If and when the struggle for power between Iran’s Premier Mossadegh and the Shah Mohammed Pahlevi explodes into civil war, the Reds will emerge from their cells as peacemakers-in-charge. [Mohammad Reza Pahlavi] They stand ready to “save” Iran from chaos, with help from a benevolent neighboring Soviet nation.

A new indication that things are nearing an extreme stage is given in the threat of an Army junta to lead an armed revolt to preserve the Shah’s government prerogatives from the power-grabbing Mossadegh, and to save the country “from the hands of foreign spies.”

Iran’s chronic crisis has had high priority in Washington military and diplomatic thinking for some time. It is believed to be one prime reason for Secretary of State Dulles’ decision to make an unprecedented official trip to the Middle East the latter part of this month. [John Foster Dulles, who skipped Iran on his trip]

Winston Churchill has said that the West could lose more in Iran than in Korea, where a shooting war is raging. And many United states strategists agree.

Sen. Alexander Wiley, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, asserts that the new Soviet “peace” objective is to split the West while pursuing another advancing into the Near East and building a bridge to Africa.

There is no lack of awareness in the Eisenhower administration of either the importance of keeping Iran from falling into Communism or of the very real danger that it may do so in default of realistic measures on the part of the West. [Dwight D. Eisenhower] The question seems to be whether decisions and action, consonant with the rights and desires of responsible Iranians, can be taken before it is too late.