October 22.
Recenr news in regurd to Persia shows that the patience of even Sir Edward Grey has a limit. The hope was entertained, when four years ego the first Persian Parliament was established, that a new ora was opening for this country, which bad previously been chiefly known for the production of rebellion, carpets, cats and a Shab who was reported to have said that' a visit to Epsom to see the Derby ran would be a waste of time, as he knew already that one horse could run faster than another." The conclusion of the Anglo-Russian Convention in 1907, by removing; the danger of independent external pressure by the two Powers that alone any legitimate interests in Persia, relieved the Persians of any real fear of loss of independence and left them free to devote their energy, their talents und their patriotism to the task of internal reform. In this connexion it interesting to recall that, by this Convention, the two Powers themselves to respect Persia's integrity and independence, covenanted to restrict their commercial actiyities to their own " zones," Russia in the North, Great Britain in the South, and-agreed to institute a control over the sources of revenue in the regions thus reserved in case of irregularities arising in the redemption of, or payment of interest on, Persian loans. The e: tions have not been realized. ¢ Shah, Mahomed Ah, took the oath of fidelity to the constitution in November 1907, but his instincts were entirely reactionary and, after a period of uncertainty daring which the balance of power alternated between the Court and the Constitationalists, the latter were effectively silenced, fora time, in June 1908 by the roar of artillery, which by the Shab's: orders, was turned upon the building in which the Mejliss was attempting to exercise its right to legislate. To emphasize his disapproval of the new regime the Shah had several of the Nationalists hanged. The Mojliss was formally dissolved and a promise was given that a new Parliament would be! summoned. The promise was not) Kept and in November 1908 the Constitution was abolished. Under pressure from, Great Britain and Russia the Shah granted a new Constitution, but his repentance) Egypt will rise was too lute and on July 16,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.