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Like Tennyson's Brook, a Persian election goes on forever, and sees, in its course, a varied scene. In April 1946, Prime Minister Ahmad Gavam first promised to hold an immediate election for the Majlis (Parliament) to ratify the Russian oil concession he had just signed in Moscow. The Russians were then posed menacingly in Azerbaijan. In December 1946, when the Russians abandoned the Azerbaijani Democrats, the election finally "started" with much fanfare. Distribution of registration forms began--by plane, truck and camel back. A TIME correspondent asked Gavam when it would be completed. Fingering his jade conversation beads,* Gavam chuckled, said: "Perhaps in two or three months, Inshallah [if Allah wills it]."

Last week the election was still going on. But the Russians were no longer in northern Persia. The Russian-sponsored Tudeh Party had collapsed throughout Persia. Americans were now the vogue. Persians bought $1 million-a-year worth of shabby American secondhand suits. Persian women clamored for stilt-soled shoes and Hollywood hairdos. Sidewalk hawkers shouted "American nylons!" Fishmongers even cried "American fish."

Priority for Scuttling. With U.S. support, wily Gavam was not now so hard-pressed to please the Russians, and no longer so eager to sponsor the Russian oil agreement before a new Majlis. Troublesome tribesmen, who roam over two-thirds of Persia's barren land, gave him his latest excuse to string out the elections. They look with suspicion on the central Government and army (present strength, about 100,000), which has been trying to disarm them as a prelude to election. Oxford-educated Mohamad Houssein Qashqai, one of the four Qashqai brothers who rule most of the southern tribesmen, thinks the army exists only to suppress tribesmen, fears ambitious officers may attempt a coup d'etat. He said recently: "Since the days of Reza Shah,* every private thinks he can become a dictator." But the tribesmen concluded an uneasy truce with the central Government, surrendered a few beloved rifles as a token of good will. Only the Kurds in the north still refused to relinquish their arms, gave Gavam an excuse to say that election was being delayed.

Last week Qashqais plus Bakhtiaris and other tribesmen from the south teamed up with Kurds from the north, announced a tribal bloc which would have an influence far beyond its representation (probably 30 out of 136 seats) in the Majlis. Priority item on their program: to scuttle the Russian oil concession. When the election finally ended, Gavam could submit the Russian oil agreement with certain knowledge that it would be strongly opposed--which will suit him fine. He could sit back, finger his jade beads and chuckle--unless the neighbors across his northern border turned the heat on again.

* Moslems use rosaries of 99 beads (for the 99 names of Allah). Conversation strings, with less beads than the religious rosaries, have no religious significance; fingering them is a nervous outlet like smoking, gum chewing, scalp scratching.

* Persia's strong man, who made himself Shah of Shahs, began his career as a private soldier. His son is now Shah.

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