Evening star., 1951-09-05
Along the Iron Curtain
First of a SerieS.)
By Louis J. AIber

norm American newspaper AlIionee
BAGDAD, Sept. S. - Events
transpiring in Iran, Egypt, Iraq,
and other parts of the Middle
East point up the dangerous in
fluenceS operating in that strate-
gic area. A fierce nationalism is
sweeping these desert lands,
famed with great skill by Moscow.
Arriving here, this reporter
heard from all sides violent re-
sentiment against anything that
could be twisted into desire by
the West to exercise political
control. Even the well-intended
efforts of the United States to
assist agriculture in these areas
were looked upon with suspicion.
Examples of extreme national
ism, sometimes expressed by vlo-
lence, range from the demands
on the British in Iran to sur.
render their 81 billion oil en-
terpriSe to the riots in Damascus.
when an Assistant Secretary OF
State from America visited Syria
on a purely benef1cent mission.
Leaders at Fanatics Mercy.
So violently anti-western is the
political atmosphere throughout
the Middle East that no import
ant native official dares to do
other than serve the wishes OF
the fanatics. temporarily in con-
troll.
The fanatical nationalistS have
resorted to assassination and ter
ror as their chief instrument for
attaining political power. Premier
Mohammed Mossadegh of Iran
dares not accept any reasonable
offer made by the British. Were
he to do so, he would meet the
fate of his predecessor. and he
knows it.
While in Teheran during the
week when the situation was very
tense. this reporter was told by
members of the Iranian parlia-
ment that they had been informed.
in no uncertain terms, that any
who failed to vote as Mossadegh
requested would meet an assasSin'S
bullet. They voted unanimously
for every bit of legislation the
terrorized premier requested.
These fanatics make the prime
minister their terror-inSpired cap
tive. then require the lawmakers
to follow him. That the method
has worked in Iran, thus far. has
not been overlooked by the ex-
treme nationalists in the other
countries of the Middle East.
Were it not so serious for the
West, one would be inclined to
smile at the predicament in which
Mossadegh finds himself. He is
the leader of the national front,
the fomenters of trouble in Iran.
His oratory brought the following
of all the fianatical extremists of
the country, and made him prime
minister. Now his life is in dan
ger from the organization he
formed. He is the prisoner of his
own demagogy.
In the atmosphere engendered
by all this violence, the Commu-
nistS find it congenial to do their
worst. That they are taking full
advantage of situation they did
not create is a foregone conclu-
sion.
Holy War Unlikely.
The nationalist movement has
brought one useful result to the
Middle East. 1t has crippled,
perhaps destroyed, the chances of
a holy war, led by the faithful in
Islam, so feared by the Allies in
World War I, and which the
Kremlin would like to revive.
Islam knew nothing of nation
eliSm, as such. In fact, it set it
self to abolish racial and national
divisions. Under nationalism, the
state is replacing religion as the
social organism. The welfare of the
nation is the basis of new social
programs.
A second influence in the Mid
die East. felt by the experienced
traveller, is the discovery of the
common man. From the dawn of
history until recently, the toilers
in the fields and the workers in
the towns were mere servants of
governmental officials, producing
the wealth by which they lived.
Now. these former servants in
sist that the country belongs not
only to those at the top-pashas,
Sultans. scholars and high COM
missioners from abroad. The
middle class has come to the
front, and in it's ranks are found
most leaders of natiOnalism.
From these two new forces
nationalism and the discovery of
the common man-have come
third-a change in atmosphere.