Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-08
Iranian Bridge in Competition

iranlan br10&e IN AOmpStiuOn
To the Bditor Of The Star:
Trans geographical position has made it a
bridge valuable to all powers To cross this
bridge in 1907 Napoleon signed an alliance
with the Shah and sent military mission
under Gen. Gardane to Iran to train the
Iranian Army for an invasion OF India
A few years later Napoleon's military mis-
sion became an excuse for the Gear to in
wade the kingdom Of the Shah. After sew
eral years of defensive fighting. the Iranians
lost the provinces Of Talesh. Georgia, Imeri-
tia. Mtgrelia, Shiravan. Ganjeh and the ports
Of Darband and Baku. 1t Is from these rich
Caucasian territories that the Soviet Union
today obtains the major part of its petroleum
supply.
Today a 50-member American military
mission, headed by a general, is assisting
Iran in its problem of internal security.
While no military alliance exists between
Iran and the United States, the presence OF
the mission disturbs Russia's old dream Of
crossing the bridge to the warm water Of the
Persian Gulf. Falsely interpreting the posi-
ton of the American mission as a violation
of the Russo-Persian agreement of 1921
Tin which Iran committed itself never to be-
come base for hostile power Russia now
Is bringing pressure on the Iranian govern
ment. The challenging task before the gov
help without involving itself and others in
. serious conflict with Russia.
Foreign Rivalries Fruitless.
In the past no single power ever has
been able to eliminate the influence of all
other powers In Iran. The rivals only pre-
vented each other from becoming the pos
SCISSORS of this strategic bulwark of the
Middle East.
Napoleon's efforts, as well as the later
attempts Of the Cars to capture the coveted
bridge, have been frustrated by the steady
resistance Of Britain and the equilibrium
policy so developed and maintained by the
ranian government especially In times OF
crisis.
The latest example OF such external re-
sistances and internal equilibrium came up
In 1916. At that time. with Russian troops
in Iran and pro-Soviet coup taking shape
In Azarbayejan, Prime Minister Gavam will
ingly admitted the pro-Soviet representation
into his cabinet, paid friendly visit to
Moscow and signed an oil pact with Russia
to be approved by the Mails. Thus stabili-
zing his governments position. he brought
case against the Soviet Union in the United
Nations. the presentation Of which was
handled by Ambassador Ala. With the I'M
qualified support Of the case by Mr.. Byrnes
in the United Nations. and the fair-to-all
parties policy Of the Gavam-Firouz team IN
Teheran, Soviet troops were obliged to
evacuate the country. few months later
the Azarbayejan coup disintegrated. the oil
pact unanimously was rejected by Mails
and Iran found herself ON her feet again.
A remarkable victory was won without re-
course to Q Truman doctrine. . Marshall
plan or any other costly program. Had the
same result been achieved at other points Of
conflict. the world situation would be far
more secure today The credit goes mainly
to Gavams equilibrium policy and Mr..
Byrnes nne understanding Of the position
OF Iran.
At ths prsssnt thsrs ars Indications INST