Evening journal., 1918-07-12
PAN GERMAN eyes
ARE ON PERSIA NOW
Former Official in Persia
Says Central Powers Have
Sympathy of People
A SOURCE OF
FOOD SUPPLY

NEW YORK, July t2-Clemens Kahn
kollsher, former official Of the Per
Ian Finance Ministry, urges German
merchants TO lose no time in starting
Tor Persia to capture the trade Of the
Country. Writing In the Vosslsche Zeit-
lng Of May 30. he says the resources
,f the country should be brought into
Germany as fast as the ways Of com
nunication are open through Turkey,
md he adds that the Germans are look
Dd upon very favorably by the Perslans
Sho have sought in the past to play
Germany of against England and Russia
who had the chief spheres Of influence
n Persia.
Persia as the nelghbor OF our ally
Turkey" says Kolisher, with its
neasureless natural resources and its
enormous capacity for consumption OF
BUR Industrial products, Is the more in
Ieresting as the Central Powers there
lnjoy warm political sympathy which
ne young and energetic ruler Of Persia
IS well as the government and the peo-
lle has given expression to openly and
practically, unmlndful Of the huge
pressure brought TO bear on the part
bf England and husband still gives
Already at the time England and
Russia began TO employ the so-called
policy OF spheres OF interest, the Te-
heran government sought a counter
agent against the overpOwerlng neigh
Dor with an effort TO interest the mid
ile powers economically In Persia.
Shah Muzaffer-ed-Dlne, under whom /
lerved, and my two former chiefs, the
Treat reform statesmen Grand Nlzier
Emir-ed-Dovled and State Minister
Nortezza-Khan Sani-ed-Dovled, the lat
ler OF whom, as is known, was edu-
lated in Germany and was an engln-
yer from the CharlOttenburg School,
constantly emphasized this policy. I'm
fortunately these Teheran movements
we're not favOrably received in Ger
many and Austria-Hungary, which was
due TO the fact that the political Offices
pf the Central Powers were unwilling
10 disturb the English and Russian
Ipheres. and that German and Austro-
Hungarian industry and trade did not
know Persia well enough.
political movements such as those
referred TO above need not in the future
Itand IN the way Of the business-politi-
sal aims OF the middle powers, and they
ran be sure OF much more energetic
support Of their home governments. II
Is 10 be hoped that as soon as commu-
nication with Persia Is open German
and AustrO-Hungarian statesmen who
would be received in Persia with open
trms VIII begin intensive work.
"Persla could furnish 70 the Central
powers wool and cotton, raw stu1s for
ne pharmaceutical and chemical indus
nv. all Of excellent quality and at low
prices. Also in the matter Of food
Persia might play a big role. The val
ley Of the Karun River was at one time
he corn storehouse OF the Old World. /
A re-establishment Of the waterways
built at not too great cost, might bring
his corn storehouse TO new life, so that
Persia, which today produces more rice /
man is needed by its population, might
ilso become In great measure an export /
and for grains.
persia also has great mineral re-
lources. 10 Is only necessary 10 releI
Ia the oil wells which through lack OF
interest in the Central Powers have
allen into the hands Of an English com
pany. According to the official reports
N fhe English admiralty those wells
lone. have been able to supply the Brit
sh fleet in the Indian Ocean with the
fuel.
"Persia is not only raw products
country of the first rank, but also o
,ood and absorbing market for the
'roducts OF Industry Of the Central
powers. Textile wares OF all kinds and
,ueh stuns as ready-made clothes,
lboes. harness, fancy goods, tools, agri-
mltural machinery. automobiles, furni-
.,re optical goods. sugar, pharmaceu-
.ical products are greatly needed, ana
mported by Persia through lack OF
lone industry. a. II
Immediate intensive work OF the
alesman backed up suitably by the
banking interests would bring consid-
,rable successful results, all the more
asIlv siEce the two chief competitors,
England and Russia, especially since
be events Of the world war, are fear
ully hated in the country and, as is
.nown. the Orientals allow themselves
a be led in business relations by their
.olitical svmpathies."