OVER 250,000 PEOPLE GATHERED AT DOOSHAN TAPEH MILITARY AIRPORT, TEHERAN, PERSIA, AUGUST 19, TO CELEBRATE THE DAY, SEVEN YEARS AGO, WHEN THE SHAH OF IRAN RETURNED TO THE COUNTRY AFTER THE DOWNFALL OF THE MOSSADEQ GOVERNMENT.

CARS AND BUSES WERE ORGANISED TO TAKE THE PEOPLE FREE OF CHARGE TO HEAR THE SHAH'S SPEECH WHICH LASTED FOR OVER AN HOUR. WORKERS, STUDENTS AND BUSINESSMEN HEARD THE SHAH DECLARE: "WE WILL FIGHT COMMUNISM TO THE LAST DROP OF BLOOD." HE ADDED THAT HIS COUNTRY WAS A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL TREATY ORGANISATION MERELY FOR DEFENSIVE PURPOSES AND WAS NOT A THREAT TO HER NEIGHBOURS.

ACCOMPANYING THE SHAH WAS THE PRIME MINISTER, ALI AMINI, AND MEMBERS OF HIS CABINET.