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The impression is general among my colleagues and in the best informed political circles that nothing substantial and permanent will grow out of this sudden movement for reform. Among the many reasons advanced in support of this opinion I may cite the following: 1. The great body of the Shah's subjects have no idea of the meaning of "constitutional government." The Persian language contains no equivalent for "constitution" as we understand the term.

2. The mass of the people are illiterate; not one in a thousand can read and not one in ten thousand can write the Persian language, if we except the city of Teheran.

3. There is no middle class, whose intelligence and interests could form the basis and the guaranty of constitutional government.

4. Outside the cities not one person in a thousand is a freeholder, and it is estimated, in the total lack of statistics, that 3,000 persons, including the Shah, own three-fourths of all the land in the kingdom and virtually all the productive agricultural land.

5. History does not record a single instance of successful constitutional government in a country where the Mussulman religion is the state religion; Islam seems to imply autocracy.

6. It is generally believed that the mullahs, or Mohammedan priests, who sided with the reformers or revolutionists in the recent agitation and whose influence gained the victory for that party, will soon return to their traditional support of autocratic ideas. It is pointed out that these ecclesiastics joined in the revolutionary movement in order to compel the payment of their pensions or official salaries, which were three years in arrears, and that as soon as this financial transaction is accomplished this all-powerful caste will become at once pacified and revert to its former leanings, leaving their sincere secular colaborers to shift for themselves and to build up, if they can, a structure of free government without any solid foundation.

However these things may work out, it is certain that a committee of eight, appointed by the revolutionary leaders, is now actively at work on a constitution, a novel and difficult undertaking in the ancient Kingdom of Iran, which since the time of Ahasuerus has patiently supported a score of dynasties without once attempting to divide or to question the rights of the governing monarch.

The further development of this struggle will naturally attract the interests and sympathy of the friends of liberty throughout the world.

I am, etc.,

RICHMOND PEARSON.

[Inclosure.--Translation.]

Decree of His Imperial Majesty the Shah.

To His Highness the Sadre Azam (Grand Vizier):

As the Almighty hath committed to our care the prosperity and well-being of the Empire of Persia, and has made our royal person the protector of the rights of all the peoples and sincere subjects of our realm, therefore, at this particular time our royal will has decided that for preserving the peace and safety of the population of Persia, and in order to make strong and firm the foundations of the Government, certain reforms shall, in conformity with the spirit of the times, be introduced into the administration.

59605-FR 1906-77

In order to this end we have decided that a national assembly elected from the royal princes, prelates, members of the kingly tribe, government officials, nobles, landowners, and tradesmen shall be organized and meet at the capital, Teheran, to examine and discuss all questions of importance affecting the Government and country and the general interest of the people. And our council of patriotic ministers shall give such necessary advice, assistance, and support as shall tend to the removal of grievances and increase the happiness and tranquillity of the people; and the prime minister shall, with the most perfect assurance of safety and acceptance, present to us the results of their deliberations that they may receive the royal assent and be put into execution.

It is therefore ordained that, on the authority of this decree, a code of rules and regulations for the guidance of the assembly, together with a statement of such things and necessaries for the formation of the same, shall be prepared with the knowledge, consent, and approval of the members and presented for the royal assent, in order that the assembly, which by the help of God shall be the preserver of justice, may be efficiently organized and employed for the reform of the affairs of the country and the execution of the sacred laws.

We further declare that copies of this royal decree shall be printed and distributed to the public, that our benevolent intentions directed to the improvement of the administration and prosperity of the people of Persia, who, when fully informed thereof, may pray for the peace of the country.

Given at our palace of Sahebteranich the 14th day of Jamadi-es-Sani A. H. 1324, corresponding to the 5th of August, 1906.

PERU.

BOUNDARY DISPUTE BETWEEN PERU AND COLOMBIA.

No. 1273.]

Minister Dudley to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Lima, July 29, 1906. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy and translation of a modus vivendi between Peru and Colombia, signed at Lima on the 6th instant by the plenipotentiaries of those Governments. It is in substance the same as that celebrated in May, 1904 (see the legation's No. 979, of Aug. 31, 1904), intended as a temporary solution. of the territorial disputes of the two countries in the Putumayo region while awaiting the final settlement of the question by arbi

tration.

In this connection I quote the following pertinent passage from the message of President Pardo, read before the Peruvian Congress on the 28th instant:

On September 12, 1905, our minister at Bogota concluded with the Government of Colombia three conventions, which my Government submitted to the former Congress in its ordinary session.

The first is a treaty of general arbitration, similar to the one we have conIcluded with the Kingdom of Italy.

The second is a special treaty of arbitration relating to our boundary question wherein, as in former treaties of the same character which have been heretofore concluded with that Republic, the controversy is submitted to the decision, to be based upon considerations of equity, of His Holiness Pope Pius X. But as our question with Colombia is connected with the one with Ecuador, it has been agreed that the arbitration with Colombia shall only take place after the termination of the one in which we are now proceeding with Ecuador, upon the adjudication by the royal Spanish arbitrator to Peru of territories which are likewise claimed by Colombia.

Finally, the third pact arranged at Bogota is a provisional modus vivendi, the object of which was to avoid conflicts imminent in the region of the Putumayo, which might have disturbed the friendly relations of the two countries and have interfered with the arbitration which is to decide the boundary controversy.

The two first-mentioned treaties, of general and of special arbitration, are still before the Peruvian Congress awaiting ratification. Copies of them will be found in the Bulletin of the Peruvian Ministry for Foreign Relations, No. IX, two copies of which I expect to forward the department by the same mail with this.

