PERSIA: A Closed Incident?

Persians had expected something to happen and happen it did. Ever since the murder of Major Robert W. Imbrie, U. S. Vice Consul at Teheran, Persian capital (TIME, July 28), . the populace had been filled with fearful forebodings. The murder, which was called by the Setareh Iran, Teheran journal, a "bloody stain on a page of glorious history," was responsible, apart from its international complexion, for a proclamation of martial law, the resignations of Premier Reza Khan's colleagues, a plethora of arrests. Persians knew someone must die for a foul crime.

Court martials got busy. A fortnight ago, one Private Morteza was found guilty of:

"Having incited the mob to kill Vice Consul Imbrie; having disregarded the orders of Second Lieutenant Mustafa Khan and the noncommissioned officer, Mohammed Ali Khan, who three times ordered him to desist and pulled him out of the mob, and having nevertheless persisted in attacking."

Last week he was shot. Blood has, apparently, washed out blood.

The day preceding the execution of Private Morteza, the Persian Government handed the U. S. Charge dAffaires ad interim, at Teheran, a check for $60,000.

"This amount," said the U. S. State Department in Washington, "is the sum fixed by this Government for payment by the Persian Government to Mrs. Imbrie as reparation for the loss sustained by the death of the late Vice Consul Robert W. Imbrie."