29 MAY 1951 TUDEH DEMONSTRATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• 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
• Publication Date: June 4, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

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
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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.
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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).
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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?
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=ibuted to the time of day
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Comment,
on observed.
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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.
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