Iran Will Accept Help From Anyone

August 24, 1953 — The Associated Press


The Mossadegh Project | May 25, 2021                    



Russian Rubles?

Iran’s Shah Issues Appeal For Immediate Money Help

By RICHARD EHRMAN

AP (The Associated Press) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The world had a pointed appeal for financial help today from Iran’s Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi. [Mohammad Reza Pahlavi] He indicated that even Russian rubles wouldn’t go begging.

The 33-year-old monarch, back in power after the violent overthrow of ex-Premier Mohammed Mossadegh last week, told newsmen at a palace garden party yesterday his nation’s treasury “is very empty.”

“Immediate help is imperative”, the Shah declared. “We need help in the next few days. We do no ask any nation in particular and we are not beggars. However, must have help now if we are to save the country.”

Asked whether Iran would be willing to accept help from Russia the Shah said, “We are ready to accept help from anybody.”

His new finance minister, Ali Amini, underlined the emptiness of the treasury. His first job, he told newsmen, is “to find enough money to pay the August salaries of government employes.”

“If help does not come,” said the Shah, “we will have a nightmarish struggle with the present situation.”

Iran’s acute financial troubles result from her loss of oil markets following Mossadegh’s nationalization of the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Co.’s vast holdings in the country.

Meanwhile, official sources announced today that police have transferred ex-Premier Mohammed Mossadegh from the comfortable quarters of the Tehran Officers’ club to a jail cell. Mossadegh, clad in pajamas, surrendered last week after a bloody coup by supporters of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi took over the government he had refused to relinquish.

The wily and weepy old Nationalist leader was interned in the plush officers club to await trial, possibly on charges of treason for refusing to obey the shah’s order a week ago to hand the premiership over to Gen. Fazollah Zahedi. [Fazlollah Zahedi]

The stubborn old ex-Premier’s refusal to compensate Britain for the seized properties and lost oil revenues brought a British boycott of Iranian oil which cut off the royalties that had been the chief support of Iran’s treasury.

Neither the Shah nor Mossadegh’s conqueror, Premier Gen. Fazollah Zahedi, showed any public inclination, however, to get together with Britain.

The monarch told a questioner yesterday it is “much too soon” to resume diplomatic relations with the British. Zahedi said Saturday he had no intention of considering Britain’s claims for compensation.

Most Western observers concede that Mossadegh did such a good job of making the British the butt of aroused Iranian nationalism, the new government must be extremely cautious in any renewal of relations. They anticipate, however that eventually Zahedi will be able to work out a “reasonable” settlement with the British.

Despite his financial worries, the Shah said he would resume at once his personal land reform program under which he is distributing royally-owned lands to needy peasants. He launched the program two years ago but it had slowed down under pressure from Mossadegh and other wealthy landowners.

With Mossadegh’s extreme nationalist backers and the nation’s Communists both underground, only scattered outbreaks of brief resistance to the new government were reported from the provinces. Zahedi trimmed an hour from the curfew in the capital but tanks and armed guards still surrounded the Shah’s palace.


Alternate headlines:

Shah Calls Iran Broke
Iran Needs Aid — From Anybody
Iran Will Accept Help From Anyone
Iran Will Take Aid From Anyone, Including Soviet
Financial Help Sought For Iran By Shah
Shah Asks Financial Aid For Iran’s Empty Coffers
Iran Treasury Bare; Russ Aid Welcome, Says Shah; U.S. Help Likely
Iran Asks for Immediate Financial Aid — New Monarch Says Nation’s Treasury “Is Very Empty”
Iran Broke — Shah Issues Plea For Aid — Financial Woe Stems From Oil Revenue Loss In Split With Britain
Iran Pleads for Financial Help — Shah Says Treasury Empty, Red Aid Would Be Accepted — OIL LOSSES HIT COUNTRY HARD




Search MohammadMossadegh.com



Related links:

Iran’s Cry For Dollars | INS, August 27, 1953

Aid For The Shah | August 28, 1953 editorial

Mossadegh Still Formidable Political Threat In Iran | INS, Oct. 7, 1953



MOSSADEGH t-shirts — “If I sit silently, I have sinned”

Facebook  Twitter  YouTube  Tumblr   Instagram