Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-05-27

Shah decided to adopt a more
middle of -the-road policy. He
appointed one of the country'S
strongest men. Gen. Ali Razmara.
as Prime Minister. He began a
mild Irritation with the Soviets
and, as a token of Trans neutral
ity, prohibited Voice of America
broadcasts in the country.
Meanwhile, according to reliable
reports from the Iranian capital.
Mohammedan agents from Soviet
Azerbaijan infiltrated among the
Nationalist groups which were
loudly demanding immediate ma
tionalization of the oil fields.
These agents made their appear
ance at the most important stra-
Itegic spots in Iran-among the
wild tribesmen, in the British
controlled oil fields and in Tehe-
ran. They discarded the red flag
of communism and draped them
selves in the green flag of the
prophet.
Moscow realized that so long as
its weak neighbor was led by men
who were contaminated with
Western democratic doctrines, no
rapid accomplishment of Red OBJ
Ejectives was possible. The power
full Premier Razmara was a Ma
Itionalist. But be had learned the
ways of the West during his stay
IN France. where he attended the
War College before World War II.
Such men could not be trusted
by Moscow regardless of how CO.
operative they might appear. Gen.
Razmara was murdered last winter.
| His successor, Hussein Ala, was
even worse, insofar as Moscow
was concerned. He was Oxford
educated, and represented Iran
when the aggression against his
country came up before the U. N.
in 1916. But DR.. Mossadegh, the
present Premier, has never been
contaminated by Western ideas.
He believes that ne actually serves
the interests of his class-if not
his country-by rushing the ma
tionalization process.
Hides From ENJOYS
He has locked himself in the
Parliament Building, allegedly be-
cause he feared for his life. But
those who know him say that this
was a trick to avoid being placed
in direct contact with the ambas-
sailors of the Western powers. The
Soviet Ambassador in Teheran is
said to have let him know, through
his contacts in the Malls, that
the treaty of 1921 between the
Persian government and the So
viet--under Lenin-will immedi-
ately come into force if Britain, or
any outside nation, tries to use
force against Iran.
This treaty was signed at the
time when Lenin was trying to
undermine the Western powers
prestige in the Middle East by
assuming the role of the protector
of small nations in that area.
Lenin also helped substantially
with money and arms-Mustaphs
Renal of Turkey. He turned over
to that country the Bitlis and Van
areas, near the Turkish Russian
borders, as a token of his friend
tship. The successors of Lenin now
occasionally call for the return OF
these territories.
So far, in its Iranian cold war,
the U. S. S. r. has achieved two
purposes: Cd 1t has caused seri-
,Ious rift between Iran and its friends
in the West. This rift may deny
the Western powers the vital oil
resources needed in the present
!, conflict with Russia. 90 1t has re-
moved from power all Western
} minded and Western educated
men and replaced them with men
. who are far more Oriental-minded
than their predecessors.
!, If Britain tries to deal with
Iran on legalistic terms, there is
no way to induce the present
purely Oriental Iranian govern
ment to accept a solution. The
impending seizure of the Anglo
IIranian Oil Co. property in South
ljern Iran, if met only with British
protests, not only will eventually
lIdeny the Western world oil sup
,lplies from that country, but also
will cause us q loss Of face which
will have very serious repercus.
sions throughout the Middle East
and the rest Of Asia.