PERSIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2494, 6 May 1909, Page 4

PERSIA.

The force of example is strongly marked in the promise of the Shall of Persia to re-open Parliament in that country, for this intention has obviously been inspired by the results of the Sul- ■ tan of Turkey’s effort to fight constitutionalism in. that country. Abdul Hamid has barely escaped with his head and his next door neighbor, Mahomet Ali, evidently considers his own circumstances to be too analogous to bear pdeasant reflections. Under the circumstances it is not surprising that he deems the present an opportune time to keep the promise he has made and brokefi half a dozen times since he made his Cossack soldiers storm the Parliament buildings in September last. At that time the Shah resented the action of his ministers in endeavoring to break up tlie Court clique, and while pretending to parley with the representatives of the people ho prepared his coup d’etat and removed those who stood in the way in the approved Oriental style. This was precisely what the Sultan of Turkey attempted and failed to succeed in, but tlie Shah of Persia had not to face the strength and organisation represented by the Young Turkish party. He carried his point, and, aftci some wholesale slaughter, drove the Constitutionalists out, and they took shelter in the city of Tabriz, which lias since become their headquarters. Here they have been subjected to a siege for many months by the Shah s troops, and a few weeks ago it appeared that they would have to surrender. As a matter of fact it was only the fear of a general massacre ensuing that prevented them submitting to their despotic sovereign. However, the liens that Russia was sending troops into the country ostensibly to protect her suojects made both parties disposed to forget their internal differences lest tlie Russian bear, having once got his huge paw fixed on a portion of Persian territory, should show a disinclination to remove it; and a national agitation was begun to protest against the advent of the Russians. Under -the British-Rus-sian agreement a distinct sphere of influence” is marked out for these two nations, and each, while promising not to interfere with the independence of the country, recognises the right of intervention within its own sphere'shou a the Persian Government fail to maintain the order that is necessary for the safety of foreigners and the conduct of commerce. However, what with the Russian' invasion and the deposition or the Turkish Sultan, Mahomed Ali lias apparently been brought to his senses and it is to be hoped the re-opening of Parliament will bring peace and added prosperity to this ancient Empire.