Bahai Administration Part 24

I feel impelled by the force of various circ.u.mstances to share with you the news of recent happenings in those countries of the Near and Middle East which, by the ruling of Providence, are in these days undergoing a transformation which is as startling in its features as it is significant in its bearings upon the interests of our beloved Faith.

I have already in my previous communication briefly referred to the nature and effects of that momentous Revolution which has, with surprising swiftness, subst.i.tuted a westernized and rejuvenated Turkey for the primitive and decrepit Ottoman Empire. I have also attempted to describe the first stages of that recent and moving episode which has served in a manner that is truly providential to thrust the Baha'i community in Turkey out of the obscurity of oppressive neglect into the broad daylight of official and public attention.

Recently, however, from the reports that have been received from the elected representatives of the believers in different parts of Turkey, it appears that the investigations conducted by the Police authorities in the capital and provinces of that land have proved but a preliminary to a more official and detailed inquiry into the Baha'i position with respect to the laws recently promulgated by the Republican government. For no sooner were the followers of Baha'u'llah released from detention at the Police headquarters and given the a.s.surance that their Faith was in no way a.s.sociated with any political design or motive, than an official communication was delivered to their representatives summoning them to appear before the State's criminal Tribunal on the charge of infraction of the law of the Republic requiring the registration and authorization of all public gatherings and a.s.sociations within the jurisdiction of the State. To this summons our brethren yielded immediate and implicit obedience. They indeed welcomed this further opportunity to a.s.sert not only the innocence of their Faith but to vindicate as well the sublimity of the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Realizing that with this fresh development their case has a.s.sumed a solemn and juridical character, the undaunted champions of the Cause resolved to seek the a.s.sistance of an expert and sympathetic advocate, who would reinforce from a purely legal standpoint the spiritual argument which they reserved for themselves to propound. For a period ranging from a week to eighteen days the attention of the officers of the Court, of the elected representatives of the believers, of their officially appointed advocates, and of the visiting public was focused upon the deliberations of a Court that closely scrutinized not only the conduct and motives of the Baha'i followers but the laws and principles, the past history and the present position of the Faith itself.

Trial of Turkish Believers

Fortified by the reflection that never before in Baha'i history have the followers of Baha'u'llah been called upon by the officials of a State, responsible for the administration of Justice, to unfold the history and principles of their Faith, our brethren in Turkey decided to a.s.sert in their entirety those distinguis.h.i.+ng laws and ordinances of the Baha'i Revelation which the terrors of a suspicious autocracy had so long compelled them to dissimulate and ignore.

I cannot do better than quote in this connection a few pa.s.sages from the text of the official defense which in a moving language was p.r.o.nounced by the President of the Constantinople Baha'i Spiritual a.s.sembly at a plenary session of the Court on that historic occasion: "La Beha'isme est une religion universelle, moderne et absolument independante. Si l'on desire une designation plus moderne encore: c'est une inst.i.tution de Clemence, de bonne entente et d'amour, en d'autres termes, de progres moral et spirituel. Il n'est ni une secte, ni une branche des autres religions et doctrines diverses. Il est cependant leur aboutiss.e.m.e.nt naturel, logique et pour ainsi dire scientifique. C'est la raison pour laquelle l'on trouve parmi ses adherents des personnes, venant de toutes les religions et doctrines existantes dans le monde, et qui se comptent aujourd'hui par millions. ...Ces explications ne sauraient toutefois a devoiler le suffire (?) mystere qui est au fond des sacrifices, consentis dans ce siecle en Orient, par plus de vingt mille martyrs du Beha'isme, parmi lesquels se trouve Qurratu'l-'Ayn Tahirih (la joie des yeux, la pure), cette jeune femme turque, depeinte ainsi par notre ill.u.s.tre ecrivain Suleyman Nasif, et dont le martyre sans precedent est cite aujourd'hui par le monde entier comme l'epopee sans pareille de la cause humaine. Je ne sais si ces explications peuvent elucider les raisons pour lesquelles il se trouve a cette doctrine petrie egalement par le sang turc des amis parmi des hommes de race turque, cette race qui dans tout proces du genre humain et de ses n.o.bles aspirations, n'a pas hesite jusqu'ici a verser son sang....

