Cyrous Moradi : Senior Expert, International Relations

A leader does not deserve the name unless he is willing occasionally to stand alone.                    Henry Kissinger (27^th May 1923- )

23^rd July 2020 is the 65^th anniversary of Ahmad Qavam death. He expired on 23 July 1955(was 79 years old).  It is almost common believe that he is the very first Iranian statesman realized the important role of United States in the International arena.

He served three times as prime minister in the volatile years of 1940s decade. He was Machiavellian professional politician and relentless anti communism believed in real and practical politics and above all pragmatism. He served 5 times as prime minister and 20 times as minister in the different cabinets.

Although his higher education was done in Europe but he finds out the important role of United States just after the termination of WWI. He had understood that United States hard wares were very effective in the final fate of WWI and without Washington intervention in the war, No Britons or French armies had capabilities to defeat Kaiser Wilhelm II well equipped army. His efforts to open the doors of Persia to United States expertises could be listed as below:

1. He was the man who wrote the text of Constitutional decree what was signed by Mozaffar ar-Din Shah Ghajar (1853-1907) on 5^th August 1906. In that time he was secretary and head of King's Court.

1. As the prime minister of Persia he invited Arthur Chester Millspaugh, PhD, (1883–1955) and 8 of his staff in the June of 1921 to accept the Treasurer General of Persia. He hired with 15000USD annual salary. His accommodation all prepared by Qavam cabinet.  Dr. Millspaugh was born at Augusta, Michigan, and educated at Albion College, the University of Illinois, and Johns Hopkins

1. For the second time on August 1942, once again under the premiership of Qavam, Dr. Millspaugh came to Iran to reorganize country's financial issues. He also recruited General Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr.(1895-1958) father of General Norman Schwarzkopf (1934-2012) to reorganize Iran jendarmeri.Norman Schwarzkopf in his memories  has few pages about his childhood in Tehran and lovely days had there.

1.  When Soviet red army under Stalin instructions refused to withdraw Iran after the termination of WWII, Iranian parliament members had no choice to call him in office as Prime Minster of Persia. In that time Harry Truman (1884-1972) was United States President and veteran George Kennan (1904-2005) was Washington ambassador to Moscow.

Qavam used United State atomic military might to encourage President Truman to send a very tough message to Kremlin. If red army refuse to withdraw Soviets should bear the consequences (It means Washington will not delay to use atomic bombs) against soviet targets. Thanks to United States helps and Qavam intelligent decision making, Iran once gain got his sovereignty and integrity.

1. For the 5^th and last time when he was appointed as prime minister on 17^th July 1952, the country because of oil nationalization was in a very critical situation and chaos .Dr. Mosadegh couldn't reach an acceptable agreement with western countries including UK and United States.  He was not in good health condition but accept to be the captain of this storm affected ship. Nobody realized how fatal is situation and because of extremists demonstration his cabinet before formation dissolved on 22^nd July 1952 just after 5 days. Dr. Mossadegh took office. The rest of this sad story is well known. It terminated by 19^th August 1953.The events aftermath showed once again that by demagogy and emotional actions nobody can solve the problems. Qavam didn't want to be a national hero. He preferred to remain as sodat inconnu forever.

1. Qavam was well aware of communist's plots against Persia. In 1920s, as Prime Minster crushed the Gilan Soviet Republic. It was a mixture of Marxists and Islamists. He considered both the same stuff and raped up both in a bloody campaign. He saved country independence from Russians interventions.

Qavam was a good player with different tools available in the scene. Although he was staunch anti communists but in the summer of 1946 he made a coalition government with Tudeh Communist Party and three seats offered to them.

He served his country just an unknown soldier. He realized that excitement of masses and demagogy are not constructive and permanent tools in politics. Still after 60 years, a lot of Iranian celebrates his resignation in the 22^nd July 1952(30^th Tir 1331). It needs a long time to Persians to realize who are their real heros.Those they served in silence or preferred to coin their names as champions and heroes rather beneficial to Persia.

Qavam, in many fields was a pioneer politician. He was probably the first one who realized the role of high and advanced technology of United States oil companies. In the 1920s and 1940s when he was prime minister invited American Standard oil company to do business in Iran. He was very progressive and so called avant garde. It seems that for a long time Qavam will remain: "Soldat inconnu"

I am the Unknown Soldier
and may be I died in vain,
but if I was alive and my country called,
I'd do it all over again.”

Billy Rose (1899-1966)