Evening star., 1947-06-29

biles roar through the streets OF
Teheran. Three hundred small
British-built cars have been placed
in service as taxicabs : in the last
three months and TOO more are On
order.
Teheran women have almost COM
Ipletely discarded the long wells which
conceal the charms of most Middle
Eastern women. Bazaars are piled
high with nylon hose, stilt-soled
shoes, American frocks and cos
metics. ...-.
Modern Homes Erected
European clothing has been wide
ly adopted. too, by the men. Fewer
Oriental garments are seen here
than anywhere in the East. Amer
lean second hand clothing imports
/ last year exceeded 81 ,000, ,000) has
made modern suits available even
to the poor.
Teheran newspapers have become
more aware of foreign news. The
government recently reversed Its
policy of supervising incoming news
and welcomed direct distribution by
| the Associated Press to daily papers.
| Modern homes are being built all
over Teheran. The population has
increased by 100000 in three years,
to an estimated 100000.
A contract has been let to pipe
the water supply, now flowing
through the crowded city in open
"jubes," from mountain reservoirs.
New power and telephone equip
ment has been purchased and tech
nicians are now in England to study
| improved methods in public utility
service.
The government has approved
funds for a new university at Ia
briz, Trans second city. Overall
public school enrolment has in
creased from 100000 to 100000, the
number of schools from 1878 to
2,738. High school enrolment has
trebled in 10 years.
There still are only 144 hospitals
for the nations 100000 people,
but few years ago the full load
was carried by half dozen Ameri-
can church endowed institutions.
Campaign for Health
An American health expert is d.
recting a nationwide disease-con-
troll campaign sponsored by the
Health Ministry. Public hygiene
classes were opened in principal
towns. Drugs and medicines are
being distributed.
The wealthy Gashgai tribal lead
ers and the big Anglo-Iranian Oh
Co. have established health centers,
schools and hospitals in the south.
The Gashgais have contracted with
an English firm to construct water
system in their capital" city,
Chiraz.
Cultivation of opium bearing por-
pies, and the use Of drugs has been
outlawed.
\ Anglo-Iranian and government
owned factories increased salaries.
The oil company's $4,000 workers will
draw an added $2,400,000 annually,
and common labor in government
factories was raised from 35 rials
daily to 40 rials (about $1.20), effec-
tive in May. Teachers salaries also
were increased.
i American military missions are
working with the army and the ma
tional police and the government
, has asked for a $25,o0o 900 credit for
purchasing surplus American Army
, supplies.
But Trans venture on the path Of
modernization and national prog
; ress is not completely unopposed.
It's champions concede they are
sorely assailed from many quarters.
; Some Suspect Government
Many Iranians are not convinced
the government is inspired by un-,
selfish motives. Opposition leadersS
and press openly charge corruptiont
Applications for foreign loans are
opposed violently by enemies of the
government, who charge that the|
money will be misspent.
Food appears plentiful, but the
average man says the already high
cost of living is climbing daily.
The right-wing press charges the
government with denying freedom
of press and of elections. The left
charges that western capitalism
and imperialism" are flooding Iran
with high-priced goods and making
the nation breeding place for war
with Russia.
Iranian merchants, anxious to
supply growing demands for foreign
luxury goods, pay black market
prices for foreign exchange.
Iranian officials say that Russia
is bypassing Iranian customs and
bringing goods into the country to
sell in a free market when prices
are high. The Prime Minister in q
recent radio speech said that Rus
sia owed the country approximately
s10000,oo0 in unpaid customs.
Illiteracy Is High
Iranian airlines officials say the
Russians are operating an un-
licensed airline inside Iran and cut
ting fares so low that Iranian lines
cannot profitably compete. Russian
flyers in red-starred lend-lease
planes fly regular schedules between
Teheran and Tabriz and Teheran
and Meshed, using fuel imported
duty free from Russian government
operated refineries.
| The halt and the blind still beg in
Teheran streets. Illiteracy Is esti-