Toutefois, les Beha'is n'ont point dissimule leur presence en Turquie, surtout depuis le regime de la Republique. C'est ainsi qu'ils se sont fait inscrire comme Beha'is sur les feuilles du dernier recens.e.m.e.nt a Constantinople. D'autre part est-il admissible que le Gouvernement ignore leur presence dans cette ville? Cela etant, il ne saurait etre imagine que les Beha'is soient sous le regime de la Republique, poursuivis comme tels, surtout apres avoir acquis leur liberte sous le regime de la Const.i.tution qui a suivi celui de la tyrannie durant lequel ils etaient persecutes....

Mais avant de terminer, je ne puis m'empecher de dire avec une entiere a.s.surance, que les adeptes en Turquie de cette doctrine, sont surs de la Justice d'un pays regi par la premiere veritable Republique pleine de lumiere dont s'honore adjourd'hui tout l'Orient.... Ces declarations d'une part, et la conduite suivie par les Beha'is, a l'occasion de cet incident qui a commence par l'interrogatoire auquel ils ont ete soumis par la Police, de l'autre, sont la preuve convainquante de la sincerite et de la bonne foie avec lesquelles nous nous comportons tant vis a vis de la Justice que de celui du Gouvernement. Ainsi, nous aurions pu soustraire certaines pieces qui const.i.tuent les seuls doc.u.ments pouvant servi a nous a.s.similer a des societes. Ne nous voyant pas en contravention avec la loi, nous n'avons rien voulu dissimuler, comme personellement je ne cherche qu'a tout dire ici. Ce n'est la d'ailleurs qu'une necessite dicte par le Beha'isme et la conformation a une recommendation de Baha'u'llah. Lui nous dit: "Devant la Justice, dites la Verite et ne craignez rien."

To these hotly contested debates two circ.u.mstances of unexpected character lent color and force, and must have contributed in no small measure to the successful conclusion of the issue. The partic.i.p.ation of a noted Turkish publicist and author whose expressed sympathy for the Cause had identified him with the group of the suspected believers, and the a.s.sociation of the name of the Dowager Queen of Rumania with the Baha'i Faith as a result of the discovery among the seized doc.u.ments of the Constantinople Baha'i a.s.sembly of her public p.r.o.nouncements on the Cause and her personal message to the friends in that city, both served to reinforce the position of the Baha'is and greatly encouraged them in their task. I am a.s.sured by a letter addressed to me by the President of the Constantinople a.s.sembly that the sessions of the Court were dignified in their proceedings, sublime in the presentation of the ideals of the Cause, and representative in the character of their attendants. He writes: "Ce fut une declaration de la Cause dans toute sa grandeur, et jamais l'Orient n'a vu retentir le nom de Baha dans une pareille formule.... J'ai prefere laisser l'avocat qui n'est pas Beha'i en parler. En effet cela a eu plus d'effet d'entendre l'avocat, emporte par je ne sais quelle mysterieuse poussee, crier, apres avoir cite les principes ainsi: 'Monsieur le Juge! n'est-ce pas la en somme l'ideal vers lequel marche actuellement notre pays avec en tete notre Grand Gazi?'"

The extravagant language of the newspapers in reporting the details of this official inquiry served in turn to accentuate the publicity already achieved, and induced the officials of the Court to exercise scrupulous impartiality in the consideration and judgment of the case. As to the verdict that has been p.r.o.nounced on December 13, it is stated clearly that although the followers of Baha'u'llah, in their innocent conception of the spiritual character of their Faith, found it unnecessary to apply for leave for the conduct of their administrative activities and have thus been made liable to the payment of a fine, yet they have, to the satisfaction of the legal representatives of the State, not only established the inculpability of the Cause of Baha'u'llah, but have also worthily acquitted themselves in the task of vindicating its independence, its Divine origin, and its suitability to the circ.u.mstances and requirements of the present age. It will be admitted that this recognition on the part of the authorities would have never been so speedily secured had the representatives of the believers proceeded through the ordinary and official channels to obtain such a recognition from their government.

