(7 of 8)
In Teheran, Oilman Fraser agreed to send a representative to confer with the parliamentary oil commission "as a measure of respect to the Imperial Government and the Iranian Parliament." Reports trickled out of Parliament that some members of the commission were counseling coolness, conciliation and delay. The British still hold some cards which, if played wisely, might give Iran pause. In taking over Anglo-Iranian, the Mossadeq government has assured the British of compensation (about 25% of current oil revenues). Iran not only lacks capital to pay this, but probably will not even be able to raise the $60 million needed annually for the company's operations. Mossadeq will not compromise on anything he considers a basic issue, but even his attitude last week seemed just a shade softer.
The Swaying Step. Toward week's end, Mossadeq dressed and for the first time in thirteen days came out of seclusion, for a press conference with foreign newsmen. His blue, pin-striped suit hung loosely from his thin, haunched shoulders as he shuffled along the magnificently carpeted Parliament halls. Facing the reporters, the Prime Minister held his text in his trembling hands, started to read. After a few words he choked, his eyes filled with tears. He swayed from side to side. An aide quickly grasped his right arm to prevent him from falling. Mossadeq blew his nose, shook his head, and read on unevenly in singsong Persian. As he swayed back & forth, the aide had a hard time keeping him on his feet.
Between gasps, the Prime Minister told correspondents that Iran would "fight to the death" for oil nationalization, added: "The first step towards the country's reform is to get rid of Anglo-Iranian agents who have sacrificed the whole nation to satisfy their greed." But he showed awareness of what was at stake in Iran for the free world: "The free nations of the world who assist Iran in this struggle will not only prevent the fall of this, one of the oldest nations of the world, but by survival of this nation, the fate of the world may be altered and Western civilization saved from downfall." For the first time, he also suggested that Iran would welcome U.S. economic aid.
Ray of Hope. U.S. aid to Iran so far has been tiny, compared to Marshall Plan expenditures for Western Europe. The total to date: 1) roughly $60 million worth of military equipment, mostly U.S. surplus; 2) a $25 million loan from the Export-Import Bank, not yet drawn by Iran; 3) $500,000 under Point Four, mostly for locust-fighting equipment. A major development plan for Iran designed by a private-enterprise group of U.S. experts, Overseas Consultants, Inc. (TIME, Oct. 24, 1949), fizzled out because the Iranian government did not have the money to pay for it and the U.S. State Department did nothing to help the Iranians get it. The first ray of hope: last week President Truman asked Congress to appropriate $8.5 billion for foreign military and economic aid to help build "a defensive shield against aggression." Of this sum, $415 million would be set aside for Greece, Turkey and Iran.