The Washington times., 1911-08-25
Prospective Retirement Of
:, Young American Causes
! Gossip.
MANCHURIA RAILROAD
REBUFF RECALLED
Yankee Loss Of Opportunity In the
Orient Compared With the
New Situation.

While comparatively little attention
has been given in most quarters to the
developments in Persia and the efforts
being made there to oust w. Morgan
Shuster, an American well-known in
Washington, from the position of treas
urer gSSeral of Persia, as matter of
fact 1t is a choice morsel of gossip and
discussion in diplomatic circles. And,
there is reason to believe that, just
as II is being discussed in diplomatic
quarters here, 1t is being discussed in
the Old World chancelleries, for the mat
ter has an Importance that 1t does not
reveal upon its face.
The fact is the prospective compulsory
retirement of Shuster and the other
, mericans with him from the manage
ment of the Persian finances marks one
more failure on tie part of Yankee d.
plomacy to succeed in getting a strong
foothold in the Orient. The State De-
partment is now saying much about
Shuster. In fact Shuster and his band
of Americans at Teheran have in no
sense any official connection with this
Government
An Employe of Shah.
Shuster is in the employ of the Shah
of Persia, not of the Government of the
United States. Nevertheless, to an ex-
tent this Government, being fully in
formed of the arrangements between
the Persian government and Shuster,
sanctioned them, and, tacitly at least, |
gave strong approval to them.
When Shuster went to Persia it was
talked in Washington in the best in
formed quarters that II he succeeded in
his mission, and if he made a success
Of the task of Strengthening out the af-
fairs of the Shah's treasury, 1t would
be good thing for American interests
In Asia. Secretary of State Knox look |
ed on the projeuct with favor.
The State Department has not for
gotten its sad experiences in trying
70 get In on the ground floor in the
Far East. 1t is still smarting under
the rebuffs it received when the pro-
3ect of the naturalization of the Man
churian railroads was proposed and
when Japan and Russia and England
united to administer to Mr.. Knox 4 |
series of diplomatic kicks he will lonx
remember. The road to equal par
ticipation IN Chinese and Far Eastern |
affairs was closed to us, at least for |
that time.
Hoped to Regain Much.
The employment of Shuster by tha
Persian government seemed to offer |
some chances of this country to regain |
In part at least what il lost when tie
open door in Manchuria was shut in |
our faces. That is. 1t was talked in |
succeeded, 1t would put this country or |
much better footing with respect to
Asiatic affairs. Persia is, In diplomatic
phrase, IN the Near East. Still, there
is close relationship between the diplo-
macy that affects China and Persia
German designs in Asia do not coz
fict with this country. The designs
OF Russia and England and Japan in
many has designs in the Persian region
that are not pleasing to Russia and
England. Were these to be furthered,
through American influence it is not
impossible America might be in a po-
sttion to command concessions in Man
churia and the Far East which can
not now be obtained.
Reason for Blocking.
One will get no acknowledgment
from the State Department that it had
any hopes, through the Shuster mission
to Persia, to help mend its own shat
tered fortunes in. the Far East. But
there is no question that this view has
been taken in various high diplomatic
quarters. All the evidence is that Rus
Bia and England have looked on the
employment of Shuster by the Persian
government as something sinister and
at odds with their own purposes This
cannot be set down simply 10 fear that
the United States might get a certain
measure Of Persian trade or anything
of that sort. To find the real reasons
for the blocking of Shuster's work in
reforming Persian finances, it is nee
essary to consider phases of diplomacy
more far-reaching than those touching
simply the trade of Persia or the OPEN
ing into Persia of a new market for
American products.
1t was well understood here when
Shuster departed for Persia that he had
Q difficult field, and that he would have
to measure wits with some OF the ablest
diplomatic intriguers OF the world
Some suspicion is entertained here
that his diplomacy was of the shirt
sleeves kind, that he did not play the
game hne enough: But this may do
indications that his position was to be
made impossible from tine outset II
Russian and English influence could so
make II.