Decline of Islam

Surely every unprejudiced observer, reviewing on one hand the turbulent history of the Cause in Turkey and recalling on the other the series of internal convulsions that have seized that country, cannot but marvel at the contrast between the swift decline of an all-powerful theocracy and the gradual consolidation of a persecuted Faith. He will appreciate the significance of the circ.u.mstances that have caused on one hand the dismemberment of what was the most powerful inst.i.tution of Islam, and contributed on the other to the emergence upon its ruins of the very Faith it has vainly labored to suppress. Should he look further into the past and consult the annals of Christendom during the first century of the Christian era, he cannot fail to observe the striking parallel between the cataclysmic visitation of Providence that has afflicted the most sacred inst.i.tutions of the Jews in the Holy Land and the utter collapse in this, the first century of the Baha'i era, of the Sultanate and the Caliphate, the highest inst.i.tutions of orthodox Islam. He will recall the severities which the hand of t.i.tus inflicted upon the Jews, the hara.s.sing siege of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Holy City, the profanation of the Temple, the desecration of the Holy of Holies, the transfer of its priceless treasures to the imperial city of Rome, the erection on the site of Zion of the pagan colony of Oelia Capitolina, the ma.s.sacre of the Jews, and the exile and dispersion of most of the survivors. In like manner, he will observe that almost in the corresponding decade of the first century of the era of Baha'u'llah, not at the hand of the infidel, but by a recognized ruler professing the faith of Islam, a blow, unprecedented in its magnitude, has been dealt to the highest seats of authority in the Islamic world. He will call to mind the recent disestablishment of the state religion of Turkey, the overthrow of the dynasty of the House of U_th_man, the loss of the unity of the vast majority of the adherents of the Muhammadan Faith, the humiliation inflicted upon the whole hierarchy of its ecclesiastical exponents in that land, the abolition of religious courts, the annulment of the provisions of the Qur'an, the promulgation of a universal western code of civil law, the suppression of its Orders and the closing of most of its seminaries and establishments.

Such a close correspondence between these historic retributions which the Almighty's avenging arm has chosen to inflict upon the persecutors of Christ and Baha'u'llah cannot but fortify the confidence of every Baha'i believer in the future glories of this Divine Dispensation. Particularly will he feel strengthened when he recalls the triumphs that have signalized the advance of Christianity after the humiliation of its enemies. And as he ponders upon the circ.u.mstances that have given such startling publicity to the Cause, not only throughout Turkey but in the adjoining countries as well, he cannot fail to recognize, in this strange episode, following so closely upon the fall of the mighty stronghold of Baha'i opposition, a prelude to a higher recognition and fuller unfoldment of the Faith of Baha'u'llah.

Progress in Persia

In Persia, where, unlike its ill-fated sister nation Af_gh_anistan, the pace of reform has been wisely regulated, the salutary effects of the progressive regime established by its enlightened ruler are not only reacting upon the social and economic structure of its society, but are being increasingly felt by the ma.s.s of the followers of Baha'u'llah in that land. The welter of controversy into which the drastic reforms of a determined government, aiming at the gradual secularization of the State, has plunged a revolting clergy, has afforded our Persian brethren their long-desired opportunity to pursue untrammelled the course of their spiritual and humanitarian activities. The deportation of a considerable number of Muslim ecclesiastical officials, amongst them the heir of that notorious and bloodthirsty Mujtahid of I?fahan, "the Son of the Wolf," has served to clear the ground for the extension and consolidation of Baha'i inst.i.tutions. Already, as reported from an outlying center in the province of Yazd, a leading but fair-minded Mullah has, upon the discovery of the specific prophecy of 'Abdu'l-Baha regarding the forced abandonment of the traditional headdress of Muslim clericals, acknowledged the Divine origin of the Baha'i Faith, embraced its truth, and openly enlisted as an active supporter of its inst.i.tutions.

