EXPECTED REFORMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1941, Page 5

EXPECTED REFORMS

IRANIAN POLICY

DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN

RUGBY. Sept. 17,

The abdication of the Shah in favour of his son is expected to herald the institution of reforms no less in Iranian domestic policy than in the attitude towards foreign Powers. For some time Riza Khan had been alienating the sympathy of his subjects by' the increasingly despotic character of his rule and by increasing evidence that he was enriching himself at the expense of his impoverished country.

Commenting on his more recent actions, the "Daily Telegraph" states: "It had been apparent for pome days that Riza Khan was steering in a direction antipathetic alike to popular opinion among his own subjects and the interests of the two Powers which had been compelled by his earlier policy to march into the country. He had evidently learned nothing from the mistakes which led up to the Anglo-Russian occupation, and in all his dealings with the Axis he showed little of that native shrewdness which helped to raise him from his lowly origins to the ancient throne of the King of Kings."

The "Daily Telegraph" points out that the care which the Allies took to use the minimum of force has been completely wasted on the Shah, who exploited this clemency "to persevere in his self-chosen role of a quisling."

As regards the new occupant of the throne, the "Daily Telegraph" states that, while he will not enjoy the support of the Allies, "unless he proves able and willing to cut loose completely from the false tracks which hastened his father's career to its downfall," he "will certainly be able to count on the practical sympathy and help of the Allies in any measures his regime may initiate for the improvement of the conditions of the people."—B.O.W.