29 MAY 1951 TUDEH DEMONSTRATIONS

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP82-00457R007900110005-2
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
3
Document Creation Date: 
December 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
April 27, 2001
Sequence Number: 
5
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
June 4, 1951
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP82-00457R007900110005-2.pdf182.22 KB
Body: 
CLASSIFICATION SECR ;T C CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO. x Approved For Release 2001/12/04: CIA-RDP82-00457R00790011000SNXELLO, INFORMATION REPORT COUNTRY SUBJECT 29 May 1951 Tudeh Demonstrations 25X1A I ILN~ UA ilur i CD NO. DATE DISTR. NO. OF PAGES 5 NO. OF ENCLS. GUSTED BEWW) SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT NO. 1. The Tudeh demonstration of 29 Wy 1951 was staged at Ferdowsi Square, An "organized committee" in a'truck and three taxis (all equipped Tehran . with loud-speakers) issued instructions to "dilcipline officers" (identified by arm bands) who organized the demonstrators. After the staging, the parade marched past the British and American Embassies to Bahrestan Square where speeches were made. 2. The demonstration was largely under the auspices of the Society of the Enemies of the Oil Company. Demonstrators included: a. The following trade unions: silo workers; cement factory workers; tailors; unemployed copper-smelting workers; iley2industr:ial workers; northeastern Tehran workers; women workers. 5. b. "Iranian mothers" and "intellectual women." c. Student contingents. d. Children. Banners, s1ojans, and speeches attacked the United States and Great Britain articularly the former) and voiced the following demands: a,, Prompt and unconditional expropriation of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. b. Condemnation of United States-British alignment on the oil question and interference of the United States in Iranian internal affairs on the oil question. c Removal of martial law in Khuzistan. z r o ? > d. Nationalization of Bahrein oil. .o 0008, ?~ s - 0w f; Approved For Release 2001/12/04: CIA-RDP82-00457 ..Approved For Release 2001/12/04: CIA-RDP82-00457R007900110005-2 SECRET/CONTROL U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY CENTRAL ITMTTEL1IGENCE AGENCY -2- e. Release of political prisoners and freedom for all political parties. f. Repeal of Article 7 of the nationalization law,which calls for the sale of oil to former customers (i.e. British). 25X1X Vilification of United States action in Korea and British- American imperialism in the Orient. h. Votes for women. 4. Part of the demonstrators attacked Prime Minister Mossadeq3on the following grounds- a. The "undemocratic" electoral reform bill proposed by the Government, b. The delay in the implementation of the oil nationalization bill, 5. The demonstration was perfectly organized and the mob under complete control, of the'tiiscipline officers" who appeared to%be making sure that no disorder occurred. The "discipline officers" were noted stopping paraders from giving the communist clenched-fist salute in front of the British Embassy, presumably so that the parade could not be branded as communist, which would weaken the "indigenous anti-British" flavor. 6. According to informant, it was estimated that the participants in the parade numbered between 5,000 and 10,000 and that the final gathering, including onlookers, numbered between 35,000 and 50,000.4 7. Another source stated that, according to talk within the Tudeh Party, the Tudeh participants in the demonstration were estimated to be approximately 5,000. 8. The balance of the demonstrators were organized by the Mossadeq Government (Dr. Baghails new pro-Government party "Zahmal Kashan") in an effort to "tone down" the afti-Government slogans of the Tudeh Party (see above), 9. According to the local press: a. Minor demonstrations were also held in Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Meshed. b. A scheduled demonstration at Tabriz was "held off" by local authorities, 1 _ Comment. The excellent organizational ability of the Tudeh Party is again apparent. Comment. South Tehran suburb. Comment, The demonstration signaled the formal beginning of the 25X1A Tudeh campaign against Mossadeqvbised on the followings a. Opposition to the proposal for electoral reform which, because of literacy qualifications, works against the Tudeh Party. b. An attempt by the Tudeh Party to accuse Mossadeq of "backsliding" on oil nationalization and thus, by arousing public opinion, forcing the Government to become even. more extreme in its implementation of nationalization and further weakening the British-Uni':ed States position in Iran, leaving Iran by default to the Soviet Union? SECRET/CONTROL U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY Approved For Release 2001/12/04: CIA-RDP82-00457R007900110005-2 Approved For Release 2001/12/04: CIA-RDP82-00457R007900110005-2 3EC 4 =ibuted to the time of day tt b e i Comment, on observed. .: e a panc es can Discr 25X1A 5 Comment. Although the demonstration was basically Tudeh-inspired, the size of the demonstration is an unreliable because of the following factors: guide to Tudeh strength aa. The Tudeh Party used a "front" group which means that the bulk of the group membership were not oard holders but misled adherents and "fellow travelers" taken in by "front" slogans. b. Demonstrations always attract curious bystanders. o. Anti-British rallying, slogans have a wide popular appeal and it is easy to gather a crowd. Approved For Release 2001/12/04: CIA-RDP82-00457R007900110005-2