Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 269 Club Activities (Part 2)

The Free Press newspaper dropped a bombshell on the previously tranquil media industry, becoming the first organization to vehemently advocate for a constitutional monarchy and territorial expansion. Prior to this, other groups had been advising the government to establish a constitution in a more moderate manner, arguing that Iran's conditions were not yet ripe for a complete overhaul and that a slow, gradual approach was necessary.

The Liberal Party's proposal accelerated the process and sparked a major discussion in all newspapers, especially its map of Greater Iran, which was intended to offend both Britain and Russia.

The Progressive Association's newspaper, The Sun, refuted the Freedom Party's claim that a parliament should only be convened when the country has developed to a certain stage, and that being too hasty would cause Iran to lose all the achievements of the past decade of reforms.

Besides the Progressive Association, other groups also joined the debate. Some supported convening Parliament as soon as possible, while others opposed it; on nationalism, they unanimously believed that eastern Egypt, southern Ottoman territory, and Afghanistan were Iranian territories. However, their views differed when it came to Britain and Russia.

Despite facing numerous attacks, the Liberal Party's formation still attracted a considerable number of people, primarily university students.

"With the future of the nation and the happiness of the people as the premise, a parliament must be established. Only by pooling wisdom can the nation stay on the right track."

Akbar has begun writing his second article, and the Liberal Party's reputation is now quite established. The next step is to recruit members to expand its influence and also secure sponsorships, otherwise, it won't have the funds to continue operating.

"Chairman, Navarro sent me back to inform you that the fundraising has been secured. The Hodney Company is willing to provide 4000 riyals to support us."

4000 riyals can support 40 families for a while, although it's still a bit little, it's a good start.

"Besides this, are there any others?" Akbar asked.

“Currently, some members have donated money, and some shop owners are also willing to sponsor us. In total, we can get 16000 riyals.”

Akbar was very happy, as this showed that the Liberal Party's ideals had gained considerable support. However, he also received some bad news, such as the Progressive Association and some nobles having a very negative view of them; he could tell immediately that they were worried about losing power after the constitution was established.

"The more they suppress us, the more they fear us. We are on the right path. Let them come, we will handle it all."

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Naserdin looked at today's newspaper and asked his chief bodyguard, "Does this Liberal Party really have that much influence? I heard they organized a march in the South."

In response to Carlo's question, the chief of guard replied immediately. "Shah, according to our understanding, there were approximately 600 people who participated in the march. They hope that the government can open parliament as soon as possible."

Nasserdin's inquiries were merely out of interest; he was just asking a couple of questions. Don't expect the Shah to support them; there's no such thing as selfless politics. "There will be a parliament, but not now. Let others argue with them; a lively atmosphere is the melody of this era."

Nasserdin no longer wanted to think about this, because a panel of experts already existed domestically as the front line of parliament. Meanwhile, news from the western part of the new frontier meant that Iran had to commit even more resources.

Syria, Cyprus, and Jerusalem felt like the sky had fallen upon learning of the Ottoman defeat. The world's undisputed leader was utterly humiliated by Iran, the second-largest power and also considered a heretic. Does this mean Iran is stronger than the Ottomans, and that they need a new leader?

Egypt was also envious. Why was it that when it fought the Ottomans, it was ganged up on by European countries, while Iran got no country to fight it? That's unfair!
But what could they do now that things had come to this? They could only blame the Ottoman Empire for being utterly incompetent.

One clause in the treaty between Iran and the Ottoman Empire allowed Iran to build railways to cities like Damascus and invest there. In order to gain control of the region as quickly as possible, Iran offered preferential treatment to businessmen who invested in the Ottoman Empire.

From the Ottoman government's perspective, in reflecting on the reasons for their defeat, many insightful individuals also believed that one of the main causes was the insufficient number of railways, which severely hampered the transportation of wartime military supplies and personnel. Therefore, they decided to build a domestic railway network.

News of the Ottoman Empire's plan to build a railway reached European countries, all of whom expressed their willingness to provide funding and technology. The first railway started in Istanbul and terminated at the Mediterranean port of Thessaloniki. Ultimately, it was a joint project between Britain and France, as no other power could compete with them.

In addition, the Ottomans planned to build railways connecting various parts of the Balkans and transportation inland in Anatolia, but these were estimated to cost at least £2500 million. Even Britain would find it difficult to swallow this whole, so competing for this lucrative project became their task.

In terms of imports and exports, Iran's exports to the Ottoman Empire surged to 286 million rials within four months. This is due to the high quality and low prices of its goods, giving it a strong competitive edge.

As cheap Iranian cotton yarn began arriving in remote towns and villages, Ottoman agricultural producers, especially women, largely stopped spinning and devoted more time to market-oriented agricultural activities. Increased cultivation of cash crops also boosted Ottoman exports.

Furthermore, opening the imperial territory to international trade and foreign capital was a key aspect of Ottoman fundraising. Goods from Europe and Iran could freely enter the Ottoman Empire, causing the central government to lose many commercial privileges, such as monopolies and taxation, rights that could have prevented further deterioration of the empire's finances.

However, a new situation emerged within the Ottoman Empire: while factories were appearing, they were mostly owned by minority groups such as Armenians and Greeks. The mainstream Turkish population was relatively small. This unbalanced economic situation sowed the seeds for future division.

If Russia was a national prison and Austria a national melting pot, then the Ottoman Empire was a national hell. Superficial leniency could not conceal the internal situation: the Turks' suppression of minorities and the Sultan's arbitrary actions against the government. All of this led Ottoman intellectuals to consider saving the nation through more radical reforms.

The time for dismantling the Ottoman Empire is fast approaching. Such a vast territory requires the involvement of at least seven or eight countries to stabilize Iran's borders. Like Russia and Prussia, they seem eager to tear France to pieces. If it weren't for Britain's intervention, they probably would have done just that.

Besides the Old World, the New World cannot be neglected either. A country with vast landmasses and abundant resources is a future enemy and must be partitioned. This is in line with offshore balance.

(End of this chapter)