Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-09
Shuster Explains His Stand
Against Russian Demand.
SIMPLY DOING HIS DUTY
Has Refused II Be Stalking Horse
for Selfish Powers.
SAYS RUSSIA is A RAIDER
Invasion of Persian Soil Without
Declaration of War Violation
Of Hague Convention.

NEW YORK. December a.-w. Morgan
Shuster treasurer general OF Persia. has
caoied to the New York American the
Ioiio"ins statement of his attitude OF de-
nance toward the demands of Russia:
MY attitude is that as and my Amer
ieah assistants have faithfully performed
our contracts with the Persian govern
ment, whose legislature recently ga, .
striking proof of their satisfaction ard
confidence in Us by a unanimous public
vote. given Ia the face of the threatened
obstruction OF their sovereignty by an I'M
ihehseS superior force. | must In honor
continue to abide by their wishes.
ne TACT is the present Russian oppo-
sitioh 10 our engagement started before
our arrival. and after being sare & week
IL was freely stated in diplomatic circles
We would not be able to remain two
months. \ hostile stand. therefore. WAS
SHOWN ny this power before could pos
sibly have offended any foreign interest
Violating the Agreement.
The much-discussed Ansio,Russisn
agreement OF 1907. which the powers suS-
sested that ]. as the s'ersiau treasurer
general, should recognize. although the
PERSIAN government had officially inform
cd them she did not recognize IL. Is now
being openly violated BY the powers them
selves.
MY plan for the construction OF rad
roads by the Persian government. follow
ing the best commercial and economic
lines instead of proposing lines recogniz-
ing the so-cslled spheres ~ influence and
strategic points. which parliament would
never do, caused the powers to oppose me
IN every possible manner Pretex:s are
never lacking. but the ones actually
chosen are false and absurd.
The whole difficulty Is that We smeri-
cans are unwilling TO serve d. -alkiny
horses in the Anglo Russian pan IL
undermine Persian integrity.
Says Powers Play Douo.e.
II have always recognized all legitimate
foreign intereSs. having made a careful
study of the recent political history OF
Persia, including the Anglo Russian
agreement and cotemporaneous o:flcial
correspondence. The truth is the powers
wish to say one thing to the world and
to Persia, while secretly acting quite diff
ferently. Any Persian ofrcial not sub
serving this plan is regarded as an
enemy Of their interests.
Il have frequently challenged critics 10
show single act Of mine in violation OF
legitimate Anglo-Russian interests. Ny
principal fault I'm their eyes is a bona
fide effort to build up Persian finances
and loyalty to the constituted govern
ment.
Russia daily inform. the powers that
she has no designs on Persa.s independ-
ence and integrity: therefore her army
of 400 men is ACTUALLY marching on
Teheran, directed solely toward the
forcible expulsion of eleven American
citizens now satisfactorily serving q
friendly sovereign nation
No Declaration .f War.
Russia has not aeusreu wAr, As is pro-
vided In The Hague cenvension. TO which
she was a signatory and . prominent pre-
moter. Her move. therefore. constitutes
a wanton act OF hostility against Amer
lean citizens enjoying Tire rights and
protection accorded TO then by friendly
state. recognized today as sovereign by
America. Russia, England and other pow
ers having their legations here.
This plain violation OF iuterna; ional
law really constitutes u raidins party.
Naturally. Russia's sending OF a large
armed force here 10 eXpei Americans con-
stitutes virtual invitation TO numerous
bad characters from the Caucasus 10 do
them bodily harm. in the belief justified
or not. that they would thereby regain
the favor and protection of their govern
ment.