Persia Today
SIR,—Mr. Philip's article, Return of the Shah, in the Spectator of January 13th is so full of inaccuracies and prejudiced innuendoes that it borders on the fantastic. The. ingenious assertion that the recent posthumous award of "The Great"-to Reza Shah by the Majlis was " sponsored, of course, by the Court " is contrary to facts and ignores recent Persian history. During the First World War the Persian 'people, who were neutrals, witnessed their territory being used and abused by the Allied armies as well as those of the Central Powers. When the war ended the country was in a chaotic state socially, economically and politically. The Central Government was too impotent to exercise any authority, and the writ of Teheran was hardly respected outside the gates of the capital. The feudal power of tribal lords and extraneous influences were widespread and permeated through every phase of the social and . administrative structure of the country. Such was the background of the scene from which Reza Shah emerged. In a matter of a few years, from a feudalistic country he turned Persia into an orderly and well-conducted state with international prestige. Turbulent tribes were disarmed ; law and order established all over the country ; women emancipated ; the national exchequer reorganised and the country linked up by railway and thousands of miles of roads con- structed ; and, by far the most important contribution to Persian re-awakening, a fervent desire for self-esteem and self-respect revived. In recognition of the great services rendered by Reza Shah the 15th Session of Majlis, considered by all sides to be one of the most independent, voluntarily paid a genuine tribute to these achievements.
The ovations and rejoicings manifested in Iran at the return of H.I.M. Mohammad Reza Shah from his recent trip to the U.S.A. are a reflection of the true feelings of Persians for their young sovereign and democratic leader, whose sole concern since his accession to the throne has been the welfare and prosperity of his people. A sportsman, leading a simple life, he has not spared any effort in this direction,
and has bequeathed his personal fortune and the _greater part of his civil list to improve the social conditions of his people and to raise the standard of living in Iran. Moreover, the Shah has scrupulously governed by constitutional methods and his democratic demeanour has been recognised and admired all over the world. The Shah does not cherish any autocratic aspirations, and the harping on this refrain resembles a recurring decimal in that it loses value with each recurrence. With a fervent desire for reforms, social and economic, he has given leadership to the nation and has endeavoured to establish social justice and fight the destructive elements in the country who have blindly, and out of sheer ignorance, hindered Iran's progress. Consequently the mass of the people as well as the enlightened classes have pinned their future hopes and aspirations on him. The seven-year economic plan, which will undoubtedly raise the standard of living in Iran, and help industrial and technical enlightenment in every sphere, owes its inception and materialisation to the person of the Shah.
Provisions for the Senate were made in the Constitution of 1906, and the recent setting up of a second house was merely to implement a Constitutional Act and bring the functions of the legislature in line with the parliamentary practices of Western democracies. Your contributor, in searching for the shadow of a formula to solve the complicated problems facing the people of Iran, has abandoned the substance. The suggestion that "the idea'of some veiled form of dictatorship" is being played with is a familiar opening gambit by those who are out of touch with current mode of thought amongst the ruling classes and the masses in Iran and who are not prepared to judge objectively. It is a travesty of truth as well as good taste that so much is omitted and distorted and so much is presented out of focus.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
A. H. HAMZAVI,
Persian Embassy, London. Press Counsellor.
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