Resuming Anglo-Persian Relations General Zahedi has been dili g ently preparin g the
ground for a resumption of diplomatic relations with Britain. Political and religious leaders have been consulted and their co-operation sought, kites have been flown in the Press, and some unusually frank speeches about Persia's international position have been broadcast by the General himself and some of his colleagues over Teheran radio. This may seem an undue amount of preparation for what is after all simply a common-sense action. but the Persian people have lost the habit of common-sense think in8. They were told a year ago that breaking off relations With Britain was a victory, so their natural assumption is likely to be that resuming relations is a defeat. For this reason General Zahedi would have liked to be able to couple news of a resumption of relations with an unequivocal statement from the British Government that they recognise the principle of the nationalisation of oil. But the most that Mr. Eden could concede was the bracketing of the principle of nationalisation With the principle of compensation. At one moment it seemed as though long-range wrangling over basic principles would hold up a resumption of diplomatic relations indefinitely. This Would have been tragic, as both the British and Persian Govern- Ments are now interested not only in basic principles but also in getting the oil flowing again. General Zahedi has no time to lose. ' The emergency $45 million which the United States supplied in September will not last him beyond the winter. His position is not strengthened by persistent rumours of differences between him and the Shah. It is always hard for two saviours of their country to keep in step.
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