Editor, The Pittsburgh Press:

I was surprised by the inaccuracy of your correspondent, Richard Starnes.

Although financially Iran is in a grave position, she is neither morally decayed nor spiritually bankrupt. I wonder since when yielding to a colonial policy has been a moral and spiritual virtue?

On the contrary, the outstanding resistance of Iran against foreign domination and economic pressures is the best sign of her moral and spiritual strength.

The fact that the Americans are getting less popular in Iran is because the public opinion and the government of this country have sided with the British interest and many American journalists have reflected the British propaganda without bothering to find the facts for themselves.

The Iranians do not hate the British; in fact, many of them admire the British way of life and democracy. What they hate is the British colonial and domineering policy toward their country, the description of which is not within the scope of this letter. This policy is the only obstacle for the establishment of a friendly and cordial relation between these two countries and the sooner it is removed the better.

It is true that in Iran the peasants live under the weight of the most appalling poverty, but it also should be mentioned that the Iranians are painfully aware of this position.

The distribution of land between the landless peasants by the Shah, and a recent decree by Mossadegh giving the peasants the benefit of a much greater share of the crop, is sufficient to emphasize this fact.

With the help of the Point Four technicians and materials, a successful war has been waged against the malaria mosquitoes in the north and the locusts in the south. Many other more ambitious programs and plans remain to be completed or carried out.

A. F. SIMORGH

Editor, The Pittsburgh Press:

Roving news correspondents, like Richard Starnes, are never liked. Their ability to size up the situation and enlighten the taxpaying provincial of the United States as to just what is going on in the Near East and elsewhere is a definite menace to our Point Four doles, the World Federalist movement and the human rights of the professional do-gooders of the United Nations.

A recent letter questioning the accuracy of Mr. Starnes’ reporting is filled with mistruths, half-truths and untruths.

Recent riots in Iran, destroying British and American property and, in some cases, attacking our citizens, would hardly come under the heading of admiration.

The agrarian reform movement of Mossadegh is too much like the poor Red China back-to-the-land movement. Giving away land that doesn’t belong to you and then taking 99 per cent of the crop is as old as the first Russian ten-year plan.

Iran is famous for oil, infamous for opium—the latter her national crop. There are more addicts per capita in Iran than in any other country in that area and perhaps the world.

The poor of Iran, without the British, will be much more so. With the British, even the lowliest had some measure of protection.

W. A. PARRETT