Evening star., 1924-08-03

sia, where Vice Consul Rob-
ert Imbrie was sla n by mob
Il of religious fanatics. and
where his wife was later insulted by
a rabble Of wild youths. holds the
attention Of Americans. not only be-
cause of it's heroic, historic past, its
interesting geographical setting, its
picturesque and romantic customs
and conditions--in such a strong con-
t-ast to our own-but most Of all
because it Is the center of many inn
portant American interests.
There Is today in Teheran an Amer
lean colony of 50 or 60 persons, in
cluding 90 engaged in missionary.
educational and health work; at least
four cultured American women! onev Of
whom only a year ago Travelled the A.
600 miles from Washington to marry
DIR. A. c. Millspaugh. who is on leave
from the State Department. and who
IS in charge of reorganiz!nS the tinan-
cial affairs of the Persian govern
ment.
On this mission DR.. MillspI gh
took with him some Is experts. most
Of whom had done notable work for
the United States Government.
With oil bidding fair to overshadow
all other products of that ancient
kingdom, an oil concession covering
20,000,o00 acres, which is probably
the largest oil concession ever made
in any country, was granted last De-
cember to the Sinclair Oil Company.
Mr.. Soper, representing this American
concern, has been in Teheran for sew
cral years negotiating for this con-
cession. which is to be ratified by
the Persian Parliament now in ses-
sion.
The Persian government has ex-
pressed itself Is most anxious to un-
dertake road and railroad conStruc
tion-lack of which has throttled for
centuries the industrial development
of that nation-with American inan-
cal and technical assistance. Anne RI
can firms have been invited to send
accredited representatives to Teheran
to negotiate directly with the au
thorities. The Clen Construction
Company Of New York has Addison
Ruan in Teheran now, negotiating for
concessions for public works such as
roads, traction lines, sewage and mod
ern water systems 81
The Staying of 1mbrie IS described
rs 4 most unfortunate occurrence,
but those in the best position to OBJ
serve the attitudes of the United
States and Persian governments are
extremely hopeful that the incident
can be closed without any serious
misunde derstanding between these gov
ernments.
1t is emphasized that the staying Of
Imprie was the work OF fanatics. as
were the assa ssinations of Lincoln,
Garfield and Mckinley in our own
country. 1t Is pointed out that for
many years Persia has shown most
friendly attitude toward the United
States, and former Persian charge
d'affaires in Washington. All kuli
Khan, married a beautiful and cul-
tured American woman, Miss Breed
Of Lynn, Mass, whose father was an
important manufacturer They are
now living in Teheran. where Ali
Kuli Khan exercises strong influence
in the government. They have one
son and two daughters, who were
born in the United States.
The present minister to Washington,
Hussein Alaii, who was elected to Par
lament and who is. now on his way
back to Persia to take his seat. has
done more than any one else In recent
years to promote friendly and Cooper
atiye relations between Persia and the
United States. 1t was chiefly through
his efforts that the Persian American
Society was founded in this country,
and he was the guest of honor at a
banquet by business men in New York
before he started back to Persia.
4 X r Z
THE Persian Parliament which is
= the supreme authority, held open
session, denouncing the outrage per-
petrated in the killing of Vice Consul
Imbrie, and extraordinary steps were
taken in declaring martial law and
in the arrest of some 200 persons, in
cluding the chief priest, Khalessi
Zadeh.
Persia is the only land of Old Testa-
ment times which retains its identity,
name and nationality to this day. and
the Lurs of Luristan, who. according
to dispatches. several months ago were
subdued by Teheran troops, are be-
lieved to be the aborigines of this
ancient country. The law of the
Medes and the Persans have become
a synonym of immutability. Persia
itself, practically railroadless, except
for f1ve-mile line that runs from
Teheran to the gold-domes shrine of
Shah Abdul Aim, and another short
line from Tabriz to Julia, on the Rus
sian frontier, is primitive and isolated,
essentially unchanged. Through the in
epiration of American missionaries,
schools and hospitals it is now eager for
improvement through great public
works, backed by American skill and
enterprise.
The World War i'll wind blew much
OF good toward Persia, for the higher
price Of silver doubled the Persian
capital, made her raw materials