Strong Man of Iran

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 116, 12 September 1941, Page 5

Strong Man of Iran

HEN we consider the present state of Iran, we have to read it in the life of one man. Reza Kuli was born in 1878 in a castle on Mt. Alashat, not far from the shores of the Caspian Sea.’ He came of a warrior family and sycophants of to-day have traced his descent back to King Darius. Reza was brought up accordingly, studying the Koran closely in his youth, and then taking service in the Persian Cossack Brigade, which had been established for the old Shah by Russian officers, In his 30's, when it. became necessary to pawn the imperial palaces and parks to pay interest on foreign loans, Reza became profoundly convinced of the need of political reforms. Russia and Britain had now spheres of influence in Persia, and an.American financial expert was engaged to. bring the national budget to order. In the last great war Persia was the helpless stamping ground of foreign agents. Reza, meanwhile, had been gaining experience in constant operations against rebellious tribes. On one of his visits to the capital he came into touch with a political leader Zia ed Din, who persuaded him that by intervening

in politics he could save the country. Early in 1921 he led his brigade to Teheran and after a bloodless coup d’etat he was himself appointed Commanderin Chief and he made Zia ed Din premier. Later he . became unresisted dictator, and, inspired no doubt by the example of Kemal Pasha, entered upon a broad programme of reforms which in a few years put the country in a very different condition.(From a talk on Iran by Dr. Guy Scholefield, 2YA, August 26.)