Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-17
SINISTER IN ERROR
Persian So Holds, in Defending
Native Land.
DENIES FOREIGN YOKE
Mira Ahmad Sohrab Replies to
Former Treasurer Generals
Charges.
DENIES FOREIGN YOKE

Decided exception to the statements of
w. Morgan Shuster, formerly treasurer
general of Persia, as made in an address
before the National Geographic Society
Friday. was taken yesterday by Mira
Ahmad Sohrab, treasurer of the Persian
American Educational Society. He de-
clared that Mr.. Shuster was entirely in
error when he stated that Persia now is
little more than a satrapy of Russia and
England and that the Persians are prac-
tically supine beneath the foreign yoke.
I'm my opinion the difficulty In Mr..
Shuster's observations lies in the fact
that he did not get beneath the surface
of things during his stay in Persia" de-
clared Mr.. Sohrab. 'All of his utter
ances since his return to the United
States have been practically parrot
like repetition of the statements that the
Persian constitution almost has been
nullified and that the proposed drafting
of a new constitution, which Will be
based on modern principles and not upon
religious dogmas, never will be realized.
THE Persian American Educational So
ciety has desire to appear in an UNI
friendly attitude toward Mr.. ShuSter. and.
in fact, we have invited him to address
be held in this city next month The So
ciety encouraged his appointment to the
post of treasurer general and 1t worked
actively in his support while he was In
office, besides protesting vigorously
against the parliament at home acceding
10 the Russian demand for his removal.
But the society cannot remain quiescent
when it has full knowledge that Persia
in the thousands years of it's existence
has weathered worse storms than that
ShJ.Sfar imDend-
ing at the present time, and when we
know that Persian independence is abso-
lutely certain not to be disturbed. A new
cabinet soon will come into office, and
the new constitution will be drafted and
adopted
In connection with his statement relat-
ing to the Shuster address Mira Ahmad
Sohrab made announcement Of the sec
ond annual conference of the Persian
American Educational Society, which will
be held in this city April 1870. The ses-
sions will be held in the assembly hall
of the Public Library.
The conference will be marked by the
presence in Washington at the same
time of Abbas Effendi Abdul BAHIA. the
distinguished head of the Bahai move
ment. While the Persian-American
Educational Society has no connection
with the Bahai movement, the leader is
a Persian and is the chief exponent
of the most advanced thought OF modern
Persia. Mira Ali kuli Khan, charge
d'affaireS of Persia, will be prominent
figure in the sessions.
Society Has Grown.
Starting about two years ago as a
small organization, formed for the pur-
pose of introducing American education
al methods in Persia, the society has
since branched out so as to include
every matter of common interest be-
tween the two countries. During the
past year permanent headquarters have
been established in Washington and a
commercial bureau has been started for
the purpose of fostering trade between
Persia and the United States.
At the Washington conference next
month an even greater extension is
proposed. The officers of the society
have drawn a constitution and have
made plans for an organization to be
known as the Orient-Occident Unity, so
as to extend the activities of the So
ciety to include the fostering of closer
relations and better understanding
between the countries of the occident
and the orient
1.-The importance of closer relations
between the occident and the orient"
says the official announcement for the
conference, is apparent to all close
observers of world affairs"
purposes Set EOrLQ.
The proposed Orient Occident Unity is
planned to carry on the Persian-Ameri-
can educational work. which was the
cause Of the society's formation, as a
separate bureau. 1t Is to extend its
activities to other oriental countries.
however, and is to make commercial
development a special aim, as prac-
teal basis of unity. A mutual inter-
est in literature, arts and sciences is
also to be fostered. Delegates from
trial, exporting and other organiza-
tions are expected to attend the con-
ference
The society now issues a monthly
bulletin. The current issue. which
will be put tomorrow, contains a
tribute to Persian women by Morgan
Shuster and an interview With Mrs
Shuster about her experiences in the
oriental country which her husband
served. Senator T. E. Burton also is
a contributor.
1t also contains an article about the
women of Persia by Mira Ahmad Sohrab.
The officers are: President, William H.
Hoar, Fanwood, N. j.; first vice president,
Howard S. Reside; second vice president,
Mrs. Fannie Fern Andrews, Boston: third
vice president, Prof. Hermann Schoenfeld,
Washington; fourth vice president. Mrs
Agnes Parsons. Washington: fifth vice
president, Hooper Harris. New York city:
general counsel, Henry c. Ffnkel, Wash
ipgton; treasurer, Mira Ahmad Sohrab,
Washington: assistant treasurer, Mrs. e.
c. Dunlop, Washington; secretary, Joseph
H. Hammer, Washington; assistant secre-
tary, Prof. Arnauld Belmont, Washington;
librarian. Mrs. Marian c. Hotchkiss.
Washington. and assistant librarian, Mrs.
Joseph H. Hammer Washington.