Asked "Why is March 22 New Year's Day in Persia?", a bland Palace official characteristically replied last week "Because it always has been."
"And why has His Imperial Majesty Reza Shah Pahlavi decreed that from your next New Year's Day onward the name of Persia shall be Iran?"
"It always has been," again wearily replied the Palace spokesman. "In reality 'Persia' is only a southern province. Foreigners have called our land Persia. We have always called it Iran. The Shah, in communicating his august decision with respect to New Year's Day to the diplomatic corps, acted from the national and patriotic...
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