IRANIAN EDITOR VOICES HOPE FOR U.S. HELP IN MIDDLE EAST

In an effort to "increase the intellectual and cultural interests between Iran and America," Mostafa Mesbahzadeh, Professor of Law at the University of Teheran and Editor of the popular Iranian newspaper, Kaihan, spent last week at Harvard as the guest of the University. Accompanied by three other Iranian editors, Mesbahzadeh made a three-month tour of key cities as guest of the State Department and the Office of War Information.

Visiting San Francisco, Hollywood, Tennessee Valley, Chicago, and New York, Mesbahzadeh met President Truman, Secretary Stimson, and other cabinet members, several congressmen, including Senators McKeller and Connally and Representative Clare Booth Luce. He spoke to these leading statesmen concerning Iran's contributions to the war-effort and, stating that America has definite responsibilities in the Near and Middle East, expressed the hope that in peace as in war she will continue to lend support to the small nations of the East.

In an interview with the SERVICE NEWS, Mesbahzadeh former head of the Department of Information and Propaganda in Iran, emphasized the extent to which Iran has contributed to the war-effort by transporting more than 6,000,000 tons of lend-lease material to Russia over their only railroad, which runs from the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea passing through Teheran.

Four years ago Iran declared war on Germany and Japan turning all its facilities, including its oil wells, over to the Allies. Regarding the American British and Russian troops now stationed in Iran. Professor Mesbahzadeh voiced the hope that these soldiers would be removed in the near future. He further stressed that the recent action of the Iranian Parliament prohibiting foreign oil concessions was not directed against any one nation.