Evening star., 1945-12-02

it came in possession of definite in
formation that the surprise" rebellion
in the timber and oil-rich Northern
Iran had been long planned and To-
mented by the agents of the Russian
government
From the mass of evidence gathered
in responsible government Offices, it
appears that the plan to separate North
ern Iran from the rest of the country
as first step toward bigger projects
was conceived long time ago. But it
was only last July that actual COM
munications with the Russian controlled
provinces in the north were actually
interrupted. No one, not even Amer
lean citizens on official missions, could
NIT from Moscow.
Behind that screen of secrecy the
agents of the Russian government sup
ported by the Red Army of occupation,
began to prepare the population for the
great day when it would ask that its
territory should become a part of the
Soviet Republic. This preparation was
carried out in two ways-by working
directly on the population and through
the Tudeh party, Communist organ
ization, which only very recently
changed it's name into the Iranian
Democratic party.
Make People Comfortable.
According to eyewitnesses who have
sent personal reports to Washington the
Russians were most skillful in making
things comfortable" for the people of
Azerbaijan. For instance, a private
company was running a bus service from
Resht to Pahlavi. The buses were old
and had hectic schedule. The Russian
authorities placed number of better
buses on the same line and sold fares
for half the amount charged by the
private concern. Moreover, these buses
usually kept their schedule.
The population was seldom molested
by the Russian army of occupation
unless individuals were openly opposed
to the Tudeh party.
In the meantime, the Russians gave
the impression they were in Northern
Iran for keeps. Red Army soldiers were
cutting down trees and clearing the
dense forests in the area and sending
the lumber into Russia. The main cities
were being policed by Russian MPs with
submachineguns. Signs on the road!
and on public buildings and Offices art
written in the Russian language. Al
public places in Northern Iran carr.
Persian signs with Russian translations
Many Russian families settled dow
in Northern Iran. These families, &C
| cording to American observers who II
some way managed to travel through
| the country, had no visible means o
living and on closer investigation it wa
discovered that they were drawing in
comes from the Russian consulate.
Communists Well Organized.
But the most important asset of tn,
Moscow government for the eventua
incorporation of Northern Iran-outsid,
the approximately 100000 Red soldiers
is the Communist party which nov
parades under the name of Democratic
party.
1t has an excellent organization with
headquarters in Teheran. But i
operated best in the provinces close Il
| the Russian border or under Russian
control. The party in the City of Resht
for instance, numbers about 1900 mem
bers but only between 450 and 500 ar
Iranians. The rest of the membership
| is composed of Turkman, Caucasian an,
other Russian Immigrants"
The party has fine platform. It i
class organization for workmen, farm
| ers, destitute people and other libert.
lovers. 1t intends to protest the inde
| pendence and sovereignty of the coun
try and fight imperialistic policies. I
wants to establish real democrati
regime in Iran and is determined to dgh
feudalism and the old economic system
The party also hopes to prepare tn
| country for communism through edu
| cation which occasionally may have t
| take on harsh form. For instance
the leaders of the party maintain tha
since the landowners are -minde,
|
hand their vast properties over to tn
destitute peasantry. The only remed
advocated by the Tudeh is to kill then
mercilessly. In support of this theor
they point out that it was only in thi
manner that the large estates of Czaris
Russia fell into the hands of tn
proletariat.
Transcends Family Loyalty.
| Some of the methods adopted by tn
Nazis are also advocated by the party.
Obedience to the Tudeh must come be
fore loyalty to the family. If member
of the family of a member are ignoran
and refuse to be enlightened they mus
be denounced to the chiefs even thougl
they may be executed as hopeless case
incapable of learning the new trends.
Leaders of the party who have talke
with Americans and other foreigner
maintain that while they wish to live il
harmony with all the nations of tn
world, they are convinced that onl
Russia can help them put across thei
vast reform program. Therefore, the
must stand united with the q. S. S.
politically and economically. Russia
they add, has promised to help then
once established in power, to industrial
ize Iran so that it will no longer be a
the mercy of the big capitalistic nations
The whole trouble in Iran, however
stems. from oil. There has been lon
rivalry between the U. s. S. r. and Grea
Britain over domination of that coun
try. The British are carefully estab
lished in Southern Iran where tn
Anglo-Persian Oil Co. has EXTENSIVE
concessions. Recently they have beel