Frye Says Iran Not Drifting From West Despite Disputes

A University authority on the Middle East says that Iran, despite the present oil dispute with Britain, is not turning against the West in favor of Russia. Richard N. Frye, assistant professor of Middle Eastern Studies, calls Iran anti-Communist, but until it is strengthened militarily, it "has no choice but to get along with the Russians. Russia is near and America for away."

He believes the United States should increase military aid to Iran and should urge "the immediate formation of a military pact between Turkey, Iran, and the Arab states, under Anglo-American leadership."

At the same time, he adds, the United States should support a positive program of social and economic progress in Iran.

Frye describes present-day problems in Iran in the book, "The United States and Turkey and Iran," just published by the University Press. Co-author with Frye is Lewis V. Thomas, Assistant Professor of Turkish Language and History at Princeton.

"Has Iran rejected the West and cast in her lot with the Soviets?" Frye asks. "Despite her recent move in regard to the Voice of America, her barter agreement with Russia, and the nationalization of oil, I think we can say that the answer to this question is 'No.'"

He says the Iranian government's move last November to stop the relaying of Voice of America programs over radio Teheran can be interpreted as a shift from a "more or less openly pro-American to a more neutral position."

The barter agreement of last November was motivated by economic necessities, he feels, and is not highly significant.

"The nationalization of oil too is understandable." Frye says leaders of the nationalization plan, who protested that Iran was not receiving a fair share of the profits of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, reflected "widespread sentiment" in Iran.