In the sudden, violent nationalist parliamentary revolution in Iran there is a strong smell of something more than oil.

The avowed aim is to throw out the British interests long in operating direction of the enormously important Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, a source of supply of vast concern to the West. Associated with this program, now in full career, is the platform of the new Premier, F. Mohammed Mossadegh, [sic] head of the splinter National Front Party, to eliminate all “foreign” influences in his country.

The sweep of Mossadegh and his policies into power is incomprehensible in any terms we can well understand. His party has only seven members in the Majlis, the lower house of the Iranian Parliament. Its leader may be credited with sincerely patriotic motives. But it is hardly possible to understand how huge majorities appear spontaneously in the twinkling of an eye, so to speak, on his side.

The effect is to create a vacuum in the oil situation in Iran which, regardless of Mossadegh’s motives, is an invitation to Russia to come on, whether Mossadegh wants them to or not. The suspicion that Red machinations are somewhere in the background of this situation cannot be avoided.

One thing is certain: Iran, always a trouble spot because of its oil, has now become the center of a menace to which the West must give instant and grave attention if the utmost perils to world peace are to be avoided.