We rather hope that the Persian court which is now trying, or is trying to try, Mohammed Mossadegh, does not decide to condemn the old man to death, but we sincerely hope that we are now witnessing the last of his super-colossal melodramatic appearance on the world scene. Enough is enough.

News reports of the antics with which this strange man has been tying the court into knots make quite fantastic reading to Western eyes.

“He wept. He groaned. He limped. He almost fainted. He pounded his fists on his desk. He gasped for breath at one point and called for a glass of warm water . . . he demanded a heater to keep himself warm.”

He refused to admit that the court was competent to try him, but proceeded to argue his case from a document which indicated he could go on for days and days. He insists on remaining in jail, has announced that he will refuse “forgiveness” even if it is offered, and if the court doesn’t sentence him to death he threatens to commit suicide anyway, at the first opportunity.

It seems to us that this must constitute an extraordinary exhibition of histrionics, even for a Persian court. We doubt if the Persians have ever heard of St. George and the Dragonnet, but on the reports available it seems that it would not be difficult to add, to the existing charges against Mossadegh, a four-twelve — overacting. [Stan Freberg’s Dragnet parody on Capitol Records, recorded days after the coup] Mossadegh has utilized this method ever since he attained power as Prime Minister of Persia. He has constantly played upon his illness and feebleness, both domestically and in international affairs, all the while belying his statements with astonishing displays of agility, endurance and toughness. He is without doubt the sprightliest sick man of all time, with, apparently the healthiest appetite.

But the world has become bored with his acting, and Persia has had quite enough of his politics. In his fantastically stubborn fight over the oil question he has brought his country to the brink of ruin, and at the end it seemed obvious that there could never be any sensible dealing with him. His precipitous departure from power has not by any means smoothed a magic path to settlement of the problem, but at the very least there is now some possibility of reasonable discussion.

As to the competence of the existing court to try Mossadegh, we do not claim to know the existing state of the Persian constitution, but it must be sadly tattered by this time. However, the court has been appointed by the existing Persian government, which is exercising effective control over the country, and therefore it must be presumed to be pretty powerful even if not competent.

We can see nothing in particular to be gained by hanging the old man. It would suffice just to put him quietly away in a padded hospital cell, for as long as need be.