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as are the nations which love justice and peace, at the revival and transforma
tion of Iran, for they wish the world and especially the Eastern countrier
to be weak and impotent, in order that there may be no obstacle to their
domination and supremacy ; and it is not only of Iran that they think in
this way. Since the day that it became clear that the strength of Italy
by sea and air had taken from Great Britain her absolute supremacy in the
Mediterranean, wrathful anxiety has possessed the whole of England.
Certainly in England, as in every other country, are to be found both
good and bad qualities and we do not wish to enter into discussion on this
point. But there is one quality which in our opinion is one of the most
prominent qualities of the English by which the entire civilized world re
cognises them and that is egoism and self-satisfaction developed to an extreme
and insane degree.
This quality is the source of many other characteristics for which the
English are notorious ; it is indeed stamped on the pages of their history
during the last two or three centuries and is especially prominent in the
gloomy history of the colonies belonging to them. From time to time the
behaviour and policy of the English in their colonies has come to the notice
of learned writers and just men, lovers of justice, and they have been stricken
with consternation and amazement that such ruthlessness and lack of mercy
could be found in human beings in human beings moreover who
claim a place in the community of civilised nations. But it is not surprising
that the English allow to the inhabitants of their colonies no right of life
or tranquillity and engage in every sort of tyranny and oppression as a matter
of course, because in them egoism has so completely overcome the forces of
reason and morality that, aware of no one but themselves, they think that
the Almighty has created millions of human beings out of flesh and bone
solely to serve their wishes and desires. Is it to be wondered at that people
who are so overwhelmed by self-love have no liking for the advance of the
Iranian nation and seek to disparage and belittle it ?
But our chief complaint against these writers who pour out their non
sense in English newspapers and other communications is that, having
cast off the bridle of self-control and self-possession which is the peculiarity
of civilised man, they should so far succumb to their emotions that under
their sway they should attack and assail that royal person who is the mani
festation of the Iranian nation, the focus of their thoughts, their will-power
and all their activities ; for we are afraid and have good reasons
for our fear that if this sort of nonsense is allowed to continue, and if the
bridle of restraint is removed from self-indulgence, then unpleasant results
will be produced in Iran and grave consequences may follow in that Anglo-
Iranian relations may be seriously damaged.
Our readers are of course aware that the foreign press was discussed
recently in the Majlis and that, at the request of certain deputies, no restric
tion was placed on the entry of the newspapers and publications containing
this sort of rubbish ; naturally this nonsense will circulate among the people
and we are sure that it will have most injurious effects on the minds of Iranians
and it is possible that unpleasant consequences may follow from this. Sup
posing that the policy of the Government does not require that action should
be taken in this matter or that any notice or attention should be paid to
these idle tales, who then will re-assure us that wise and sensible people will
act in the same way and will not get excited at these poisonous scourgings
inflicted on their nerves ?
Nevertheless, on the strength of the knowledge which we have con
cerning this people’s psychology, we are confident that the opposite will be
the case.
Iranians are full of forbearance, but not at a moment when attacks are
being made on their life, prestige and honour.
A history going back five and twenty centuries has given to the people
of this nation such sensitiveness, such high spirit and such a pride in their
country that they would rather die than, submit to insults ; especially at an