Iran has answered reports that the British are thinking of putting troops into Iran with a warning that the firing of a single shot in the Persian Gulf area would set off World War III within 24 hours.

The ultimatum further demands that the British-controlled oil company recognize nationalization of Iranian oil fields within one week or be completely excluded from their operations.

Behind the flare-up over control of Iran’s huge and rich oil fields is a simmering resentment produced by decades of British monopoly of oil rights. The emotional determination of Iranian officials, which has come to the surface, to rid themselves of the British approaches fanaticism.

Unfortunately, the British attitude is not much more contemplative. Under Iran’s recent nationalization of its oil fields, the British stand to lose rich oil rights that have been theirs for decades. They face loss of considerable prestige if they are ousted from the black gold fields of Iran. Naturally, the British are reluctant to accede to Iranian demands without rebuttal. Whether that rebuttal will become physical depends upon the development of negotiations.

Mediation obviously is needed before the situation gets out of hand — if it has not already done so. And the logical arbitrator is the United States, which has urged Iran to consider negotiations aimed at a settlement.

It is hoped that Tehran officials see the sense in this proposal. Obviously, Iran and Great Britain, in their present frames of mind cannot come to an amicable agreement. It takes a calmer hand and a cooler head, and we believe we qualify. And we qualify, too, by our sincere interest in these two disputing nations, and by our conviction that the unity of the free world is at stake.