Evening star., 1950-04-23
Unrest Again
In Near East
By John G. Henry

FlolOLl VI GIle OdTQdIlelleS SCfdlCS
controls and continued reports of
political unrest in Iran indicate
that Moscow is probing again for
a soft spot on the periphery of
the Middle East.
Recent American activities in
that area are equally revealing of
our awareness both of the trouble
potential and the Importance of
the region.
The latest Soviet demand with
regard to the Dardanelles, most
strategic link in the waterways
between the Black and Mediterra-
mean Seas, cropped up on We'd
nesday last in the Russian Navy
publication, Red Fleet. AS on
previous occasions, the demand
was an imperious one for revision
of the Montreux Convention by
which control of the straits was
left in Turkish hands. BY it's
terms as revised in 1886 the con-
vention permitted the Turks to
remilitarize zone which had been
disarmed after World War and
expressly authorizes closing of the
passage to any war vessels in the
face of a war threat.
Turks Have Modern Arms
Intermittently since the end of
World War II, Moscow has de-
manded modification of the straits
control, usually coupling the pro-
posals with a claim to Turkish
territory along the Black Sea and
rights to establish bases on the
Dardanelles. In fact, in 1945, Sec
retary of State Byrnes proposed
revision of the convention which
would have given the Soviet in
creased freedom in the use of the
straits but Turkey, despite her
isolation" resisted the move and
today has more fulsome support
OF the Western powers.
AS of today, Turkey stands as
one Of the countries given most
direct and effective military as
sistance. With an estimated 300,-
600 men under arms and approx
mately 40 per cent Of the national
budget directed to their support
the Turkish military has received
modern American equipment and
training in its use by an American
military mission. In quality and
determination it is now considered
one of the best fighting forces
facing the iron curtain" area.
At the same time, programs are
under way for improvement of
Turkish ports, airfields and high
ways. .....
Eastward in Iran neither the
military nor politico-economic pic
ture is as reassuring, but a draft
agreement for an American grant
OF arms under the military assist
ance program was submitted to
the Iranians about two weeks ago.
An American military mission,
without command authority, : has
been working with the Iranian
government for several years and
training units will accompany the
arms to be given.
Efforts Stepped Up
Since the recent visit of the
Shah of Iran to the United States
there has been a stepping up of
the effort on an economic de-
velopment plan for which financ-
ing assistance is expected from
the International Bank for Re-
construction and Development. On
the political side, Hussein Ala
for several years Iranian Ambas-
sador to the United States and
thoroughly pro- Western, was re-
Gently called home to become For
eign Minister.
Along with these developments
it was significant that during
the recent military conferences
among the Western powers at The
Hague, United States Army Chief
of Staff Gen. j. Lawton Collins
was making a three-week lnSpec-
ton tour of military activities
American and otherwise, through
out the Near and Middle East
On his itinerary Gen. Collins
visited Iran, Turkey and Greece
the three front-line countries fac
ing the Soviet-as well as North
Africa and the Middle East proper
Back in Washington the gen.
eral made no pretense that any
OF these countries could by them
selves Withstand long attack by a
powerful aggressor but he noted
improvements in the recent past
and pointed the way to more ef-
.fective preparations.