The Legacy of Moussadek
The return of the Shah to Persia suggests that General Zahedi feels he can control the situation that has emerged from the confused conflicts of the past two weeks. As regards the ability of the Army to maintain order, his confidence may be justified; but his success in the long run must depend on his measures to deal with the economic crisis and the immediate financial stringency which hampers even the day-to-day work of government. It is difficult to see how these ills can be remedied without a new approach to the oil problem, and, on another page in this issue, a correspondent in Rome advances evidence to suggest that the Shah might favour a resumption of the oil talks. But the Shah's public pronounce- ments and those of General Zahedi make it clear that there will be no precipitate action. The Shah said that it is " much too soon" to resume diplomatic relations with Britain, while the General is reported to have said flatly that Persia w.11 not pay oil compensation. The weight to be attached to the latter statement, which out-Nfoussadeks Moussadek, may be discounted, as it was made to the Mullah Kashani, a fanatical supporter of nationalisation who commands a considerable following. But it shows that the Government, well aware of the strength of nationalist feeling aroused in Persia during the oil dispute, is feeling its way. As regards the threat from the Left, the Tudeh Party has been outlawe4, public meetings banned and garrisons alerted. It is tempting to connect with this show of firmness the Acting Foreign Minister's statement that talks with the USSR have been suspended until the dis- order abates. However, the chaos is such that the grounds given may, for once, be the true ones.
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