Evening star., 1949-11-13
Younq Ruler Of an Ancient Land
Shah of Iran Packs
Experience in
30 Years
By Lothrop Stoddord

washington mas naQ IQaIly ulS-
tinguished foreign visitors. but
none should be more welcome and
more interesting than the royai
guest who will be here this week
His Imperial Highness Mohammed
Reza Pahlevi, Shah of Iran, or
Persia. He rules country which
is of deep significance to Ameri'
cans, since its continued inde-
pendence and stability is vitality
needed to maintain the balance OF
power in the Middle East. threat
ened by the aggressive policies Of
Soviet Russia Were Iran to fall
under Soviet control. Turkey and
the Arab states would be out
f1anked on the west, India on the
east. Russia would gain access
to the Indian Ocean and the
worlds richest oil fields would be
lost to Western use. Iran is thus
a strategic pivot in world politics
whose significance cannot be ex-
aggerated.
A Ruler at u
OF this, the Shah is well aware;
for, though still a young man, he
has had experience far beyond
his years in the perils and prob
lens that beset his beloved land.
Even now only 80 years old. he
came to the throne as a youth Of
% under the most critical circum-
stances. And 1t is largely due to
his courage and determination
that his country emerged from
the series Of crises which it en-
dured during the early part Of
his reign.
The ancient land Of Iran. or
Persia. has had periods Of power
and cultural achievement, fol-
lowed by misfortune and decline.
During the 10Th century 1t was
little more than hapless buffer
between the rival imperialisms of
Britain and Czarist Russia, which
impeded the efforts of patriotic
Iranians to reform their country
along modern lines. Although
technically neutral. Iran suffered
greatly from Intervention by both
sides during World War I. A
sharp turn for the better began
with the reign Of Reza Khan
Pahlevi. father of the present
Shah, who assembled the throne
in 1926 after deposing the last
member Of the effete Kajar dy-
nasty that had long misruled Iran.
Reza Khan was one Of the most
remarkable figures in Iranian his
tory. A professional soldier, he
devoted his tireless energy and in
telligenee to the upbuilding and
moderuization Of = his country.
Much was accomplished. but the
work was only half done when
Iran fell under the shadow of
World War II.
Summoned Home
It was then that the present
Shah came into the national pic
ture. His father. realizing his
own limitations in knowledge, had
determined that his son should
have a thorough Western educa-
tion. So, for the first time, an
heir-apparent was sent to Europe
to learn at first-hand Western
ideas and ways. Young Moham-
med Reza spent several years at
a private school in Switzerland,
where he was not only an out
standing scholar but also an all
around athlete. Then, suddenly,
in 1888, he was called home. His
father, sensing the approach OF
another world conflict, deemed it
best that the heir-apparent
should be by his side to be trained
and guided In his future royal
duties.
In this. the old Shah was well
advised, for Iran was destined
once more to become embroiled in
a war which was not its direct
concern. The German attack on
Soviet Russia in June, 1941, made
Iran an indispensable supply
route between Russia and Britain.
When Reza Shah hesitated to
comply fully with Allied demands,
Russian and British troops
entered the country, forced the
Shah to abdicate. and devolved
the throne on his son, then only
% years old.
The circumstances of Mo-
manned Reza's accession were
ira pica11y dishea rtenipo Tho o,,