There may have been a note of prophecy in last December’s memorable remark by Premier Mossadegh of Iran that it might be best to close the Iranian oil fields and “act as if we had no oil at all” thus preserving it “for our children”.

Production in neighboring Kuwait, an Arabian port at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, now is reported to be exceeding 640,000 barrels of oil daily, replacing nearly half of Iran’s former output, and production also has been stepped up sharply in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, as well as in the Western Hemisphere. Even more oil can be brought from these fields in the months ahead if necessary.

Premier Mossadegh, meanwhile, remains with his idle oil industry and an increasing financial problem in operating his government with bankruptcy as the ultimate and not too distant prospect. The irony of the Mossadegh position lies in the uncertainty of large Iranian oil production even if the Iranian government should come to terms with the British on operation of the nationalized and seized properties.

The sheik of Kuwait and the king of Saudi Arabia, now receiving a flood of new oil revenue, may insist that their production remain near present high levels. Not only would they have a good case on their side since they have stood by the West during the pinch for oil, but the West itself may prefer to favor the untroubled non-Iranian fields.

As the world learns to live without Iranian oil, Premier Mossadegh may discover his role has been, as he says, the preservation of a heritage for another generation. But one may be sure it was not his original intention.