PERSIAN TANGLE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1188, 25 July 1911, Page 5

PERSIAN TANGLE.

—. —*_ PREMIER UNDER RUSSIA'S : WINO. By TeleErarh-Press Association-Oopyrlebl (Hoc. July 24, 9.25 p.m.). Teheran, July 24. Mohamcd AH, tho ox-Shah, has entered Astrabad, in Northern Persia. Government action has been paralysed by tho refusal of the Premier to leave Russian protection. Though tho Premier is universally suspected of treason, the Mcjliss is unable to rid itself of him, A SUSPECTED LEADER. From tho recent Press Association messages it is not clear who is the Premier of Persia. In June the then Premier, Muhtasliim es-Saltaneh, iled hurriedly for Europe. Sipahdar Khan was invited to tako the vacant post and returned to do so. Then it was stated that all parties in tho llejliss were co-operating to select a new Premier. Whether the Premier now in refuge is Jluhtashim, the Sipahdar, or some other person does not appear. As the Sipahdar has long been suspected of pro-Russian tendencies, it is probably bo of whom the Jlejliss is anxious to be rid. Writing of the situation in Persia on the occasion of one of tho numerous Cabinet charges that have taken ploeo during tho last year, "Tho Times" correspondent said:—"Out of the tangle of divergent opinion only one distinct feature emerges—the active antagonism of a small number of militant Nationalist* in tho -Mcjliss towards the Sipahdar. How this antagonism originated is difficult to w, but there seems no doubt that the Sipahdar has become more and moro (lis object of their detestation on the ground of his alleged pro-Russian tendencies, and repeated attempts have been made to separate him from Serdar Assad and oust him from Cabinet. . . . Probably, if tho truth wcro known, manv would bo glad to see both the Sipahdar and Serdar Assad outside the Cabinet. But the group of militant Nationalists cannot rely upon a snatch division, with a majority in their favour which would bring about the downFall of these two Ministers, because of ™o 'oar entertained by tho greater part ot the Mejliss that their exclusion, from the Cabinet might very likely promote a disturbance ami thus give grounds for the introduction of a Russian garrisxin in laheran. The Nationalists think that, impatient of opposition and sensitive to criticism, tho Sipahdar is too imbued with the spirit cf tho ancient regime ever to make a satisfactory head of a Constitutional Government. . . . What Persia J?";I'}*1'}* wants it the present moment is' a Cabinet of four or five square-headed, practical business men who will bru«h aside the airy cobweb of showy talk and vague aspirations and labour unremittingly at the dull routine of putting tho finances in order and establishing on solid foundations an efficient system of government.