wholesale. and have plundered villages
and private estates for the last two or
three years almost continuously, until
which he works have placed themselves
under Russian protection
1t is claimed that whenever the Rus
slams want to extend their Influence in
any quarter they turn this bandit loose to
punish the people until they apply to the
nearest Russian consul for protection. A
photograph of the bandit sitting at a
table of village cafe. drinking vodka
with the Russian CONSUL is shown to JUS
tify the stories Of their intimacy and
collision.
The little shah is practically as much a
vassal of the car as the Emir Of Box
hara. Russian has sustained his govern
ment throughout.
without Russian aid it would never
have been in power. Without Russian
support it would have collapsed long
ago. 1t cannot stand alone.
1t Is q question whether the British gov
ly Russia is sewing the northern prov
inceS OF Persia to her map. The fndtf-
ference Of Germany and Austria is mex
plicable.
Once Absolute Autocracy.
Up to 1906 the Shah Of Persia, within
the limitations imposed by the Koran
upon all good Musselmans was an abso-
lutte autocrat. The entire revenue of the
country was at his disposal. as well as
the lives and property Of all his subjects.
In August Of that year AIuz-affir-ed-
din bestowed constitution and a legis-
latlNe form of government upon his
country. The legislature, or mejliss, con-
sists OF two houses.
The senate is composed Of sixty MEM
bers. thirty appointed by the shah and
thirty elected for six years by the va
riouS commercial Industrial and agricul-
tural associations and by the ecclesiastfcs
The lower house is composed of 1876
members, elected for two years by the
votes of the princes. the mobiles, the
clergy, the land owners, merchants and
The first parliament met in October
1901. when the constitution was submit
ted and adopted. Unfortunately Muz-
Attire d-din died the January following
and his son. Mahomed Ali reigned in his
stead.
The latter was crowned January s.
l30S, and Immediately began to nullify
the constitution. and attempted to recOv-
er the autocratic power which his father
had voluntarily renOunced without coer-
cion, but in recognition OF the progress
of civilization and to allay threatening
storms that were gathering around him.
Mahomed Ali had no sympathy with his
| fathers motives or purposes. He had
no experience of public affairs or knowl-
edge Of the progress of civilization.
He only knew that his predecessors on
the throne had governed the country as
if 1t belonged to them. He coveted the
same power and preroSatives they had
enjoyed.
He began at once to bulldoze parlia-
ment. When it's members would not sub
NIT to his dictatiOn he dissolved that
body by military force and drove them
from the parliament house at the point
of the bayonet. June %. 1908.
Rebellion Is Started.
He then issued decree .abolishing the
legislative branch of the government and
revoking the constitution. He shot as
many of the liberal leaders as he could
catch, and inaugurated an old-fashioned
policy of tyranny and persecution.
Rebellion broke out In several places.
| The most serious uprising was at Tabriz,
IL
| Persia. where the population have a bet
ter knowledge of foreign affairs and con-
| ditions than the inhabitants of the in
terror.
Tabriz lies about half way between
Teheran and the Caspian sea. and 1t is
of greater commercial Importance than
any other Persian community.
| The soldiers OF the shah drove the rev.
oiutionists into Tabriz. They besieged
the city so closely that the entire popula-
! ton would have persisted from hunger or
would have been exterminated by the
sword had not the English and Russian
| ministers at Teheran INTERVIEWED.
! They compelled the shah to withdraw
| his troops, to grant political amnesty
| and to restore the constitution. He did
so on the condition that the revolution
| lists would lay down their arms and SUBJ
NIT to his authority.
| But peace did not continue long. An
other revolution broke out at Kazvin, and
an army was organized to march upon
! the capital. Russia and Great Britain
again INTERVIEWED.
| But the Bakhtiari, as the revolutionists
| were called, because of the locality from
| which they came, attacked Teheran and
L Of hat lii n ~,