Evening star., 1947-12-28


strife-torn area.
The most dangerous potential
be in Iran and Palestine, one going
through the torment of setting up
a new government. and the other
dripping with the blood of factional
and civil war.
AS expected, the selection last
week of DR.. Ibrahim Hakimi, a
target for Soviet criticism in 1945,
as new Premier of Iran already has
touched off a new outburst from
Moscow with Pravda, Communist
Party newspaper, charging bitterly
on Friday that the choice is a move
ito continue a hostile policy toward
the Soviet Union
At tho same time, the very choice
of DR.. Hakimi, made by the Shah
himself after the Iranian Parlia-
ment had deadlocked in its voting
OF a successor to Ahmad QaVam
indicates that the Iranian govern
ment is still determined to hold out
against Russian pressure for lmple-
mentation of an unratified agree
ment of early 1946 by which Soviet
control would be imposed upon de-
velopment of North Persian oil
areas.
AntaSonized Russians
DR.. Hakimi incurred Russian an
tagonism during an earlier term as
Premier when he demanded at the
conclusion of World War II that all
foreign troops-British. American
and Russian-be withdrawn from
Iranian territory. His demand was
based upon the understanding Of
their original friendly occupation
early in the war and the three
power declaration of the Teheran
Conference in November, 1913,
pledging the political and territorial
integrity of his country. British
and American fulhllment of this
pledge came with reasonable prompt
ness after DR.. Hakimi's remind
er, but Soviet troops did not
leave the Northern Provinces until
May and June of 1916 after Qavam
had agreed to submit to the Iranian
Parliament a proposal for granting
oil rights to a Soviet t-controlled de-
velopment company.
After withdrawal of the Red
troops, however, the Iranian Par
lament refused to ratifye the oil
development proposal and the deep
ening bitterness between the two
governments came to climax last
month when Moscow accused Iran
of hostile activity incom-
patible with normal relations be-
tween the Two governments. ON
inously, the Soviet note of accusa-
ton ended with the warning that
the Iranian government must now
be responsible for "the conse-
quences of it's actions The re-
sulting turmoil brought the fall of
the Qavam cabinet.
Part of a Drive
In actuality, the entire incident
is considered here to be part of
a Soviet drive to penetrate the Mid
die East. an area not only vastly
wealthy in oil and OF historic war
time strategic Importance, but also
possessed of certain economic and
social elements conducive to the
spread of communism. If such pene-
tration once could be achieved.
American efforts to hold line of
defense in Turkey and Greece would
be outf1anked and the great oil re-
serves now under British and Amer
ican control in that area would be
gravely lmperiled.
The degree to which our own
government recognizes this threat
is demonstrated first of all, of
course, in the Greek and Turkish
aid programs. For the Middle East
proper there have been further sig
nificant public utterances by spokes-
men of the State Department, one
being contained in a recent speech
by 10y w. Henderson. director of
the Office of Near Eastern and
African Affairs.
1T is in the interest of world
peace Mr.. Henderson said before
a meeting of the Academy of Politi-
cal Science in New York. that there
be universal appreciation of the
extent of the determination of the
United States and like minded
members of the United Nations to
maintain the security of the Middle
East and Greece and assist the
countries of that area in preserv-
ing their political independence and
territorial integrity"
On the Iranian position with re-
gard to resistance of Russian
pressure, United States Ambassador
to Teheran George V. Allen was
even more pointed.
Trans resources belong to Iran,
he told a Teheran audience. Tran
can give them away free Of charge
or refuse to dispose Of them at any
price if it so desires, The
United States has dedicated its full
energy and resources to freeing the
peoples of the world from fear of
aggression. Our determination to
follow this policy as regards Iran is
as strong as it is anywhere else in
the world. Patriotic Iranians = :
may therefore rest assured that the
American people will support fully
their freedom to make their own
choice"
Concern Over Palestine
Communist potentialities in Pales-
tine actually are causing the gravest
concern to authorities here who
are watching the Russian probing
in the Middle East. For that rea-
son, careful examination ard ancly-