Premier Mossadegh of Iran, unless he be totally deluded, knows that a continued shutdown of oil production will bankrupt his nation, plunge it into political and social chaos, and give the Communists their chance to take over. It is national suicide for Iran and political if not personal suicide for Mossadegh — yet he grimly plods through the script that he has prepared, or that the fanatics have written for him.

Britain and America know that too would breed tragedy for the strategic position of the coalition that is trying to stop Red aggression. It would be the first step in a Red march to outflank Western Europe through the Middle East, the Near East, and the African continent. Yet if they appease Mossadegh, there is no guarantee of being able to defend the position; if they stand up to Mossadegh, as the British have just done in rejecting his latest-ultimatum, they fix Iran even deeper in the net of Soviet encirclement.

Mossadegh has replied to Britain by carrying out his threat to break diplomatic relations. The tragedy picks up speed on its journey to the somber ending.