PERSIA LIKELY TO GRANT RUSSIA OIL CONCESSIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 6 April 1946, Page 5

PERSIA LIKELY TO GRANT RUSSIA OIL CONCESSIONS

Press Assn.-

Securify Council Shelves Complaint Until May 6

By Telegraph .

Copyright

Received Friday, 9.15 p.m. * LONDOZ7, April 5. An understanding between Russia and Persia has been reached, says the Daily,- Telegraph 's correspondent. Persia is expected to grant the Russian demand for oil concessions and to give her the right to start an oil eompany in Persia. In addition, the Persiah Government has contracted to seek the Russian Government's advice in all matters concerning Azerbaijan. United Nations Security Council, meeting in New York yesterday, decided to shelve the Persian ease until May. 6 by nine votes to none. Russia was not represented, and Australia abstained from voting.

The British and American Gjovernments, f'ar from trying to biocK: Russian access to Persian oil, as aileged in certain quarters, liave niade ic clear to tne Soviet that they do not ooject to Russian negotiations for oil concessions if carried on with Persia as a sovereign Government, i'reely ana without coercion. This was pointed out in New York by economic experts attenduig the Security Council, wno emphusised tnat sucn negotiations would. oe welcorned, provided tney did not violate the provisions of bniteu Nations Charter against the use of force or the threat of force in conducting international negotiations. The experts aiso pointed out that inany persons, erronoously beiieved to be British and American companies, held a monopoly of Persia 's oil re sources, with Russia frozen out, wnereas the United States held no Persian concessions and tne -British concessions covered only one-sixth of the ^country's area. rurthermore, geological surveys indicated that the unallocated deposits availa'ble to Russia were potentially very great and we.o situated in the five northern provmces, in whieh the Soviet has indicated its principal interest. When the Security Council met yesterday, the United Statcs Secretary oi State (Mr. Byrnes) proposed that it shouid accept as uncoiiditional Russia' s assurances that the troops will be evacuated from Persia by May 6. The resolution stipulated that if i ny signixicant developments cccurred prior to this, the Council would automatically give Persia first piiority. Meanwliile, ths resolution would, in ell'ect, sheive the case. / The British delegate (Sir Alexander Cadogan) said the adoption of Mr. Byrnes 's resolution was the first step towards a peaceful and amicable settleinent of the whole complicated Persian situation, of which the withdrawal of the troops was but the immediate and most critical phase. Hassan Pasha (Egypt), supporting the resolution, said the Soviet 's gestnre shouid be commended. France, Polund, Brazii, and Mexicp similarly supported the resolution. AUSTRALIA '3 PEOTEST. Colonel Hodgson (Australia) voiced a strong protest at the procedure auopted and said he would refrain from voting. He declared the Persian case was a challenge to the Council and in Australia' s opmiou the Council did not meet it. Colonel Hodgson was of the opinion that Mr. Gromyko's bcycott prejudiced the Council' s work, elficiency, and authority. He declared the Council shouid not treat an appeal to it merely as an incident in a chain of poiiticai circumstances. The Coiuicil's course shouid have been to mahe a full investigation of tbe case and obtain a copiplete documentation on all issues involved, before taking any decision. The resolution includea a provision asking for a report on the withdrawal on the expiration of the tinie limit. Britain, the United States, Pranqe Cliina, Mexico, the Netherlands, Egypt, Poland, and Brazii voted for the resoiution. Throughout the proceedings,-Mr. Hussein Ala, the Persian Ambassador, sat at the Council table and expressed Persia 's acceptance of Mr. Byrnfs's resolution. Mr. Ala said the withdrawal oi the Russian troops would ease ali of Persia' s problems. He added that it was understood that the question of the troops' withdrawal and of interference in Persia 's affairs shouid rernain o,r agenda, to he bought up at any % 'I. Ala declared that the Security Council had received an assurance Which Persia could not have obtained hy herself. The Council adjourned until April 9.