Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-21
internal Troubles Detailed by
w. Morgan Shuster.
CAUSE OF COMPLICATION
Russia and Great Britain Alleged to
Have Interfered.
INTEREST AROUSED IN LONDON
Difficulties Encountered in Perfect
ing Financial System-Campaign
Of Threats and Opposition.

treasurer general of the Persian empire,
to the London Times, In which he gives
detailed account of methods alleged to
have been adopted by Russia and Great
Britain to prevent the accomplishment of
the financial reorgan zation of Persia and
the establishment of q. strong central
government. has been received in Wash
ington. Oficials at the State Depart
ment, while taking keen interest in the
situation and in Mr.. Shusters work, say
he is merely an employe of the Persian
government and that he has absolutely
no official standing with the United States
government.
Interest in Shuster Statement.
Mr.. Shuster's statement to the London
Times has created much interest. Lord
Curzon has taken up the cudgels for Per
sia and has criticised Great Br1tain's at
titude toward that country in speech
before parliament.
Mr.. Shuster's statement to the London
Times is in part follows:
Il arrived here May II last, with three
American assistants and with but one OBJ
ect in view-to do fairly creditable
piece of constructive work on behalf of
Persia's finances.
ON June ID the medjlis passed law,
drafted by me. conferring on the treas
urer general plenary powers in matters
fiscal. The law was a public one, voted
after full and open discussion, and was
manifestly designed to bring some order
out OF the pitiabie state of chaos into
which PersiaS finances have fallen. Inc
Persian cabinet and the med1l1s had al
most unanimously approved it. One might
expect that the foreign powers in inter-
est mere would gladly have done likewise
Unfortunately they did not. Direct iesai
proof. of course being lacking, l never
theless assert that there is ample docu-
mentarly evidence of a circumstantial ma
ture to show that there was deliberate
agreement between a number OF foreign
legations here, headed by the Russian ie-
CATION to defeat my execution Of that
law and to thwart general system OF
Capitalization of collections, payments
and accounting prescribed Hereunder.
THE pretexts urged AZ ainst the system
were fimsy and untenable in the ex-
treme, and their manifest purpose was to
prevent any material change in the old
style Of conducting Persia's fiscal affairs
This campaign of threats, nagging and
general opposition which even descended
into vulgar personalities against me and
in two crude attempts to brighten the
Persian government failed utterly;
though it did entail period of delay and
confusion in Initiating certain financial
reforms Among the threats made was
that Of one les alton to seize the northern
customs and put in their own offclais 10
collect the revenue.
Political Agitation Permitted.
Last July, in defiance of article 2 of
the protocol of September Z. 1903. Russia |
and Britain, and particularly the former. |
permitted Mahomet All, ex-shah. to IS
cape from Russia-that is. RUS ia failed |
utterly to take efhcacious measures to
prevent political agitation against Pc sia
On his part. In fact, he passed throu |
Russian territory with a suite, fal |
beard. and consignment of guns an
cannon marked mineral water, II we
may believe the ante-mortem statement
Of his late Lieut.. Arshad-ed-Dovieh He
embarked with his party from Ru' an
port on Russian steamer, and Ian led
about July iS a; Gumush-Tetteh, On P>r
sian sofia filibuster in full swing.
Assuming that escape was accidental
and that the Russian passport autho tiles
sia's attitude one of real regret? On The
contrary. It Is notorious here That re.
Official representatives In Persia received
the news of the landing with uncont ea-eA
not even scruple to show that fee ing in
Official communications addressed to Fer
sian government officers.
ION July % the Persian government i
dressed note to all the legations ere
informing them of a law which had us |
been passed declaring a state OF Sc e.
Most of the legations replied in the usual
manner. merely calling attention t. GER
tain provisions in the treaty OF Turco- |
manchai: but the Russian legation adopt |
ed from the very outset far di e ent |
and most unfriendly tone aiming |
among other things the right TO arre-t d. |
rec,ly at any time, so-calied illeeal Rus |
sian subjects who might take pa I in the |
vents actually going on in the untry. |,
I he patent object OF this claim put for |
ard at this time was TO give the s.
ton 10 i'm a nd r.
STA the excuse to arrest, on the me. al |
legation that they were kind OF Ru sian |
subjects. any Persian fighting men Il
known reputation who might take the |
side Of the government against Ma omet |
All. If this threat to arrest all RUSSIAN |
subjects who might take part in events |
had been literally executed it would have
been necessary to arrest most Of tie
Russian consuis and consular employees |
themselves.
Russia and Britain in Accord.
ION July 81. when Mahomet Ali had
barely put foot on Persian soil and had
made no appreciate advance toward SUBJ
jugating the country. Britain and Russia
addressed to the Persian government the
following identique defacto recognition OF
the ex-shah's bellisereney:
:" Seeing that the ex-shah. contrary to
the advice frequently given him by the
governments OF England ana Russia, IN
effect that he should forbear from any
agitation whatever in Persia (has now
landed IN Persia. the British (Russian)
government declares that the ex-snah
has now forfeited his right to the pension
hxed by the protocol, but on the other
hand the British government believes that
as the ex-shah is now in Persian terri
tory the British government cannot In
tervene. Therefore the British govern
ment states that IN the contact that has
unfortunately arisen in Persia II will in
no way interfere"
MIR. Shuster points out that even this
declaration of alleged neutrality"
though the word itself was omitted,
might have passed had the neutrality
been observed. He shows that the kus-
sian officials In Persia in many instances
attacked and arrested Persian officers
who were performing their duty, mall
treated and insulted others, and gave
financial aid to the followers of the ex-
shah.
Rebel Leaders Given Refuge.
IN his statement Mr.. Shuster declares,
When the forces OF Mahomet Ali were
defeated and dispersed many Of the lead
do,na pdad refllQa at the prseiaa oop