EXILED SHAH'S COUP

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 64, 6 September 1911, Page 3

EXILED SHAH'S COUP

DRAMATIC LAXDTXG TX PERSIA TO REGAIN HIS THRONE. "TRIBES IX REVOLT. . SEQUEL TO CLEVER INTRIGUES. London, July 19. The ex-Shah has made ti, dramatic landing on Persian territory with the object of regaining the throne. After two years of exile, spent in wandering about the capitals of Europe, he has suddenly appeared on the shore of the Caspian Sea. and joined the Turcoman Tribes with whom he has long been intriguing. Anarchy prevails throughout Persia. The ex-Shah's brother is supporting his cause in Kurdistan, and other followers have appeared in- the north, east, and south. The Teheran Government is incapable of coping with the widesnread disorder. Villages have been pillaged, caravans rendered-unsafe. The.Cabinet resigned a few days ago, and the Reg(!i)t. who represents the thirteen-year-old Shah, is left alone to deal with this grave situation. Great Britain and Russia, have made repeated representations to the Persian Government that order must be restored on the trade routes, but the Government has proved itself entirely incompetent to deal with the prevailing chaos. It will now be necessary for the two Powers to adopt measures to protect their respective interests.

Mohammed Ali, the ex-Shah, was living in ii villa near Vienna until July 0. when he left apparently for the purpose of taking the waters at Mnricnbad. By returning to Persia he has forfeited his pension of £10,500 a vear. RUSSIA BLAMED FOR IT. Teheran, Julv IS.

Mohnmmed Ali, the cx-Shah, has landed on Persian territory at Gumesh Tepeh, on the Caspian, near Astrabad. among the Turcoman tribes, with whom he has been for some time in communication.

During Husein Kuli Khan's tenure as Foreign Minister last year strong representations were made'on the subject of these intrigues to the British and Russian Legations. According to information received by the Persian Government, and communicated to the two Legations. Mohammed Ali has latterly been iucreasinglv active against the present regime.

His favorite, Majjalal-es-Sultan. .who was also accorded Russian protection in September, 1000, has now suddenly appeared in Azerbaijan among the Shahseyen tribesmen,' whom he is endeavoring to instigate to rebellion. Other supporters of (he cx-Shah have recently arrived at ISnkn with a large supply of cartridges, and. in spite of the representations of the Persian Government, were allowed to ' proceed to I'etrovsk, in Russian territory, where they had a conference with certain chiefs of the Turcoman tribes. That the ex-Shah should have been permitted to land on Persian territory is attributed here either to collusion or gross carelessness on the part of the. Russian authorities.

The strength of the force accompany ing the ex-Shah is not known.

ABOUT THE SHAH.

The news of the return of Mohamed Ali Mirza. the ex-Shah of Persia, comes exactly two years and two days after his deposition in favor of Ahmed Mir/.a. his eleven-year-old. son. He has obviously determined to profit by the prevailing anarchy in Persia and the growing revolt against the Regent to attempt to regain the throne. The ex-Shah has been kept well informed of the increasing discontent in Persia under the rule of the Regent. During his two years' residence abroad he has been in constant communication with his supporters. ( After his deposition a protocol was signed by the British, Russian and Persian representatives, in which the two former agents agreed (o "warn" the exi Shah against future political agitation. After leaving Teheran he tool; up his residence in the palace of M. Sukhomiloll'. Marshal of Nobility of the Government of Kherson, at Odessa. This residence [Was luxuriously refurnished, and one l.vcar'< rent paid in advance by a Russian I Courl chamberlain, who was sent from St. Petersburg. Mohamed Ali fired of Odessa after living there for some mouths, and he began a lour of Europe, which included most of the capitals, lie went to Vienna last December, and afterwards to Paris and Berlin. lie spent some time at Nice, Brussels, and Berlin, and then returned to Odessa, whence ho set out on bis present expedilicm. The ex-Shah never abandoned the idea of regaining his throne. He corresponded vegi.larly with his followers in Persia, and one letter, in which he urged the Turcoman tribes to support the rebels in Miizenderan. fell into the hands of the Government last October.