Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file
No. 349
Memorandum by the Acting Director of Central
Intelligence (Cabell) to the President
An unexpectedly strong upsurge of popular and military reaction to Prime Minister Mossadeq’s Government has resulted, according to late dispatches from Teheran, in the virtual occupation of that city by forces proclaiming their loyalty to the Shah, and to his appointed Prime Minister Zahedi.
Mossadeq and his Chief of Staff Riahi were reported still ensconced in their respective headquarters but cut off from communications which are in control of the royalist forces. The city appeared to be generally under control of royalist forces although some Mossadeq supporters were reportedly still on the streets. The [Page 756] royalists in Teheran were using the communications systems to urge the people and the Army to rise to the support of the Shah.
The strategic province of Azerbaijan according to radio dispatches originating from Tabriz is held by Royalists but Isfahan radio some two hundred miles south of Teheran has in a single brief announcement proclaimed itself loyal to Mossadeq.
In this confused situation it appears that the tone and content of the communiqués is definitely anti-communist. Tudeh overt activity has been almost non-existent during the past critical hours. Should the royalists manage to take over, Tudeh will be their strongest and most violent opponent.
Our sources have confirmed press and radio reports that pro royalist forces in control of city of Teheran and that Zahedi has returned to city where he broadcast proclamations to the people promising a program of economic and social reforms. Our sources report huge crowds in streets of Teheran calling return of the Shah.1
- On the source text is the following handwritten comment: “DDE has seen 8/21/53—A[nn] C. W[hitman]”↩