Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-24

Of the worlds markets and her loss of
imports and exports.
It Is the future that Persia IL wor-
war wool. cotton, wheat, sheep, leath-
or. tobacco. mineral salts. parafln oil
and wax. almond. pistache and other
dried fruits. dates. opium. carved wood.
rugs. raw silk. mosaic silver. artistic
stool and handwork embroideries Most
OF these went to Russia, England and
Turkey-the opium going to China in
great quantities. before the nations en-
tered into an international agreement
70 curo the opium traffic-but since
the war these exports have been cut
on. The port through which most of
these exports went was Constantinople.
Allies Aim at Constantinople.
Constantinople is occupied now with
other matters than those connected with
the development or handling of commerce
as the allies pound away trying to take
1t from the Turk
Through this port, too. has come into
Persia from many countries manufactured
goods Of all classes-sewing machines,
agricultural machinery, cloth, boots and
shoes. the thousand and one odd things
OF daily life. Persia is most anxious to
buy them. and cannot do so because of
the war. Germany has been very large
exporter to Persia, a business that has
been stopped. too. The Germans have
shipped from Hamburg to the Persian
gulf, paid long and heavy freights. and
have made money in Persia They have
given long credits there, just as they
have done in the pan-American countries,
competing even with Russia, situated
nearer Persia. geographically.
All this being so, PerSians are now
looking to the United States. as many
OF the Latin American countries have
done during the past year, as a country
from which to get goods and to which to
ship surplus merchandise.
Another Port Suggested.
Persians believe that it will be possible
to economically ship goods through the
port Of Bushire (Abu Shehr), on the
Persian gulf, as well as 1t was possible
to ship by way of Constantinople and
thenee overland. Merchants of the
United States. it is said, could do this,
shipping by way of Gibraltar, Port Said,
the Suez canal and the Red sea, as easily
as the merchants of Germany have in the
past done SO from Hamburg to Con-
stantinople, if not easier
There are said to be great opportunities
In Persia now. and the Persian people,
since the visit home last year Of Mehdi
Ahmed Khan, understand the people of
the United States and the Persian oppor-
tunity In the United States. for perhaps
the first time in their lives. Recent ad-
vices from that country, or, rather. the
latest, for there has not been a mail re-
ceived at the Persian legation in Wash
inGton Tor forty days, are to the effect
that one square meter of silk rag car
pet which formerly cost 500 can now be
bought for $40 or $35, because the goods
that have been manufactured in Persia
are being stored away without a market
The prices of everything else are said to
have similarly declined
Stores Of Coal and Iron.
There is an inexhaustible store of
coal and iron in Persia, and the other
natural resources Of the country are
similarly rich. Some English and Rus
sian capital has been used to deyelop
the country and there are a number
or concessions in existence, but these
have not been worked lately
1t is said to be the ambition of the
PERSIAN minister to bring about closer
commercial relations between the
united States and his country OF the
fact that there are diplomatic or conn
mercial proposals of this character on
1901 there can be no doubt. although
cuss such possibility, in the absence.
he said. Of instructions from his gov
eminent. It Is understood in Wash
fngton that the Persian legation is
seriously handicapped by the lack of
communication facilities, caused bv the
war, with Persia. and that even cable
grams now have to travel long. new
route, caused by the war. from Tehe-
ran to MOSCOW. to India, and Australia,
thence via San Francisco to Washing
ton, with many relays, and DELAYS in
volving as much as forty-eight hours.
at times.
Minister Anxious to Aid.
Nevertheless, the Persian minister's
friends believe. fired with ambition.
as they say he is, to be of service to
his country, that he may yet succeed in
bringing Persia out of the isolation
caused by the war. and into closer
markets. He is man of means. not
In Washington because of the oppor-
tunfty to earn salary in the diplo-
matte service, with all its attendant
the contrary it is said that he has re-
turned to Washington. to be of service
to his country and to his friends in
the United States. He is, by the way.
close friend of John L. Caldwell
of Kansas. United States minister to
Teheran
Persia is country of 10000 900 popula-
ton, In a territory of $4,000 square
miles. 1t is being governed now, it is
said, in the most modern manner. Sui
tan Ahmed Shah Kadjar, the new ruler
ls-but nineteen years old, although his
most recent photographs make him
look much younger even than that.
Nevertheless, he was educated in Per-
sia, speaks several languages, takes a
great interest, it is said, in public af-
fairs, and is very much loved by the
people. He has surrounded himself
with cabinet of men versed in states
manshfp, under whom he is STUDYING
the business of government, and great
things are expected of him by the Per-
sian people. He has modern ideas. and
under his rule, 1t is said, Persia is ex-
pected to take forward strides, if she
can. overcome the handicap as to world
markets which the war has placed
upon her.
- Not to Be Dragged Into War.
Persia is not troubled, at this time.
fortunately for the success of her COM
mercial ambitions, with any national
troubles. nor does she anticipate being
dragged into the war. The country has
an army of between 10000 and 5000,
on peace footing, which could be rails
ed under her system of government to
a much larger number in a short time.
Germany and Austria are too far away
for her to fear any attack by them, and
the Persians are not afraid of either
England or Russia. whose capital has
aided in her development. Turkey is
her neighbor on the west. but Turkey is
fully occupied in the war on the side
of her allies. AuStrO-Hun and Car