Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-12

II is recalled that the eN-Shah Moham-
med Ali Mira reached Astrahad July 80.
Many dispatches since
Ey.ShQhS then have announ, ed his
defeat and II was accept
NdHiPdiSh. ed as fact that the
movement had failed and that he had
abandoned Persian territory. \ dispatch.
however. dated Teheran. october ~. an
nounced that Mohammed All. aided by
Russian troops and the fire of Russian
gunboats. had defeated a Persian govern
ment force near Bender-iez. The same
dispatch stated that the camp OF the for
mer shah was near Gunesh-Tepe, tue
place where he landed the first time. Also
that Mohammed All had ordered 1000 RI
fes and ten rapid-fire field guns from
European firms.
A dispatch from Teheran. dated the 9Th
instant. lends additional interest To the
Persian question. The Russian minister
on that DAY. 1t appears. presented an ulti-
matum to the Persian government setting
forth that unless the Persian minister of
foreign affairs apologized TOR the alleged
Insult to the Russian vice consul. Nj. Pet
rolf. on the occasion of the seizure OF the
property of Snua-es- Sultaneh, removed the
treasury gendarmes and reinstated the
Russian Cossacks formerly there. Russia
would occupy the provinces of Ghilan ana
Mazanda ran in the north OF Persia Dor
dering on the Caspian sea.
Shua-es Sultaneh and Salar-ed-Dowleh.
brothers of the dethroned shah. have re-
Gently been in arms against the Persian
government attempting to overthrow the
constitutional government and replace
Mohammed Ali on the throne. IL is Well
known the Persian government has placed
a price upon the head of the eN-shah and
published notices officially of the combs
cation of the property of the two broth
ers.
October the national council tf
Persia sent gendarmes to take possession
of the property. There
ConfiscQtion upon NJ Petroff and NJ.
Attempted a rrspOn 'ns nuansa
by sixteen Russian Cossacks. entered the
palace, and using violent and insulting
language drove the officials of the gov
eminent away, threatening to fire upon
them if they did not go.
When the Persian minister learned of
the indignity he Immediately reported
the matter by telegraph to the Russian
minister. absent at the time. October
10, no reply having come from the Rus
sian minister. the American treasurer
general, Mr.. Shuster telegraphed that he
would take possession of the confiscated
palace Of the prince. He. therefore, sent
his men the following morning and took
possession. The dispatch says: There
were 100 gendarmes under an American
officer. who seized the property when the
Russian Cossacks retired
The Persian minister of foreign affairs
Immediately entered a vigorous protest
to Russia against the action of the con-
sui general, and demanded the recall of
that officer. The only reply which the
minister has received is the ultimatum
from the Russian minister demanding
the apology above recited.
Russia's ultimatum created an unex-
pected crisis. There may possibly be
eliminated from the ultimatum the threat
to occupy the provinces of Gillian and
Mazandaran. for it is scarcely conceiv-
able that the Russian government would
undertake to create a situation which
would be a contradiction of her profess
sions Of good faith and a violation of
Persian autonomy. There is an intrigue.
or let us say. perhaps, a mistake in the
matter which may have provoked the
anger OF Russia Mr.. Shuster is a finan-
cier, and like all American financial men
macy.
Mr.. Shuster has made one mistake at
least which is quite American. He ap-
pointed Maj. Stokes an
ShuSter'S officer Of the gendarme-
rie as an American, not
~ASsoAS' that he was an American
at all. but he might, could. would or
should be one day. This might work all
right for Mr.. Shuster financially. but
automatically it could not. Briefly. Maj.
Stokes is a British-Indian officer. and be-
sides he was an attache of the British le-
CATION at Teheran. Sufficient reasons
perhaps, to provoke the opposition of the
British legation and certainly that of
Russia We recall that the late Ill. NJ.
Stanley was paraded as American ana
even given the thanks Of Congress as
"our cOmpatriot, when to our astonish-
ment, If not modification, we found HIM
later erected to the British parliament!
The situation is Persia Is complex.
There appears a corollary to the Russian
ultimatum In note | have read at this
writing in the Correspondence d'Orient
a very well informed review, which says
THE British-Indian government has
decided to send two regiments of cavalry,
the 9Th and the 3yth Central Indian
Horse, to the south of Persia TO reinforce
the consulate guards. The 39th is to be
posted between Bender Bouchr, Chiraz
and Ispahan: the 9th between Bender
Abbas and herman. The occupation of
the five centerS Is intended to add to the
prestige and security Of the British COM
mercial routes of the south. The meas
ure will be efficacious. but without doubt
it will present anew the Persian problem.
Ispahan is in the affected zone of Rus
sian influence, marked by the treaty ,of
August 81, 1907 Chiraz and Bender
Bouchir are in the neutral zone, where ii
should be remarked each of the con-
tracing parties may not act except with
the assent of the other. Only Herman
and Bender-Abb are in the English
zone If the assent of St. Petersburg
has not been obtained in advance the OBJ
seryations of Russia on this point may
be possible
Now in the London Times there is cor
roboration of the prior note in the Cor
resemblance In the following. dated Tehe-
ran. October "a: THE British government
has Informed Persia that the reinforce
ments for the consular guards have
sailed.
II may be useful for the comprehension
of passing events to recall that Ger
many signed a treaty of abstention from
interference with Russian influence in
Persia. In order that she might obtain
guarantees for the proposed railroad con-
struction and for German commerce.
Germany made no agreement with Eng
land Sixteen months ago Germany made
known at London and st. Petersburg
that "sihe proposed to practice in Persia
the theories inauSurated in Morocco.
At the present moment Persia Is much
aeitated over what appears to be inter
ference on the part of Russia with Per-
sian interior affairs. and at the same