NEWS OF THE WEEK.
EVENTS in Persia have moved rapidly during the week. The act of the Shah in taking sanctuary at the Russian Legation, which we recorded last Saturday, was of course tantamount to abdication. The same day (Friday week) Colonel Liakhoff put himself and his Persian Cossacks at the disposal of the Nationalists. A meeting between him and the Nationalist leaders was arranged by the secretaries of the British and Russian Legations. The negotiations threatened at one time to be spoiled owing to an outburst of firing, but this soon ceased, and Colonel Liakhoff was pleasantly received by the Bakhtiari chief. The populace cheered enthusiastically when the two men were seen riding together. The deposition of the Shah was formally announced by the National Council the same evening, and Sultan Ahmed Mirza, his son, was chosen to succeed him. The new Shah is only eleven years old. According to the Times special correspondent, he wept bitterly when told that he must be a King, and leave his parents. However, he pulled himself together, and promised the National Council to be a good ruler. The late Shah has placed himself in the hands of the Russian Government, and is said to wish to live in the Crimea. The new Shah, who is for the present living at Sultanatabad, made a formal entry into Teheran on Tuesday, when he was greeted with acclama- tion. In the evening there were illuminations, and the city is said to be restored to complete confidence and to its normal routine. A Nationalist Cabinet has been formed.