The third of these compacts was never carried into effect in consequence of difficulties which were encountered, due to the difference in the customs tariffs of the two countries. This made further legislative action necessary to the execution of the pact within the disputed territory. The modus vivendi of July 6, 1906, was therefore negotiated in lieu of the former one. It is held not to require legislative ratification and has gone into effect at once.

I have, etc.,

IRVING B. DUDLEY.

[Inclosure.---Translation.]

MODUS VIVENDI BETWEEN PERU AND COLOMBIA.

The Governments of Peru and Colombia, carrying into effect the objects of a fraternal settlement which determined the celebration of the treaty of arbitration of boundary questions signed at Bogota on September 12, 1905, and in order to assure harmony between the two countries, united by close bonds of friendship, have resolved to celebrate a pact conducive to that end, with which object in view they have named their plenipotentiaries, viz:

His Excellency the President of the Peruvian Republic, Dr. Javier Prado y Ugarteche, minister of state, in charge of the foreign office; and Dr. Hernan Velarde, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Peru in Colombia, at present in Lima; and His Excellency the President of Colombia, Mr. Luis Tanco Argáez, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Colombia in Peru; who, after showing their full powers, which were found to be in correct and due form, have agreed on the following:

1. The Governments of Peru and Colombia agree to maintain the statu quo in the disputed territory between the two countries until the definite solution of the controversy through the arbitration agreement entered into at Bogota on September 12, 1905.

2. In order to prevent every difficulty and dangerous conflict in the region of the Putumayo, the Governments of Peru and Colombia agree to withdraw from that river and its tributaries during this provisional situation all garrisons, civil and military authorities, and custom-houses they have established there. 3. In consequence of the friendly character of this agreement, the conditions of commercial traffic shall be identical for Peruvians and Colombians on the Putumayo and its tributaries, and the merchant vessels of both one and the other shall be entitled to its free navigation.

4. The Governments of Peru and Colombia bind themselves to make no alterations in the régime which this pact lays down until such time as the boundary question between the two countries is definitely settled.

5. The foregoing stipulations do not in any way signify the renunciation or acknowledgment of territorial rights in favor of either one or the other, their sole object being the avoidance of conflicts in that region, thus facilitating the amicable solution sought by both Republics.

6. This agreement, which replaces in all its clauses that of a like character celebrated at Bogota on September 12, 1905, will be immediately put into effect by both parties, to which end the necessary orders will be at once issued. In witness whereof they sign the present document in duplicate and seal it with their private seals, at Lima, on July 6, 1906.

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SIR: Referring to Mr. Neill's No. 1213, of December 14, 1905, I have the honor to advise the department that the treaty of commerce recently concluded at Lima between Peru and Bolivia, and which is intended to replace their treaty of June 7, 1881, was ratified by the Peruvian Congress yesterday. The latter treaty was denounced by Bolivia and will continue in force only until the 30th of June next. I have, etc.,

IRVING B. DUDLEY.

"Printed in Foreign Relations, 1905, p. 738.

No. 1278.]

ENCOURAGEMENT OF IMMIGRATION.

Minister Dudley to the Acting Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Lima, August 14, 1906. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith two copies and a translation of a decree of this Government, dated the 10th instant, providing for the encouragement of immigration to this country by the payment of the passages of immigrants under specified conditions.

As stated by President Pardo in his last message to Congress, the two main obstacles to agricultural development in Peru are the insufficiency of laborers and the scarcity on the coast of water. The problem of the increasing of the water supply has been receiving the attention of the government corps of engineers during the past few years, several Americans having aided therein, especially with a view to developing subterranean water.

I have, etc.,

IRVING B. DUDLEY.

[Inclosure.-Translation.]

(From El Comercio, Lima, Peru, August 11, 1906.)

The President of the Republic:

Whereas, it is convenient to lay down rules for the expending of the item set apart for the promotion of immigration in the general budget now in force, in a way best suited to obtaining the object in view:

Decrees

First. The State will provide third-class passages for the natives of Europe and America who may wish to introduce industrial or private enterprises, provided that they fulfill the following conditions: (a) That they are from 16 to 50 years of age, if they are males, and from 10 to 40 if they are females, fulfilling the conditions of morality and health laid down in the rules now in force. (b) That they come to engage in agriculture, in mining, or in other industries, or to devote themselves to these occupations for account of colonization, immigration, or irrigation enterprises.

Second. The payment of the passages will be made through the consuls of the Republic in the ports of shipment in view of the orders cabled by the ministry of fomento, to which office must be presented in writing the request of the interested parties for such payment, indicating at the same time the number of immigrants, the agricultural estate or industrial establishment to which they are destined, and declaring themselves obliged to provide lodging, board, and medical attendance for the immigrants from the port of landing to the place of destination.

Third. The consuls of the Republic, on receipt of the order from the minister of fomento, shall make the payment of the passages to the steamer companies direct, with previous personal and individual evidence that the immigrants fulfill the conditions set forth in Article I of this decree, and for this purpose they shall give a certificate to each immigrant, which shall be collected by the maritime authorities of the port of landing and afterwards forwarded to the ministry of fomento.

Fourth. A general register of immigrants shall be opened in the agricultural section of the ministry of fomento, in accordance with the models and instructions obtained from that department.

Fifth. The outlay incurred by the compliance with this decree shall be charged to item No. 13 of the extraordinary expenses of the department of fomento, in the general budget now in force.

Given in the Government House at Lima, on the 10th day of the month of August, 1906.

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