Moreover, it is stated that in various quarters, and among responsible sections of the community the matter of the codification and introduction of a western civil code, and its universal application to all the different communities is being freely discussed, and its desirability increasingly emphasized. As a preliminary measure, however, to the introduction of such a far-reaching reform, certain changes of policy have been lately initiated, not in the form of hastily conceived dictatorial edicts, but as a result of the mature deliberations and with the sanction of the national representatives of the people. The systematization of the laws of marriage and contract; the establishment of a Land Registry wholly independent of ecclesiastical control; the distribution of birth certificates of a purely undenominational character; the increasing prominence accorded to the social rights of womanhood; the close attention paid by State authorities to the education of Persian youth in the Universities of Europe; the banning of all Muslim Pa.s.sion Plays throughout the territory of the _Sh_ah: the bold and various schemes that have been launched for the embellishment of the Persian Capital-all are welcome signs of the approaching era which is to witness the spiritual and material ascendency of Persia among the people and nations of the world.

In this ever-improving environment and witnessing on every side the downfall of those inst.i.tutions that have crippled their struggling Faith, the believers in Persia are joyously seizing every opportunity to demonstrate the redeeming power of the Cause of Baha'u'llah. An illuminating report, submitted by one of the most capable and trusted itinerant teachers of the Cause in Persia, has lately reached the Holy Land. In it the writer sets forth in graphic and accurate language the many evidences of the increasing vitality displayed by the Faith in different parts of Persia. Summoned by the Persian National Spiritual a.s.sembly to interrupt his travels in the vicinity of the town of Ma_sh_had in order to devote immediate attention to a situation that had unexpectedly arisen in I?fahan, our indefatigable teacher and brother was surprised upon his arrival in that province to note in the various towns and villages he visited a ten-fold increase in the number of the adherents of the Faith since his last visit to those regions. He was moreover startled at the hospitality which he received at the hands of those persons who six years ago had been instrumental in expelling him from their localities, and who now had freely enlisted under the banner of Baha'u'llah. He was furthermore highly elated to learn that the prestige, the integrity and ability of the local Baha'i a.s.semblies in that province had of late stood so high that non-Baha'is, exasperated by the corruption and incompetence of their own judges, had more than once freely submitted cases of dispute to the judgment of the elected representatives of the Baha'i community in their locality.

Only a close and unbiased observer of the manner and habits of the Persian people, already familiar with the prevailing tendencies of different sections of the population, such as their apathy and indolence, the absence of a sense of public duty and of loyalty to principle, the lack of concerted effort and constancy in action, the habit of secrecy and blind surrender to the capricious will of an ignorant and fanatical clergy, can truly estimate the immensity of the task that faces every conscientious believer in that land. He will moreover readily testify to the high standard already attained by the Baha'is of Persia in their efforts to inculcate in the minds of their fellow-countrymen the principles of the Divine Civilization ushered in by Baha'u'llah.

We have only to glance at the soul-stirring written a.s.surances of 'Abdu'l-Baha in order to realize the magnitude and exalted character of the mission entrusted by Him to the adherents of the Faith in Baha'u'llah's native land. By the faithful application of the spiritual principles which their present administration is endeavoring to propagate; by the character of those indissoluble bonds of Baha'i fellows.h.i.+p that cement the union of the ma.s.s of the believers with their elected councillors; by the distinctiveness of their future contributions in the domain of art, of science and of trade, of education and of industry-by these and by still other convincing manifestations of the quickening vitality of their Faith, our Persian brethren are destined to demonstrate to the ruling powers on earth the majesty, the enduring stability and the unfailing efficacy of the Government of Baha'u'llah.

The following pa.s.sage from the Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha, revealed more than thirty years ago, while incarcerated within the walls of the prison-city of Akka, and addressed to the Baha'is of _Kh_urasan, will undoubtedly stimulate those energetic friends of the West who long to contribute by every means in their power to the rehabilitation of their Master's native land:-

"Erelong will your brethren from Europe and America journey to Persia.

There they will promote to an unprecedented degree the interests of art and industry. There they will rear the inst.i.tutions of true civilization, promote the development of husbandry and trade, and a.s.sist in the spread of education.... a.s.suredly they will come; a.s.suredly they will contribute in making of the land of iran the envy and the admiration of the peoples and nations of the world."

