Evening star., 1953-12-07
Hopeful Sign in Middle East

Hopeful Sign in Middle East :
One of the most troublesome problems of
the Middle East appears long step closer to
resolution with the announcement that diplo-
matte relations between Britain and Iran are
being restored
1t was nearly fourteen months ago that
Trans Prime Minister Mossadegh, now being
tried on charges of treason, abruptly severed
relations with the London government His
action came after more than year of unpro-
ductive negotiations between Britain and Iran
over the future of the Iranian oil industry and
what compensation could be paid to British
interests for the appropriation of their proper
ties. Dr. Mossadegh sponsor of the nationaliza-
ton law, became increasingly uncompromiSing
as the negotiations dragged on and was finally
serving virtual ultimatums not only to Britain
but to the United States on how a settlement
must be reached. The breaking of diplomatic
relations closed the normal channels for nego-
tiation, possibly one of DR.. MossadeghS objec-
tives, and until General zahedi took over the
Iranian government last August there was
little hope of solution ever being reached.
To Iran, the cost of this deadlock has been
tremendous in terms of revenue and extremely
dangerous in terms of political stability When
the Zahedi coup took place last summer DR.
Mossadegh had become very nearly political
captive of the Communist Tudeh Party and
the country according to General Zahedi, was
in danger of drifting behind the Iron Curtain"
An already primitive economy, deprived of its
greatest single source of revenue, has just barely
licked along for 80 months past. American
financial aid has been extended to the Zahcdi
regime, with more than a hope expressed that
British-Iranian diplomatic relations would be
resumed and that agreement might then be
reached on the oil dispute.
;4o;~, 4l,o oko o. i
become much more threatening in terms of
world politics than in terms of oil. In the
months since the Iranian fields and refneries
were closed, other crude oil production in the
Middle East has more than offset that lost and
other refining facilities have Supplanted for the
time being the output of the Iranian plants
Indeed, when Iranian oil returns to world mar
kets there will be problem of readjustment
and integration in the supply and demand
picture.
1t is essential however, that Trans economy
be restored to a Sef-SuppOrting basis if the
Communist threat is to be ended The capture
of Iran, either politically or mlitarly, has been
a long-term objective of Russia-even before
the days of Bolshevik control The establish
ment Of Communist satellite in that area, in
turn, would threaten the entire Middle East
and Ilight easily split the East and West COM
pletely
This very danger was stressed only last
week by Admiral Radford, chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, in his address at West
Point In his area-by-area review of world
tensions, he said this:
The Importance of the Middle East to the
free world hardly be overestimated mill
tarily and economically. First, its huge oil
reserves now supply most of the requirements
of Europe, and their loss would be disastrous
Second, its geographic location is astride the
lines of communication between West and
East And third it is only in this area that
the Soviets have no satellite buffer states
There is reason to believe the tide has been
turned by the restoration of British-Iranian
relations. 1t is up to both governments now,
with whatever aid the United States may give
in supporting the negotiations, to see that some
constructive agreement is reached in the near
future.