New-York tribune., 1912-01-13
IN PERSIA; WIRES FOR AID
F. E. Cairns Sends Urgent Ap-
peal to Chairman SuIzer.
THREATENED BY MORNARD
Belgian Talks of Furnishing
American-Minister Russell
Brought Into Affair.

Washington. Jan. 12-F. f. Cairns, the
American who was left in charge Of the
Persian Treasury by w Morgan Shuster,
the dismissed Treasurer General. cabled
to-day to Chairman Sulzer of the House
| Committee on Foreign Affairs an urgent
appeal for help. He charged the Per-
sian government with refusing 10 release
| the other Americans from their contracts.
ard said the State Department at Wash
| ington was influenced by American
Minister Charles W. Russell against
! their claims.
! Mr.. Sulzer announced he would i'm
mediately take up with Secretary Knox
the matter CT helping these fourteen
American officials, whose rights, he
opined, should be protectai by the United
States government.
Mr.. Cairns's cable dispatch, dated Te-
heran, follows:
Fourteen American officials affected
by Russian utimatum equally with
! Shuster desire release on same terms.
Have presented claims to Persian gov
ernment for full salary OF unexpired
| term, travelling expenses and allow
ances. Anglo Russian legations sup
| porting claim in good faith. Persian
/ Cabinet will obey their instructions.
! Department Of State, influenced by
| American Minister here, endeavorng de-
! strOy our claims. Is obsessed with the
| idea Of compelling Americans remain in
| Persia regardless Of our desires and un-
| bearable conditions. Your assistance
! through State Department imperative
| The State Department has supported
| American Minister Russell at Teheran
| in his differences with the fourteen Amer
! lean employees Of the Persian Treasury.
I The minister has been instructed 70 con-
/ tent himself with securing an equitable
| adjustment OF their wage claims II the
| Americans leave the Persian service.
The State Department issued a statement
| later which indicated the nature or the
| response that will be made by the depart
ment TO any inquiry by Representative
! Sulzer, TO whom the young Americans sent
| their cable message. The statement makes
/ il appear that Mr.. Shuster had been paid
| $4,000 by the Persian government in full
. satisfaction OF his claims. He had con-
tract calling for a compensation OF $1,000
y year for three years. After that time
/ the contract was to be voidable upon six
/ months notice and a bonus OF the salary
/ for that period OF time. So although Mr..
/ Shuster had served less than year. the
| Persian government paid him for three
: years and six months service.
/ The fourteen American employees under
Mr. Shuster wish to quit the service OF
/ Persia under the same conditions, although
/ some OF them have served only month
and none OF them more than six months.
/ As the Persian government had not dis
missed these men, Secretary Knox saw no
/ legal ground for supporting their claims
| but he instructed the American Minister
10 do what he could to obtain an equitable
adjustment
! one week ago these Americans cabled the
! department that their situation in Persia
would be intolerable after Mr.. Shuster
departure and that the minister failed 20
press their claims. They asked the State
! Department 70 present a strong note 10 the
Persian government. taking the ground that
their contracts mad been violated
! Teheran. Jan. 1.-THE Treasury crisis
| has taken an extraordinary turn. Acting
under the instructions Of the Cabinet. NJ
NIoruard. the Belgian ex-Director OF Per-
| sian Customs. to-day summarily took pos
! session Of the Treasury Offices, refusing
! 10 recognize the status OF /. L. Cairns,
| the American who was left I'm charge OF
! tho Treasury BY W. Morgan Shuster. the
dismissed Treasurer General. when the
! latter left Teheran yesterday for the
| United states.
NJ Nyruard, I'm acquainting Mr. Cairns
| and the other American officials OF the
| contents OF the Cabinets message, told
| them that IL there were any further delay
| I'm turning over tho Treasury not only
would they he dismissed from their posi-
! tious. but punished. This procedure is
all the more ineXplicable. as Mr.. Cairns
has shown no disposition 70 retard the
work OF transferring the office 10 the COM
mission appointed 10 take over the duties
OF Treasurer General.
IL is stated that VI. MOTnard asked the
Americans whether they were willing 10
serve under him as Treasurer General
and that they replied in the negative.
The appointment OF the Belgian as Treas
urer General appears TO have removed all
hone of preserving the financial organiza-
tion created by Mr.. Shuster