And as we ponder these words of 'Abdu'l-Baha in our hearts, let us also remember the prophetic utterances of Baha'u'llah, which reveal not only the merciless cruelty of the ecclesiastical leaders of Islam but also the measure of Divine retribution which now afflicts the oppressors of G.o.d's holy Faith:-

"O people of the Qur'an! Verily the prophet of G.o.d, Mu?ammad, sheddeth tears at the sight of your cruelty. Ye have a.s.suredly followed your evil and corrupt desires and turned away your face from the light of guidance.

Erelong will ye witness the result of your deeds; for the Lord My G.o.d lieth in wait and is watchful of your behavior.... Erelong He will raise in every city the standard of His sovereignty, and will wipe away the traces of them that have denied Him on the day of His return.... O concourse of Muslim divines! By your deeds the exalted station of the nation hath been abased, the standard of Islam hath been reversed and its mighty throne hath fallen. Whenever the Divine Reformer has sought to enn.o.ble the rank of the people, ye have tumultuously risen against Him and prevented Him from executing His purpose, wherefore the realm hath remained in grievous loss."

And in conclusion, I wish, in a few words, to pay a tribute, however inadequate, to the magnificent services rendered by that exemplary and indefatigable teacher of the Cause, our dearly-beloved sister, Miss Martha Root. Her international travels on behalf of the Baha'i Faith, so wide in their range, so extensive in their duration, so inspiring in their results, will adorn and enrich the annals of G.o.d's immortal Faith. Her earliest journeys to the southernmost limits of the American continent, to India and to South Africa, to the eastern confines of Asia, to the islands of the Southern Seas and the Scandinavian countries of the North; her more recent contact with the rulers and crowned heads of Europe and the impression which her undaunted spirit created in royal circles in the Balkan countries; her close affiliation with international organizations, peace societies, humanitarian movements and Esperantist circles; and her latest victories in the university circles of Germany-all const.i.tute a compelling evidence of what the power of Baha'u'llah can achieve. These historic labors, pursued single-handed and in circ.u.mstances of financial stringency and ill-health, have been characterized throughout by a spirit of fidelity, of self-effacement, of thoroughness and vigor that none has excelled.

I appeal to individual believers and Baha'i a.s.semblies alike to reinforce by every possible means the earnest strivings of such a precious soul, to respond speedily and entirely to every request that from time to time she feels moved to address to her fellow-workers in every land, to strive to attain the high standard of stewards.h.i.+p that she has set, and to pray from the very depths of their hearts for the uninterrupted continuance of her n.o.ble endeavors.

Your true brother, SHOGHI.

Haifa, Palestine, February 12, 1929.

Letter of March 20, 1929.

To the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful throughout the West.

Dearly-beloved brothers and sisters in 'Abdu'l-Baha:

With a heart overflowing with thankfulness and joy I take my pen to share with you tidings that eloquently testify to the triumphant majesty and unconquerable spirit of the Faith of Baha'u'llah. From Geneva, the seat of the League of Nations, there comes the news that the fervent plea addressed by the Baha'is of 'Iraq to the world's supreme Tribunal regarding an issue that for a time has stirred the Baha'i world to its foundation has at last met with a n.o.ble and most gratifying response.

You will recall the references made in my previous communications, dated November 6, 1925, October 29, 1926, and January 1, 1929, to the forcible seizure of Baha'u'llah's sacred house by the _Sh_i'ah of Ba_gh_dad, to the appeals which from almost every quarter of the globe have showered upon the authorities of 'Iraq for its rest.i.tution, to the long and unsuccessful legal proceedings to which the representatives of the Faith in that land have resorted, and lastly to the pet.i.tion which they have addressed to the League's Permanent Mandates Commission setting forth the history of the case and appealing for the intervention of the Council in their behalf. I am now informed that after mature deliberation the conclusion arrived at by the Mandates Commission, urging that prompt action be taken to redress the wrong suffered by the Baha'is, has been duly communicated to, and adopted by, the Council of the League, which in turn will formally communicate the recommendations of its Commission to the Mandatory Power.

