Climbing Down

June 7, 1951 — The Kalgoorlie Miner


The Mossadegh Project | February 15, 2021                        


Lead and sole editorial on Iran in The Kalgoorlie Miner of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

Australian media archive


The Kalgoorlie Miner (Western Australia)

PERSIAN CRISIS EASIER?

While it would be foolish to imagine that any smooth and early solution is in sight of the critical situation caused by Persia’s nationalisation of our oil industry, there are clear signs that with growing Government realisation of its inability satisfactorily to run the vast business of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company without assistance, there is an increasing inclination to listen to reason.

An improvement in the atmosphere of official Teheran was first noticed in an aide memoire addressed to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company by the Persian Finance Minister, Mr. Mohamad Ali Varasteh, in the middle of last week. [Mohammad Ali Varasteh] That document stated in conclusion that the Persian Government was anxious to have the benefit of the company’s experience, and it invited the company to put forward proposals for Persian consideration.

The company, in the course of its reply, noted these points with pleasure, but intimated that it was not possible to submit proposals within the five days mentioned by the Minister. Therefore, while reserving full legal rights, it would send representatives from London to Teheran as soon as possible in order to hold a full discussion with the Persian Government. The reply also pointed out that from the outset the company, and the British Government, and been entirely ready to attempt to solve all such difficulties by negotiation.

In the Persian Senate at the week-end the Prime Minister, Dr. Mossadeq, referring to the company’s reply, said: “We will receive any delegation, provided that it is appointed by the Anglo Iranian Oil Co., to represent the company. If it wants to, the oil company can even appoint a British Cabinet Minister.”

The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company’s offer to send representatives to Persia to discuss the oil situation is stated to have caused jubilation at Teheran, where it was widely regarded as a “climb down.”

Actually, of course, it was merely in keeping with the attitude adopted by both the British Government and the company throughout the dispute, of readiness to reach a settlement by negotiation, but that is merely a point of detail. All that really matters is that an amicable settlement should he reached on an issue which intimately threatens the economy of the British Commonwealth and much of the rest of the free world, and which seriously endangers world peace.

Failing some belated intransigence on the part of the Persian Nationalists over the speed with which the company’s delegation can be expected to reach Teheran, the way to such a settlement now seems to be opening. The great majority of the Persian people, whose economy is largely linked to regular flow of revenue from oil royalties, will watch developments just as eagerly as the rest of the world, which hopes to see the removal of the latest threat to its peace.


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Related links:

The Unquenchable Mossadeq | The Kalgoorlie Miner, Aug. 19, 1953

Dismissal Of A Tiresome Old Man | The Danville Bee, Aug. 20, 1953

Pure Tragedy Now | The Progress-Index, August 19, 1953



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