Yes, But...

A fortnight ago, Mohammed Mossadegh, the Lion of Abadan, decided to survey his political fences after 14 months as Premier. He called a few Majlis leaders to his big beige brick house and asked: "Well, what do you think of my policies, generally?" Said a deputy, after a long pause: "We've always been in favor of everything you've done, Your Excellency, but . . ." Mossadegh cut in impatiently: "That's it! That 'but'! You approve of everything I do, but you always nullify it with a 'but.' "

Last week, as 72-year-old Mossadegh was redesignated Premier by the newly elected Majlis (he had to resign formally and then be reappointed), the "but" kept trailing after him. The Majlis had overwhelmingly voted him in, but only after electing an anti-Mossadegh speaker. The 57-member Senate concurred, 14 to 1, but only because the majority present in the half-empty chamber sat on its hands during the balloting. The young Shah pulled wires to get Mossadegh back in, but lectured him, during a private luncheon, on the urgent need for restoring economic order. The people supported him, but worried as unemployment spread, public works were abandoned, and government payrolls fell behind.

Iran couldn't see any other leader save Mossadegh, but having chosen him it wondered what to do next. Mossadegh himself was uneasy. This week, he appeared before a closed session of the Majlis and demanded unlimited powers for the next six months to deal with Iran's economic crisis. The Majlis must say yes, he added, with no buts about it.

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