Sir Denis's reputation as a Persian expert had, if anything, been enhanced since his retirement. Moreover, he had publicly argued against giving the Shah asylum in a recent letter to The Daily Telegraph. He agreed to go, but, since he was at that time a director of Shell, stipulated that he should make the journey in disguise, lest Shell's interests in Iran be damaged.

Thus it was that "Mr Edward Wilson", equipped with phoney papers and dark glasses, arrived at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island and, having been frisked by local security guards, was received privately by the Shah.

After a long conversation "Mr Wilson" succeeded in persuading the Shah to accept the British Government's decision, though he was not able to dispel the Shah's bitter disappointment. He sent a laconic telegram to London, "Mission accomplished", and reverted to his usual persona.

Where would the Mersin men's basketball team be without Ryan Sidney (188-G-82, college: Boston Coll.)? Not in Division 1, that's for sure.
Thanks in large part to its American star, Division 2 Mersin clinched a promotion to Division 1 last week. But whether Sidney will still be around next year remains to be seen. By averaging more than 30 points a game, he may have put himself out of Mersin's price range.
Ideally, Sidney would like to play in the NBA next year. But he understands that he might have to put in a few more years overseas before he gets a shot. And that's fine with him - as long as he's getting paid.
Sidney says that even with incentives, he will probably only make $55,000 U.S. this year. He's hoping his strong play will convince Mersin, or another team in Turkey or elsewhere, to offer him more money.
"I'm just looking to get paid six figures man, I'm not going to lie to nobody," he says. "Ryan G loves the game of basketball and just wants to get paid for it."
Mersin coach Muhamed Rebah Sidali says the team would love to re-sign him, but expects to have to compete for his services after his strong season in Turkey.

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Sidney says he enjoys living in Mersin, a warm weather city on Turkey's southern coast.
"It's like Miami," he says. "Eighty degrees every day. In the next couple of months, it's going to get so hot, to the point where people don't go outside."
Having lived most of his life in Michigan and Boston, that's too warm for him.
"I can't take heat like that," he says. "I'm just trying to win all my games and get up out of here."
When he's not playing basketball, Sidney generally keeps to himself in Turkey, though he does occasionally get a chance to hang out with the few Americans he has met. In Mersin, he only knows one American couple, but he has also met a few Americans who live at Incirlik air base in nearby Adana. When he has an off day in Istanbul, he often hangs out with other American basketball players who live there.
"I don't try to get out much," Sidney says. "I try to stick to myself. I've pretty much figured out how to make it through without getting in anyone's way. I'm writing a journal and reading a lot of books. It maintains my mind until I get out of here."

Turkish grandpa detained for not reporting for military service 51 years ago

Fri Jun 10, 7:18 AM ET

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - At age 71, Sukru Hati probably thought joining the military was the last thing he had to worry about.


Hati, who has 20 grandchildren, was applying for free government health care when he was detained in the southern city of Mersin on Friday for not reporting for mandatory military service in 1954, the Anatolia news agency reported.

"I was supposed to go to military service 51 years ago. But I was sick then. I'd had a stroke, I had a hernia. That's why I didn't go," Anatolia quoted him as saying.

Military service is mandatory for Turkish men, who are normally expected to complete 15 months of service before the age of 41.

Anatolia said authorities would decide whether Hati would have to enlist.