The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-31
Russian and Belgian Diplomats
Attempt to Put American FL
nancier Out of Business.
REFUSE TO OBEY THE LAW
Treasurer General Remains Firm
and Sees Opposition to
Him Collapse.

bo-NboN, saturday July g2.-N
Morgan Shuster, the American who re
Gently took the post of treasurer. genera
of tho Persian government, has alread
had opportunities to learn much o
politics and business under veal
oriental government, pulled and pushed
about by the intrigues and threats O.
European diplomats
His first troubles have been with on,
OF the most powerful chiefs Of the ad
ninistration and with the Russian anG
Belgian interests which combined tc
break his power
Reports to London from agents o,
British houses in Teherau give An In
teresting story of the collapse of the
stand the Russian minister, M, Pok
levski, and the Belgian director general
of customs, M. Mornard, backed by the
Belgian charge d 'affaires, made against
Mr.. Shuster and the national council.
The council passed law on June 13
investing the treasurer general with the
control Of all revenues and the sole
power to sign checks on government
funds
How Crisis Came About.
NJ. Mornard previously had drawn
checks on the customs funds. He re-
fused to recognize the new law and
claimed that he still had that power
Checks which he signed were refused
by tho Imperial bank of Persia, an
English corporation handling a large
part of the government funds. These
checks were for salaries of customs en-
ployees, Mr.. Shuster issued duplicates.
which the bank honored. This brought
matters TO q crisis.
The Belgian legation announced to
the Persian government that it would
not permit the Belgian employees of the
customs, who form large proportion
of the force, to serve under Mr.. Shus.
ter it the law were TO be carried out
The Russian minister went further and
ieclared emphatically that he would in.
roduce Russians to administer the GUS
toms before he would submit to Mr.
S single control.
Stand of Diplomats.
Several foreign obligations, including
he interest on foreign loans.. amortiza
ion, the payment Of the Cossack bri-
5ade and the pension of the deposed
'hah were a charge on the customs of
he north. The Russian and Belgian
diplomats took the stand that these in
erests were imperiled by Mr.. Shuster s |
administration and also denied the pow.
'r of the national council to pass such |
| law as that of June l3.
Mr., Shuster thereupoa gave written
notice TO the Imperial bank and the |
'nstoms receipts until all liens upon
hem had been paid and invited them to |
END representatives at any time to
Xamlne the books and accounting meth
IDS of the treasury.
Banks Supported shuster.
All the banks supported Mr.. shuster
nd the council, which has supported
nm enthusiastically since his arrival.
TODD by him also. The cabinet was
frightened by the Russian minister g
hreat and wayered for some time. Af.
er week s argument the treasurer
encral prevailed upon the minister of
oreign affairs to call upon Mr.. Nor.
ard to comply with the law.
hen the opposition collapsed. In
he presence of the cabinet and of Mr.
muster. the Belgian director general of
ustoms gave formal undertaking to
ccept the law and he and Mr., Shuster
arted on good terms 1t was under
1000 IN Icheran that before Mr.. Shus.
er LEFT Washington. the Russian embas.
ador there assured him Russia would
OF oppose his financial reforms.