Decision of League of Nations

From the official text of the minutes of the meeting of the Mandates Commission, as well as from its authorized report to the Council, both of which have been made public, it is clear and evident that the terms of the conclusion arrived at are neither vague nor evasive, but set forth in unmistakable language the legitimate aspirations of an oppressed and struggling Faith. The decision neither implies compensation to the Baha'i Community for the loss of the sacred buildings, nor does it expressly provide for the expropriation of the property by the State. To quote from the text of the official doc.u.ment, the Commission has resolved "to recommend the Council to ask the British Government to call upon the Government of 'Iraq to redress without delay the denial of justice from which the pet.i.tioners have suffered."

A glance at the minutes of the Commission's meeting will suffice to reveal that in the course of the lengthy discussions conducted by the members of the Commission the following important facts have been stressed and recognized. The British accredited representative, present at the sessions of the Commission, has declared that "it was a fact that the Mandatory Power had recognized that the Baha'is had suffered an injustice and, ever since the award made by the High Court, the High Commissioner had been considering what means could be found to remove, either by an executive act or otherwise, the unjust effects of that decision." Moreover, it has been acknowledged by the accredited representative that the Baha'is had been in bonafide occupancy of the property, that they had expended on it sums that exceeded the value of the site itself, and were thus, in accordance with the provision in the still operative Turkish Law, ent.i.tled to purchase the site. Allusion has also been made in the course of the deliberations of the members of the Commission to the fact that the action of the _Sh_i'ah community with respect to Baha'u'llah's sacred house const.i.tuted a breach of the Const.i.tution and the Organic Law of 'Iraq which, according to the testimony of the British accredited representative, expressly provided for the unfettered freedom of conscience. A question from one of the members had even elicited from the representative of the British Government the reply a.s.suring the Commission that the Mandatory Power actually possessed means of exercising pressure on the authorities in order, if necessary, to insure that so fundamental an article in the Const.i.tution would be respected. Furthermore, the opinion has been strongly expressed that the matter had a.s.sumed an "importance which exceeded that of the individual case of the Baha'is,"

inasmuch as "the judgment of the High Court was suspected of having been inspired by political prejudice," with the consequent impression on the Commission that "from a moral point of view, conditions in 'Iraq were not improving; that religious pa.s.sions still ran high and that peace had not yet been brought about between the various religious communities." It has even been proposed to supplement the report submitted to the Council with the observation that, in the opinion of the Commission, "a country in which the Sovereign and the highest law courts are capable of so flagrant a denial of justice would probably not be considered to be eligible to become a Member of the League of Nations." The minutes of the Commission's meeting further indicate that the contents of the letter addressed by the Prime Minister of 'Iraq to the British representative in Ba_gh_dad and which accompanied the text of the pet.i.tion of the Baha'is do not in the opinion of the Commission "meet any of the allegations of the pet.i.tioners"

and are confined to a mere a.s.sertion that the judgment of the Court of Appeal was p.r.o.nounced in accordance with the laws of the land. As to the memorandum submitted by the Mandatory Power in connection with the Baha'i pet.i.tion, and to which the minutes briefly refer, it is expressly stated that His Britannic Majesty's Government considers the ejectment of the Baha'is while the case was still undecided to have been an illegal action, that the reasons adduced to justify such action were hardly admissible, and that the final verdict of the Court of Appeal is unsustainable, contrary to the law, and tainted by political considerations. The minutes further declare that although any pet.i.tion presented to the Commission appealing from a decision given by a Court of Law is to be considered as not being in order, yet as the pet.i.tion submitted by the Baha'is reveals such a state of partiality, servility and sectarianism it has been found desirable to depart from the general rule and to regard the pet.i.tion in question as receivable by the Commission. And among the concluding observations in the minutes of the Commission's meeting regarding the Baha'i pet.i.tion is this significant pa.s.sage: "The revelations made in connection with this pet.i.tion show the present position in 'Iraq in an unfavorable light. In a country where the conduct of the highest authorities has led the Mandatory Power to pa.s.s such severe criticisms, where the Supreme Court of Justice is under legitimate suspicion, and where religious fanaticism pursues minorities and controls power, a state of affairs prevails which is not calculated to insure the development and well-being of the inhabitants. The pet.i.tioners have suffered a serious denial of justice the direct responsibility for which rests on the authorities of 'Iraq. The fact that this denial of justice could not be prevented or immediately made good was due to the weakening of the Mandatory Power's control in 'Iraq. The Mandatory attempted, but in vain, to redress the injury done to the pet.i.tioners by using the means of influence at its disposal under the regime set up by the 1922 Treaty vis-a-vis King Feisal and the 'Iraq Government. These efforts would not appear to correspond fully to the engagements resulting from the British Government's declaration, which was approved by the Council on September 27, 1924, and renewed by the British Government in 1926, whereby the Treaty of Alliance between the British Government and 'Iraq 'was to insure the complete observance and execution in 'Iraq of the principles which the acceptance of the mandate was intended to secure.'"

