New-York tribune., 1918-06-08
Relief Commission Is Or
qanized to Reconvert
Country to Allies
Subsidized Teutons
Spread Propaganda
American Board TO Be Uh-
official, but Work VIII
Be Political
tspccial DISPATCH to The Tr;bune>


WASHINGTON, June 7.-Pan-Ger-
man intrigue in Persia. given free
hand by the Russian collapse, is going
to be fought from the United States.
Persia, one of the rich goals of the
Bagdad Railway and an integral part
Of the Pan German scheme against
India, is almost ready, through ex-
haustion and disintegraton, to sue
cumb to German bribery, German
cunning and penetration.
The administration, without devoting
itself openly to the project. has sane
toned the visit of an unofficial COM
mission to Persia. The commission
will have no open purpose other than
that Of relief, but it is not doubted
here that its effect owirg to the con-
dition of Persia-will be political.
The personnel and plans, of the COM
mission will not be made public at this
time.
Persia is C. country three times the
area Of Germany, Is almost totally un-
developed and is rich in mineral de-
posits essential to industrial progress
after the war, especially copper, nickel
and manganese. British and Russian
protection before 1914 gave Turkey the
idea for similar political method. and
Persia now suffers from the danger of
conquest by Turkey on the plea of
mutual Mahometan interest or con-
quest by Germany as part of the
spreading German scheme in Asia.
Germany began to operate in Persia
Immediately after the beginning of the
war in 19lI. German business men
and clerks who went to Persia were
subsidized by the government at the
rate of SEQ marks year for their resi-
dence there and their part in the
spreading of propaganda Merchants
made consuls in every little village
Austrian aud German prisoners who
escaped from Russia into Persia were
added TO this propagandist force
The scheme reached such proportions
in the mosques against England and
Russia. The Kaiser posed in Persia, as
ne did in Turkey, as a Mahometan
and powerful friend to Islam. The
Persian army, organized by adven-
turers, went over to the German cause.
German victories were loudly adver-
tlset, whether real or imagined, and
Persia, on the road to India, seemed
in 1915 almost in the German grasp.
British advice, coldly whispered in
the ear of the youthful Shah, was all
that kept him from fleeing Teheran in
lal5 and giving up neutrality for the
German cause.
A Russian army invaded Persia
and played game Of hide and-seek
with Turkey the same year The Turks
hf-E c.I l,r~ but
chaos has opened to Germany the way
INTO Persia again, and the country,
never highly organized, is in a bad
state of Generalization.
constitutional ideas in Persia re-
celved severe setback from Russian
imperialism. Now the political parties
are waking up again and liberalism is
showing itself, but is oppressed by
pan-lslam propaganda and the financial
and industrial condition Of the people.
1t is to these objectives that the
American Commission will address it.
self Persia needs food social rcgen-
Grafton and encouragement. The COM
mission is ready to give all Of these.
american recognition of Persian need
VIII go long way toward rehabilitat-
ing the country. German propaganda
mas ma succeeded in destroying any liking
rersla may have been had for the AL
lled nations in Europe, but has never
succeeded IN tearing from the country
q. somewhat ma We admiration for the
United States.
!, Observers of affairs in Asia say that
lhe Perslans point often to the ex-
ample OF America and Cuba as a proof
oi the American will toward self deter
mination and the rights of small peo-
PIES. Persians of the liberal groups ex-
press themselves in favor of Persian
ueVslopment under American direction
alter the war as the surest means to
national development and an assured
Tree progress.
u The sending of commission to
.ntersla, however unofficial, becomes,
therefore, a move of some political sig
h!hcance in the type of warfare that
modern nations discover they are fight
ing. Germany looks long and desiring
y az the Far East. not alone at Turkey,
W. uut beyond, to India. India is great
ssone M IN the arch of British power. Con-
moi OF Russia gives Germany a new
PAIN to India but Persia and Afghan
.s' sian weak as they may be, must be
armed hrst to the same account.
IN. Inc enemy is an old hand at the
Spame OF lighting without guns The
re rersian venture has phases that are
new, under the circumstanc Of war,
IL. ~ american procedure. But the con-
ul'ions in the Eastern theatre are such
% 70 give assurances Of it's success.