Stains on the Carpet Dr. A. M. Esfandiary The Wisdom
of the East K. W. Rankin Opus Dei Bernard Bergonzl, John A. Henry, A. D. C. Peterson
Libraries and Authors' Royalties 'Sir Alan Herbert
Gunning for Gaitskell Kenneth Tynan Whitewash?
William Douglas Home, Ludovic Kennedy The Agency Game Douglas W. Franklin Clerical Blood Pressures Re L'. Austin Lee Necessary Distinctions Marghanita Laski STAINS ON THE CARPET SIR,—It was with regret that I read the article by Michael Leapinan entitled 'Stains on the Carpet.' I feel bound to comment that the article has strayed so far from the truth and has so twisted the facts that It is abundantly clear that its purpose is to harm Iran and to bring scorn on her achievements.
The progress and development achieved in Iran cannot be hidden even from the most critical eye, and nothing can impede the speedy advancements Which are being made and which have stunned the World. Iran's drive towards rehabilitation and prosperity is such that each month the face of the country changes, and visitors who return to Iran even after a short interval cannot fail to notice the progress made. .
To give an • example, Teheran, which has a Population of nearly two million, has become so modernised that not even a small corner can be found which has not shared in this evolution. Since the medium of television was first established there, about 40,000 television sets have been installed; 200,000 radio sets arc owned, and over 100.000 cars, the majority of owners of which are middle-class and Working people. Not one single shopkeeper can be found in Teheran whose home is not fitted out with modern equipment and all necessary comforts. Domestic help is almost impossible to obtain owing to the scarcity of labour and the high wages paid. I Should like, here, to mention also that there are 30.000 Iranian students studying in many parts of the world, including 5,000 in this country, whose studies are partly paid for by the Government'.
That a country such as Iran, which is more than three times the size of England and many, many times more difficult to develop owing to its geo- graphical structure, its climate and its social Problems, should, under the guidance of his late Majesty Reza Shah the Great and now under His Imperial Majesty Reza Shah Pahlavi, have under- gone the revolutionary change that it has in so short a time is proof in itself of the immensity of its achievements.
Your correspondent, writing in regard to the recent elections, regards these as having been 'rigged.' Was not this the subject of discussion, conflict and argument throughout our country during the elections? And were the elections not deliberately examined and inquired into, and finally declared void and new elections held? Why does your correspon- dent not give a true and accurate picture and tell that there was so much freedom that the people abused it? Why does he not say how the Govern- ment and governing elements were freely and with- out hindrance allowed to be gravely criticised? Is this in itself not proof that our Government respects and practises democracy en to its own loss, which in fact was the case? Since such an article is harmful to the good under- standing which exists between our two nations, I hope that it may be possible for you to enlighten both Mr. Leapman and your readers as to the true position, since I am sure you can appreciate the far-reaching harm that can so inadvertently be caused when unfounded facts such as those in the article pass without comment.—Yours faithfully, A. M. ESFANDIARY Counsellor in charge of Press Affairs Imperial Iranian Embassy, London
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