The Wilmington morning star., 1943-12-05
Teheran and Big Three

A dispatch to the Associated Press, saying
that the Turkish president Is1net Inonu, with
his foreign minister and the chief of the Tur-
kish army, had left to confer with President
Roosevelt at Cairo or Tabrjz gives credence
to Moscows report that tie Teheran confer
ence of Roosevelt, Churchill and Stain had
been completed.
President Roosevelt's secretary, Stephen
Earlys announcement in Washington that he
foresees no immediate announcement OF this
trio's conclusions or decisions Chat they could
not come that fast'') is disappointing, mas
much as previous dispatches had limited an
nouncements would be quickly forthcoming.
But it may be that Mr.. Early simply does
not know what's up. There has been so much
irregularity in announcing big events, partic-
ularly these new Allied conferences, it would
surprise no one if startling decisions were
published in one country without the same
information being given to another. MIR. Early
undoubtedly spoke in good faith, but that does
not preclude the possibility that before this
verbal cat will be out of the bag and some
details of the demands on Germany in con-
nection with unconditional surrender will
have been released.
There is, however, one fairly safe assump
ton. 1t is that the leaders Of the three powers
chiefly occupied with defeating Germany met
in Teheran In its customary way the Ma.
tional Geographic Society has issued bulle-
tin on this city in ancient Persia, which is
informative and interesting. 1t seems, accord
ing to this bulletin that the city resounds to
the rumble Of munitions packed trains and
trucks. Blue skies that once framed only the
beat OF the falcons wings now are highways
for roaring planes The perfumed era graced
by peacock throne has yielded to productive
activities of the modem age.
Teheran is 70 miles south of the Caspian
sea, at the foot Of the Elburz range. Ap-
preaching the city from the mountains, it
seems to pop out of its flat setting. Hot and
dry, Teheran is like Arizcna
Camel caravans are now rarely seen in the
city; motor vehicles bear the burdens, carry
people where they want to 60 Progress is
apparent in the broad, paved streets cut
through the old bazaar areas, in new public
buildings. hotels, apartment houses, and shop
ping districts. Modern factories turn out shoes.
cigarettes, cement, ana textiles. In the sub
urbs some of the old palaces have been con-
verted into hospitals and military COLLEGES.
Preservation Of historic relics h as been
carefully planned. Even the new European
style government buildings have columns and
facades, and bull-and lion-head decorations
modelled after those of the ruired palace of
Persepolis, capital of the ancient Persian en-
pire under Darius, Many mosques remain:
and in the surviving bazaars of tinsmiths and
coppersmlths, merchants still sell carve d
bowls and basins, and Eastern jewelry.
The Citadel includes the Gulistan Palace,
which holds among other treasures, historic
swords and belts, dian1ond-studded CUBS. Chi
nese jade, and Persian art In the palace is
the so-called Peacock throne, with its carved
peacocks' tails inlaid with jewels and topped
with diamond sun Legend has it that this
spectacular piece Of furniture was the Mo-
gufs royal seat, brought to Ieheran from
Delhi in the zoos.
BUSINESS signs along Teheran's streets are
sights for strangers eyes. Before the British
ana the Russians occupied the country in 1941
10 1orestaH Axis moves, the former Iranian
oman mad decreed that all signs should be
printed In Persian characters, even those of
such British and American companies as
LUX ana the American Express. Under
standing is aided by Photograph signs which
indicate the type of business.
IL was IN this setting that Roosevelt, Church.
Ill and Stain met to write Germany's doom.
-V