SCRAMBLE FOR PERSIA OIL CONCESSIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 15 September 1947, Page 5

SCRAMBLE FOR PERSIA OIL CONCESSIONS

■ ^ — NEW YORK, Sept. 13. The United States, through her Ambassador in Teheran (Mr. G-. Allen) has made it clear that the United St,ates hopes the Persian Parliament will repudiate the oil concession granted to Russia in 1946, and if such a decision is made, that - she would support Persia "to the hilt," says the United Press Washington correspondent. « The United States believes that Per-. sia should make a free choice without pressure from anyone. Likewise, if Pefsia desires to cancel the British oil concession in the south, Persia has the right to do so through proper legal channels. The Russian oil agreement was made early in 1946, during the heated United Xations debate over the continued presence of Russian troops in Persia. The United States has always .believed that Persia granted the Russian concession under duress. The United Press says the United States is disturbed by the British attitude in Persia which appears favour'able to permitting Russia to have Persian oil. The United States thinks Russia has enough oil within her own borders. Responsible American sources claimed that the dift'erence o.f view between the United States and Britain on the question- of the Russian oil concession was basod on British fears that Teheran, if spurred- to resist the Russian demands, migh.t also cancel the British concessions, says Reutfer's Washin'gton corre.4pondent. This was learned today as the Persian Embassy eonferred with Mr. L. Henderson, the State Department's Eastern Division head. The Persian Prime Minister (Ghavam S. Sanltaneh) denied the reports that the British Ambassador had advised Persia to keep the door open for a further. discussion of the oil agreement if Parliament rojected the Russian request for early signature. Ghavam eonlirmed that Sir .John L. F. Rougetel had said that Britain strongly opposed any interference in Persian aifairs, particularly in matters connected with oil. Ghavan said the Russian Ambassador (IMr. Sadchikov) when presenting the draft agreement on oil asked for the Prime Minister 's signature. He refused, reaffirming that Persian law made Parliament 's consent necessary.