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

They include about 5 per cent Of
vast reserves of this life blood of
May 10, DR.. Mossadegh mounted
the rostrum of the Mails to an
nounce that his life. too. was in
danger. The hotheads, it seemed,
felt he was dragging his feet. He
swore to remain barricaded in the
Parliament Building until nation
alization had been effected. He
asked for appointment of board
to work out a method of taking
over the company. AS he finished
speaking. he pitched to the floor
in a dead faint.
The real Iranian danger by then
was clear to see. 1t was not that
the oil company might be lost to
Britain. 1t was, rather, that the
drive to take it over might so stir
the boiling cauldron Of Iranian
passions that the situation would
degenerate into total anarchy. be-
yond the possibility Of control by
Iranian authorities themselves.
The outlawed communistic Tudeh|
Party alone exhibited the slightest
political discipline. The apparent
loyalty to the Shah of the army
and police-totaling about 10000
|men-was one counterbalancing
factor. Iran, nevertheless. seemed
on the verge Of running amuck in
ternally. The West watched fear
fully. Russia waited, on the
|sidelines, ready to pick UP the
pieces.
The British came to life. On
Tuesday. May Is, they alerted
their 18th Paratroop Brigade
group, presumably despite official
denials) to protect British prop
Ierty in Iran-and the lives of some
1000 British nationals employed
Ithere-against possible mob vio-
lence.
On Friday, May Is, our State
Department put out a press re-
lease calling on both sides for
moderation and said we would
strongly oppose" any arbitrary
cancellation of Anglo ranian's
lease. Next day, Britain's note
was delivered to the Iranian for
Ieign Office. 1t proposed high-level
negotiations to work out a part
Inership basis on which the British
company and the Iraniarl govern
ment would develop and distribute
Trans oil. Britain also offered,
somewhat wistfully, to help build
up Trans economy.
Company Name Banished
Sunday, DR.. Mossadegh's oil
naturalization board ordered
EAnglo-Iranian's' name banished
from all documents and state
ments. 1t became "the late COM
Ipany." Then. last Monday, Iran
started talking back-not to Brit
ain, but to the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Bag
her Kazemi handed our Ambas-
sador, Henry F. Grady, note
accusing us of stabbing Iran in
the back by taking Britain's side.
America should adopt, said Tehe-
ran, friendly and impartial at
titude." At the same time, DR.
Mossadegh charged Britain and
the United States with forcing
Iranians ito live like cave dwell
ers." Hussein Makki, secretary OF
the National Block and the oil
board, screamed in the Malls that
Iran is a powder keg, and that II
Britain insists on playing with
matches, well get rid of the Brit
ish Empire forever"
Tuesday was a Moslem holiday
In Teheran's Parliament Square
10000 howled approval while
ISayed Abolghassem Kashani, 8
leading priest, told them in a
broadcast message that "the un-
bending will of the Iranian people
is determined to put an enc
at any price to the interventions
of the late company in the re-
Iligous and political affairs of oul
country"
On Wednesday Secretary Ache
son, trying to oil the waters. sale
. the United States is Trans sin
cere friend" and has no thought
of challenging her sovereignty
While he was talking, Teherar
slapped customs duties on all An.
glo- Iranian's imports and taxes OF
: all the company's exports.
Next day, the Iranians crossed
the Rubicon. In a blunt ultima
turn, they gave Anglo Iranial
until midnight this Wednesda.
to come in and help them ar
s. range the transfer of the prop
49, rrAHY ~nYcrr No. ~ q