'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎413] (468/714)

THE SHAH ROYAL FAMILY—MINISTERS 413
was named Vali-Ahd, and is now Heir Apparent to the Persian
throne,
Muzaffer-ed-Din (Victorious of the Faith) is the name of this
prince, who was born in 1853, and who has now been Vali-Ahd
Muzaffer- ^ iavm g succeeded three elder brothers in the title) for
Vai?AM he ! lirty " t]iree - Tears - In accordance with another fixed
but mos t impolitic, tradition of the Kajar dynasty, the
Vali-Ahd is appointed Governor-General of the north-western
province of Azerbaijan, with his capital and palace at Tabriz
He cannot leave this province without the sanction of the Shah •
and, immured there, he remains in total ignorance of the politics
and statecraft of Teheran, of the ministers whom he may have to
depend upon, the system which he may have to dispense the
people whom he may have to rale. He does not ordinarily'even
administer the province of which he is the nominal governor but
is a mere puppet in the hands of some trusted servant of the
State. It is as though the Prince of Wales were compelled
habitually to reside at Cardiff or Carnarvon and were never
allowed to quit the borders of the Principality. Nay, it is worse;
or abnz, which is the second city in the kingdom, cannot fairlv
be compared to a small provincial town; and a better simile would
be that of an English Heir Apparent who, as heir of the Duchy of
Lancaster, was compelled to hold his court at Liverpool, but was
precluded from bearing any part in the administration of that
great county or city. Placed, moreover, in the province which is
nearest to the Eussian frontier, and is overshadowed by Russian
in uence, the Vali-Ahd is apt to contract prepossessions or
apprehensions which it is difficult to throw off, and which may affect
his entire subsequent reign. The Shah has three times been to
Lurope himself, but, unfortunately, has never so far permitted
his son to stir outside of Persia. The consequence is that but
little is known of the character and capacities of the latter which
have been variously represented as those of a polished and well-
informed gentleman and of a weak and harmless nonentity.
Dr. Wills has, I think, in his writings done a great injustice
Hischa- to the Vali-Ahd, whom, in passages to which, without
^ quoting, I may refer my readers, he has described as
physically weak and mentally imbecile, and as an impracticable
and obstinate bigot. 1
1 In the Land, etc., p. 366 ; Persia as it is, p. 176. Other books about Persia