It is not easy to see what Premier Mossadegh believes he has gained by his refusal to consider the joint Churchill-Truman appeal to accept a formula for settlement. [Winston Churchill, Harry Truman]

Presumably the Iranian Premier has acted out of consideration for the domestic political situation. Observers in Iran point out that much of Dr. Mossadegh’s support comes from anti-British nationalist groups. Since these groups are sure to make a disturbance over any kind of settlement with Britain, the Premier must have felt that the offer was not advantageous enough to risk the internal dissension which was sure to result if he accepted.

A new Parliament has been called into special session to make formal rejection of the Anglo-American proposals. Dr. Mossadegh may take advantage of his popularity to push through some measures of temporary economic alleviation. It is almost certain that he cannot long forestall financial crisis by these temporary measures. He is playing a dangerous game, for if he falls from power he may be succeeded by the communist Tudeh party.

As Senator Smith points out on this page this danger is not a minor one. [Margaret Chase Smith] The apparent aloofness of the Kremlin to the crises in Egypt and Iran is part of a recognized Marxian plan of approach. Soviet Russia, stalemated in Europe and the Far East, can well afford to sit back and watch the situation develop in its favor. According to observers, Dr. Mossadegh is playing the role of an Iranian “Kerensky” and the Kremlin needs, from its point of view, only to sit by and help foment chaos and confusion; when the crisis is reached, Moscow will, it believes, be able to take over by default. [Deposed Russian leader Alexander Kerensky]

As the United Nations World magazine observed last month, the fall of Mossadegh will enable the Russians “to take over the revolutionary foment and utilize it for their own political aims by a group of Moscow-trained, hard-hitting and purposeful militants.”