September 30, 1951
Britain-Iran Talk in U. N. Is Sought
By A. M. ROSENTHAL
NITED NATIONS, N. Y., Sept. 29 -- Britain's formal warning that the dispute over Iranian oil posed a potential threat to peace was delivered today to the United Nations Security Council as diplomatic talks began on possible new attempts to settle the case through direct negotiation or mediation.
The Council meets at Flushing Meadow at 3 P. M. Monday for the first round of debate. On the table will be two British documents handed in here today:
1. The official request for hearings on Iran's refusal to abide by the International Court of Justice ruling that the British be allowed to retain management of the oil fields pending a settlement.
2. A British resolution asking that the Council call on Iran to cancel her order expelling about 350 British technicians from the field by Thursday and request Iran to abide by the court's decision.
There was a great deal of interest in the announcement that Premier Mohammed Mossadegh of Iran would fly here for the Council debate, but there was no information on when he would leave. Commercial flying time from Teheran to New York is about thirty-three hours.
Some diplomats predicted--on hunches rather than information--that the Iranians, when they were invited to the Council table Monday, might ask for a postponement to allow the Premier more time to get here. It was assumed that Britain would fight delay because of the Thursday deadline for the expulsion of British oil crews from the Abadan fields.
Neutral Opposition Seen
There were some plain signs that the British resolution would not sail easily through the Council, at least until other attempts had been made to settle the controversy. Several delegates said that there was a "strong possibility" that neutral countries would suggest new British-Iranian discussions under the aegis of the Council.
The conferences--among delegations and within delegations--on a "neutral plan of action" began today and are expected to continue until just before Dr. Joao Carlos Muniz of Brazil brings down the gavel to open the Council meeting Monday afternoon.
United States sources said that this country would participate in the discussions, some of which will probably be held at the home of Ernest A. Gross, deputy representative, in Manhasset, L. I. It was reported unofficially that the United States might join in the sponsorship of a neutral resolution but as of today the United States was committed to nothing, including the British motion.
The impetus for "something new" in the way of a course of action sprang principally from a belief in some circles that since the Iranians had already rejected the International Court's ruling, any attempt to concentrate solely on the decision would lead only to a new impasse.
Machinery for New Talks
Some delegates also expressed the belief--or hope--that British-Iranian discussions called for by the Council, and perhaps with a Council "mediator" present, would have more chance of success than the bilateral talks in Teheran.
The composite picture of neutral views shaped up therefore something like this: Adopt a resolution requesting maintenance of the status quo for the time being and at the same time set up machinery for new talks. It was believed that such a move might be more embarrassing for the Russians to veto than a straight-out resolution in effect placing all the blame on Iran.
In addition to Premier Mossadegh, Iran will probably be represented at the Council table by her chief United Nations delegate, Dr. Ali Gholi Ardalan. Nasrollah Entezam, Iran's Ambassador to the United States has indicated that he would not take part in the debate because of his position as President of the current General Assembly.
Dr. Ardalan said today that his country's rejection of the International Court of Justice ruling was based on the assertion that the tribunal could deal only with disputes between nations. In the oil dispute, he said, the controversy was between Iran, and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, not between Iran and Britain.
The court's ruling in effect, rejected Iran's claim that the case was one solely within Iranian domestic jurisdiction and upheld Britain's stand that she was a party to the dispute. The Soviet judge did not participate in the case, but the Polish jurist voted against the majority ruling.
Sir Gladwyn Jebb, British chief delegate, has cut short his vacation in Britain and is expected to arrive in New York by plane tomorrow, accompanied by a detachment of Foreign Office specialists.
Britain's letter asking hearings on the case was signed by J. E. Coulson, Sir Gladwyn's deputy, and was addressed to Dr. Ales Bebler of Yugoslavia, President of the Council for September, and Secretary General Trygve Lie.
The British Government, the letter said, was "gravely concerned at the dangers inherent in this situation, and at the threat to peace and security that may thereby be involved." Coulson added that because of the Thursday deadline set by Iran for the expulsion order, the case should be considered as one of "extreme urgency."
The resolution prepared by the British would have the Security Council call on Iran to "act in conformity" with the provisional measures outlined in the International Court's ruling. These measures include the maintenance of the status quo for the time being and the appointment of a board of supervision consisting of two British representatives, two Iranians and a representative of a third state. The motion also asks that the British technicians in Abadan be permitted to "continue in residence."
ONDON, Sept. 29--Late today the British Government still did not know whether it would receive United States backing on Monday when Britain will submit to the United Nations Security Council her case against Iran in the oil dispute.
Foreign Secretary Herbert Morrison left London today for Scarborough for the Labor party's conference on Monday. In his absence Kenneth Younger, Minister of State, gave instructions to Sir Gladwyn Jebb, head of the British United Nations delegation.
Aiding Sir Gladwyn will be George Middleton, counselor of the British Embassy in Teheran, and Neville Gass, a managing director of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company whose refinery at Abadan has been seized by Iranian troops.
Privately, officials here are worried as to what the United States intends to do. The British Government for some time has debated the idea of using force in Iran as a last resort but that policy seems to have been dropped because of United States opposition.
An indication of the Government's quandary came today when Prime Minister Attlee, speaking at Slaithwaite, Yorkshire, remarked:
"People say 'Let us have a strong foreign policy.' What does a strong foreign policy mean? Does it mean that you rattle a saber? Does it mean that you draw the saber? We have accepted the rule of law. It is our job to uphold the authority of the United Nations."