A long time has passed since former Iranian Premier Mossadegh visited the United States for “medical observation.” Under the guise of physical ill-health, he had come here to tell our government leaders that he would not fall before American intimidation tactics in the Anglo-Iranian oil dispute. [When Britain took the case to the United Nations Security Council, Mossadegh flew to New York for the session]

During the months since then, Mossadegh went the way of most political iron men. We would be hard put to say that the new regime of General Fazollah Zahedi will be a better reflection of Iran’s newly aroused nationalist impulse. [Fazlollah Zahedi] But it does seem to us, that if a choice could be made, the former Premier would gain the edge over his successor.

Technically, at least, Mossadegh was bent upon making of Iran a modern nation overnight, and his firm stand in the controversy with Britain proved his faith in native Iranian abilities. As we see it, Mossadegh was also determined to steer a course free from religious control of his government. Under such circumstances, we believe Iran’s large Jewish population would have fared much better than it can now expect with General Zahedi at the helm.

Behind the General’s coup against Mossadegh was Ayatullah Kashani, a fanatic Moslem leader. [Ayatollah Kashani] It seems to us that Kashani will now compromise and destroy every progress made by Mossadegh. Most to be deplored is the impending religious revival in Iran which will be used by the extreme right Fascists and the National Socialist Party. In their enthusiasm to strike at the Communists in their midst, they may also victimize the Jews.

This will be in accord with traditional Fascist principles which are anti-democratic and anti-Communist at the same time. The deposition of Mossadegh and the rise to power of the Shah and General Zahedi foreshadow a step backward in the Middle East. It seems to us that Mossadegh’s regime can not truthfully be credited with having demonstrated any clear cut democratic inclinations, but he did at least avoid using the banner of self-righteous religion as a disguise for Fascism.

In the beginning, the United States presumably maintained a neutral position in the Iranian coup. But the coup has already had its effect on our Mutual Security Aid program. Israel stands to suffer a severe cut in MSA assistance due to the diversion of Near Eastern economic aid to Iran. It has already been revealed that $25,000,000 of the emergency $45,000,000 grant for Iran announced by President Eisenhower on September 5th will be taken from funds Israel expected to share with the Arab states.

By no stretch of the imagination does this seem to us a “neutral position.” As we see it, our government’s elation with the Mossadegh deposition places the US into the position of sponsoring a nation whose policies are to be deplored. General Zahedi was once branded a criminal by the British and removed from Iran, agitated against the UN partition of Palestine with the aid of Fascist forces and now plots Pan-Iranian militaristic expeditions. This may very well find American funds going into the General’s ambitious army which might more peacefully and fruitfully have been used in Israel.