This grave censure p.r.o.nounced by the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations on the administration of justice and the general conduct of affairs in 'Iraq, as well as the a.s.sociation of the humiliation afflicting Baha'u'llah's sacred dwelling-place with the obligations implied in the Treaty of Alliance binding the Governments of Great Britain and 'Iraq, not only proclaim to the world the enhanced prestige of that hallowed and consecrated spot, but testify as well to the high sense of integrity that animates the members of the League's honored Commission in the discharge of their public duties. In their formal reply to the Baha'i pet.i.tioners, the members of the Permanent Mandates Commission have, with the sanction of the Council of the League of Nations, issued this most satisfactory declamation: "The Permanent Mandates Commission, recognizing the justice of the complaint made by the Baha'i Spiritual a.s.sembly of Ba_gh_dad, has recommended to the Council of the League such action as it thinks proper to redress the wrong suffered by the pet.i.tioners." A similar pa.s.sage inserted in the report of the Finnish Representative to the Council of the League runs as follows: "The Commission has also considered a pet.i.tion from the National Spiritual a.s.sembly of the Baha'is of 'Iraq, a community which has been dispossessed of its property by another community and has been unable to recover it by legal means. The Commission is convinced that this situation, which is described as an injustice, must be attributed solely to religious pa.s.sion, and it asks that the pet.i.tioner's wrongs should be redressed. I venture to suggest that the Council should accept the Mandate Commission's conclusions on this case, which is an example of the difficulties to be met with in the development of a young country."

This report, together with the joint observations and conclusions of the Commission, have been duly considered and approved by the Council of the League, which has in turn instructed the Secretary-General to bring to the notice of the Mandatory Power, as well as the pet.i.tioners concerned, the conclusions arrived at by the Mandates Commission.

Dearly-beloved co-workers! Much has been achieved thus far in the course of the progress of this complicated, delicate and highly significant issue. The Baha'i world is eagerly expectant, and fervently prays, that the Almighty may graciously a.s.sist the Government chiefly responsible for the well-being of 'Iraq to take "without delay" such steps as will insure the execution of the considered judgment of the representatives of the Sovereign States, members of the Council, and signatories of the Covenant, of the League of Nations.

I will, if deemed proper and advisable, inform you of the manner in which the admiration and the grat.i.tude of the National Spiritual a.s.semblies, representative of the divers communities in the Baha'i world, should be expressed and tendered to the authorities of the League of Nations who have been chiefly responsible for this n.o.ble, this epoch-making decision.

For none can doubt that the published verdict p.r.o.nounced by the Mandate Commission sets the seal of international sanction on the triumph of G.o.d's persecuted Faith over the ecclesiastical and civil powers of hostile Islam. Within the ranks of the orthodox Sunnis and of the bitter and fanatical _Sh_i'ah, the chief sects of the Muslim Faith and const.i.tuting respectively the bulk of the ruling cla.s.s and the population of 'Iraq, a feeling of consternation must necessarily prevail. For however obscured their vision they still can recognize in this historic judgment the herald of that complete victory which is destined to establish the ascendancy of what, in the words of the members of the Commission, is but "a small minority, drawn from a lower social grade, and possessing neither political nor social influence," over the combined forces of the Islamic population of 'Iraq.