The news that Iran has refused to accept Robert Hankey as Britain’s Ambassador to Tehran is not only disappointing to Downing Street but should produce some misgivings in our own State Department. Such a rejection is unusual in so far as diplomatic procedure is concerned. That it will further strain the already difficult relations between the two principal governments is certain, and this is a matter for general regret throughout the Western world.

It will be recalled that we ourselves have just given Premier Mossadegh and his government something like $24,000,000 under the Point Four program, without getting in exchange any formal consent to compliance with the conditions laid down in the Mutual Security Act, by the terms of which nations which receive such aid agree to join in promoting international goodwill, and in eliminating causes of international tension.

Mr. Mossadegh’s excuse for his attitude is that it would compromise his country’s independence and its neutrality. From this distance it looks as though the gentleman is playing the United States off against the British, which may be a cute Oriental trick but is hardly the honorable thing to do.

It may be that our strategy is primarily to aid the Iranian people, who unquestionably are being exploited by their own ruling classes, but if this is the case, we may well have our doubts as to the efficacy of our own government’s plan. If Iran is to get the help it really needs, it will have to look to private enterprise rather than to Washington. And investors are not going to be enthusiastic about sinking their money into projects like Iranian oil if the people themselves do not insist that their government shall honor the contracts and agreements into which it enters.