PREFACE
| ‘كه كشور به بیگانگان اوفتد‘ | ‘بایران مباد آنچنان روز بد |
| ‘بیفتد بزیر جوانان روس | ‘نخواهم زماني كه اين نو عروس |
| ‘شود همسر لردی از انگلیس | ‘بگیتی مباد آنکه این حور دیس |
(
Arabic characters)
When Írán shall become the stranger’s thrall!
Neer may I see that virgin fair and pure
Fall victim to some Russian gallant’s lure!
And ne’er may Fate this angel-bride award
As serving-maiden to some English lord!”
(Verses written in prison at Trebizonde by Mírza Áqá Khán of Kirmán in 1896, shortly before he suffered death.)
It is always, I think, helpful to the reader if at the very threshold of his book the author will indicate in general terms the thought which underlies it and the point of view from which it has been written. Now this book, though, in view of the difficulty of fully examining or impartially criticising contemporary events, I have not ventured to entitle it a history, is in fact intended for such; and I have naturally endeavoured first to collect, co-ordinate and weigh all available information, and then to present as faithful a summary of the conclusions to which it has led me as I have been able to frame. It is a truism, but likewise a truth, and a truth, moreover, often overlooked in practice, that, even when there is agreement as to the facts of a case, there will be differences of opinion not only as to their interpretation in matters of detail, but as to the verdict to which they lead. Argument can only be fruitful when there is
