A SELF-MADE SHAH.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1926, Page 4

A SELF-MADE SHAH.

(Bv an Englishman in Persia). • Six feet in height, 50 years ol age, with strong features and a rather severe expression. Keza. Shah, whoso dramatic career will culminate in his coronation at Teheran on Sunday, is an imposing figure. Used to command, lie is primarily a man of action, and, unlike his predecessors, Lilias shown that he will not be content to look on and lead a life of luxury. A postal motor-lorry was recently ) ebbed by brigands near The Shah hurried to the Ministry ol War early in the morning, ordered I be Minister to proceed immediately to the scene, and dismissed the general commanding the troops in that district lor allowing such a thing to happen. 'J ho brigands were caught and dealt with, and the looted postal matter was recovered.

Born of humble parents, lieza has spent practically bis whole life ill the Army, which he joined ,at the age ot 12. Me passed through all the ranks of the Cossack Brigade, until 1921, when, as a colonel at the head of some 3,000 troops, he inarched on Teheran Kazvin and effected his memorable coup d'etat, his first aim being the reorganisation of Die army as a barrier against the threatened Bolshevist incursion. Roza's first open rupture with the deposed Shall occurred when the latter was proved to be implicated in a plot against bis lile at the end of 1923. The Prime Minister was exiled, and the Shah himself went on a protraded tour of Europe from which ho never returned.

Li the following year the present Shah, then Prime Minister, realising

that it was hopeless to expect lie remitry to make any real progress under an absent monarch who was Shall in name only, started 'his ill-advised move in favour of a Republic, no doubtencouraged and influenced by Mustaplm Kemal’s success. This move was frustrated at the last, moment by the hostile demonstrations of the people, egged on by the clergy. But lest October Parliament unanimously voted the deposition of the Shah and appointed Roza Khan Pahlnvi head of the Provisional Government.

A few weeks later the Assembly met and the Crown was bestowed on Rear Shall, who thus succeeded in emulating the first Napoleon by rising to a throne from the same humble beginning.