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Cover for a secret lobby

Cover for a secret lobby When it began in 1975, it seemed a perfectly straightforward publicity campaign. For a fee of $507,000, the New York City public relations firm of Ruder & Finn would counsel Iran's na tional airline on "attitudes in the U.S. toward travel in Iran. " The deal un raveled when it became known that one of those prominently involved was Marion Javits, 53, wife of New York Senator Jacob Javits. Last month the new revolutionary government in Iran released documents that it found in the confidential files of the deposed Shah's government. They revealed that the Iran Air campaign had another angle: it was intended to be used as "cover" for an Iran lobby operating in the U.S.

According to an exchange of notes between the Shah and close advisers, the idea was broached in 1974. Mrs. Javits, a friend of the Shah's twin sister Ashraf, proposed in a letter to then Prime Minister Amir Abbas Hoveida that Iran mount an "educational campaign" based on the theme that "the Shah has highly constructive social goals and that under the conditions that exist in Iran, the only way to accomplish these goals is by tight control, planning." firm The offer leadership, impressed detailed Hoveida, national who was executed two months ago by Iran's revolutionary regime. Through Mrs. Javits' contacts and the influence of her husband, a top secret Iranian report concluded, Iranian officials could gain "private access" to U.S. officials and opinion makers. "I think the performance of this plan is advisable even if its only result will be to pour money in the pocket of Mrs. Javits," urged Hoveida's aide, Parviz C. Raji, in a memorandum to the Prime Minister. For the lobby to be most effective, Raji suggested, it had to be kept secret. Thus Iran Air was made the Ira nian signatory to the contract.

The project collapsed in 1976 after Mrs. Javits registered with the Justice Department as an "agent" for a foreign company, which under U.S. law she had to do. The disclosure led to newspaper charges that her relationship with Iran would place Senator Javits, a ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, in a conflict of interest. Mrs. Javits resigned from Ruder & Finn, and the contract was terminated; less than $300,000 had been paid to the firm. Last week Mrs. Javits issued a statement denying that she had ever discussed "secret activities" with any Iranian official. She added that she had received only half of the $67,000 consultant's fee earned for obtaining the contract. Three weeks ago, the head of Tehran's Revolutionary Court accused the Senator and his wife of "corruption on earth" after Javits introduced a Senate resolution condemning Iran's "summary executions."

The reports about Mrs. Javits made hardly a ripple in Tehran, where the regime was preoccupied with more pressing matters. Hassan Nazih, head of the National Iranian Oil Co., decried the regime's tendency to "put all political, economic and judicial problems into an Islamic mold." In the port city of Khorramshahr and in Abadan, site of the world's biggest oil refinery, fighting broke out between ethnic Arabs, who want more autonomy from Tehran, and Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini's armed forces; at least 25 people were killed in running gun battles. Because he suffered from exhaustion, the state radio announced, Khomeini would take a week's vacation, his second week of rest in a month.

The exiled Shah's residence problems may be resolving, at least temporarily. Mexico announced last week that he is eligible for a "tourist card," which would allow him to stay for six months and could then be renewed. Mexican officials expect him to arrive soon from the Bahamas, where he has spent the past two months.

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