Over in far-away Iran the population got rid of one Mohammed Mossadegh, who designed to run the country and play both ends against the middle in his efforts to become absolute dictator.

Some weeks ago the Tudeh party (Communists) predicted an upheaval in which the Iranian premier, Mohammed Mossadegh, would emerge victorious, The prediction came true and the shah and his wife [Soraya Esfandiari Bakhtiari] were forced to flee the country. But, the upheaval apparently was staged as an “act” to rid the country of all royal aspects and give Mossadegh a firmer hold on the government.

But he didn’t figure on the royal support, the army and thousands of others in the far provinces resenting his taking over full control, and as a consequence a counter-revolt was staged by supporters of the shah and now Mossadegh, arch foe of America and Britain, is either an exile or has been imprisoned. [He turned himself in that day]

The affair of Mossadegh is a blow to the Communists in that they had hoped through Mossadegh to set up a Communist government and take complete control of the rich Iranian oil fields.

Iran has been in financial stress since Mossadegh nationalized the oil fields, made all Britons leave the country and assumed control of the oil industry. Moscow had hoped to effect an agreement with the Mossadegh government in the operation of the oil fields. [What’s your source?]

The shah is returning, the royal army is in control, a new premier appointed [Fazlollah Zahedi] and it looks like Iran may at last emerge from its economic lethargy and give the Western world some hope that the Kremlin has lost out in its battle for Iranian oil.