The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-08-01
SHAFTS TREASURER GENERAL
DEFEATS ATTEMPT OF Russia
AND BELGIUM.
HE REFUSED TO Be BLUFFED
W Morgan Shuster, the American
Who Has Undertaken to Rehabili-
tate the Ancient Country's FL
rsnces Overcomes Obstacles.

London, Iuly 31.-W. Morgan Shus
ter, he American who recently took
the post of treasurer general OF the
Persian government, has already had
opportunities to learn much of poll
tics and business under a weak ori
entail government pulled and pushed
about by the intrigues and threats
OF European diplomats. Hls first trou'
bes have been with one of the most
powerful chiefs of the administration
and with the Russian and Belgian in.
terests which combined to break his
power. Thus far the American has
more than he'd his own.
Reports have come to London from
agents of British houses in Teheran
which give an interesting story of
the unsuccessful stand the Russian
minister, NJ. Poklevskv, and the Bel
gian director general of customs, NJ.
Monard, backed by the Belgian
charge d'affaircS made against Mr..
Shuster and the national council pass.
ed a law on June l3 investing the
treasurer general with the control
OF all revenues and the sole power to
sign checks on government funds.
NJ. Mornard previously had drawn
checks on The customs funds. He re-
fused to recognize the new law and
claimed he still had the power. Checks
which he signed were refused by
the Imperial Bank OF Persia, which
is an English corporation handling
a large part of the government funds
These checks We're for salaries of
customs employees. Mr.. Shuster issued
duplicates, which the bank honored.
This brought matters to a crisis.
The Relgan legation announced to
the Persian government that it would
not permit the Belgian employees of
the customs, who form a large pro
portion of the force, TO serve under
Mr.. Shuster if the law was TO be
carried out. The Russian minister
went further, and declared emphatic
ally that he would introduce Rus
SLAMS to administer the customs be
fore he would submit to Mr.. Shus-
ter's sinslc-handed contract.
The Show Down.
Several foreign obligations, includ-
ing the interest ON foreign loans,
he payment of the Cos
sack brigade and the pension of the
dcpOsed shah were a charge on the
customs OF the north The Russian
and Belgian diplomats took the stand
that these interests were imperiled
by Mr.. Shusters administration and
also denied the power OF the nation
al council TO pass such n law as
that of June l2. Mr. Shuster there
upon gave written notice to the I'M
perial bank and the Russian bank
than no disbursements would be made
from the customs receipts until the
aliens upon them had been paid, and
invited them to send representatives
at any time 10 examine the books
and accounting methods of the treas
ury.
All OF the books supported Mr..
SAuster. and the council which has
him enthusastically since
his arrival stood by him also. The
cabinet was frightened by the Rus
sian minister's threat and wavered
for some time. After a weeks argu-
ment the treasurer-seneral prevailed
upon the minister of foreign affairs
to call upon Mr.. Mornard to comply
with the law.
The opposition collapsed. In the
presence of the cabinet and OF Mr..
ShuSter, the Belgian director genera.
of customs accepted the law and he
and Nh. ShuSter parted on good
terms. 1t was understood in Teheran
that before Mr.. ShuSter left wash
ington the Russian ambassador had
assured him Russia would no. op-
,y..., f,5g Fin,upio1 rafp1rns