A Salutory Warning

August 29, 1952 — As the Earth Turns


The Mossadegh Project | February 17, 2022                   


As the Earth Turns — Commentary on World Affairs was a weekly column by D. G. M. Jackson (aka “Sulla”) which ran in several Australian Catholic newspapers. Each edition contained some half dozen separate editorials on a variety of international news items, with an emphasis on foreign relations.

Australian media archive




As the Earth Turns — Commentary on World Affairs

The Miseries of Mossadeq

IF the Egyptian situation gives ground for hopefulness, that in Persia remains grim. General Naguib was borne into power on the shoulders of his officers and soldiers, though with popular approval. [Mohammed Naguib] Mossadeq has returned to office by riding the tide of mob-fanaticism, inspired by hatred of the Western powers, and stimulated by the proddings of the Communist “fifth column.” The miserable Shah, unlike King Farouk, remains on his throne, but he is utterly alone and utterly helpless, having lost all support either from the people or the ruling class.

To be sure, there have been signs that the Persian Premier—now invested with dictatorial powers—is not unconscious of the real perils of his situation. His director of national police has recently broadcast a warnng that Communists are “using the guise of nationalism” to “carry out their sinister purpose, which is to sell the country to the foreigner.” Hitherto, Mossadeq has been satisfied with chuckling that he knows his policy helps the Russians, but that he is quite able to cope with them when the time comes. It has come—or is obviously coming very soon indeed.

Meanwhile, the Majliss has approved a “reform programme” for which no money is available; and the elusive coquetting with the ambassadors of Great Britain and U.S. has been resumed. [Majles] First, a new proposal for arbitration of the oil controversy, has been made—and almost at once withdrawn. Then the U.S. ambassador has received suggestions that the oil industry should be run by the World Bank, but no British are to be used in it. [Loy Henderson] None of this talk is worth much, from a thoroughly untrustworthy man who will accept no compromise on impossible terms, while his country slips downwards towards further miseries, and the peril from the North grows constantly. The one comfort is that—as we have noted—the plight of Persia has proved a salutary warning to at least one of her Moslem neighbors. [He means Iraq]


Richard Stokes’ Second Thoughts on Iranian Oil (1951 Letter)
Richard Stokes' Letter to Clement Attlee, Aga Khan Concurs (1951)

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Related links:

The Desperate Situation In Persia | As the Earth Turns, July 19, 1951

Middle East Contrasts | St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Nov. 1952 Letter)

Peter Russo probes the miseries of Mossadeq (Jan. 19, 1952)



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

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