Evening star., 1926-04-29

A few days ago a new Shah OF
Persia was crowned, and because his
name was Rem an imaginative
correspondent from London sent
broadcast a vivid and romantic story
Of how he had risen from the ranks OF
stable boy and private soldier in the
Persian army and become King OF the
great Oriental nation. He detailed
how Reza Khan had fought the Bull
garians in the World War and later
had been stationed as military attache
at Persian embassies in various Eu-
ropean capitals, where he had been
popular because he was a spendthr11t
and a good fellow"
Mr.. Kazemi, charge d'affaires Of the
Persian legation in Washington, de-
clares that his imperial majesty, Reza
Shah Pahlavi, has never been outside
of Persia but once, and that was
when he, as minister OF war, accom-
panied a military expedition against
Iraq. He never fought Bulgaria or
any other country in the World War
and was never attached to any Eu-
ropean Persian legation. though in
younger days he might have been
stationed as guard before some Euro
pean legation in Persia.
The name "Reza" Is as common in
Persia as is Smith" in America, but,
says Mr.. Kazeni, it is hardly accurate
to accumulate all the characteristics
and anecdotes of all the "ReZas" and
attach them to one individual, simply
because he has risen to distinction.
Even the charge d'affaires has not yet
received an official biographical out
line Of his imperial majesty. but is
assured that he is extremely popular
throughout Persia. being a "strong
ho G
Iini in Italy, for Mussolini has his op-
ponents, while his majesty Reza
Shah has Monochrome at all
By his genius, Reza Shah has risen
from the grade Of private to be a gem
eral. then minister of war and prime
minister and finally Shah.
He supersedes the Shah OF the pre-
vious dynasty who had been too weak
and cowardly to hold the scepter and
had absented himself in pleasure-seek-
ing Europe.
y: X x j.
Persia. is off the beaten path of
commerce or tourist travel. More is
remembered of it's ancient kings,
Darius and Cyrus, than OF It's modern
development. Persia has long looked
uuon Russia as her chief enemy, due
to Czarist encroachments upon her
northern boundaries and assumption
of q zone Of influence covering her
northern provinces or states. she
was not direct participant in the
world hostilities.
X x X i;
Persia has an area equal to the
combined area of Spain, France. Ger.
many and Belgium. or equal to all
the States of the United States east
of Ohio, from Maine to F1orida-62S,'
600 square emiles-extending from the
Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf and
Arabian Sea. 1t is the land-gateway
between the Near East and the Far
West. It is mostly desert and
|. plateau, cold in Winter and extremely
hot in Summer, with little OF interest
to the traveller, except to the sclen-
tific searcher after ancient ruins.
Since no census has been taken or
the population, estimates vary from
| 1000, 900 to 200, ,000, 600, but, according
| to British authority, the number is
between 100000 and 100000.
It is inaccurate to describe the peo'
| pie as partly nomads and partly
villagers. for most Of the villagers be.
come nomads at certain seasons, TAX.
ing their fiocks into pastures. Eighty
| per cent Of the inhabitantsF retain
| tribal relations, ruled by Khans, but
| these feudal institutions have been
| weakening in recent years, and the
central government strengthening.
i: X x
| The Kajar dynasty, now superseded
by Reza Khan, was of Tartar origin,
dating back to 1894. 1t established
the Shah form of Islam as the re-
ligion Of the country. differing from
the Orthodox Islam Of Turkey. The
shahs held absolute power. until in
1906, when. under political pressure
Muzafaru'ddin Shah convoked a ma
tional assembly (Mejliss) to frame q
constitution. He died the next year