Evening star., 1951-05-14
Britain AIerts
.'Chutists Amid
|ranian Tension
Order Held Routine.
But Morrison Keeps
Watch on Oil Fight
BY the Assoeiated Press

LONDON, May 14.-Britain tolc
it's trouble-shooting 10th indie.
pendent Parachute Brigade Group
today to bring itself at once to 9
state of readiness.
simultaneously Foreign Secre.
tary Morrison -- interrupting his
Whitsun holiday on the Isle o1
Wight - kept in touch with the
Foreign Office by phone on the
latest developments in Iran.
There was speculation that the
two events were connected, anc
that Britain was ready to make q
strong stand. if necessary, to hole
its rich oil concession in Iran.
But this speculation was with.
out official confirmation. A Wal
Office spokesman stressed that thu
parachute brigade was not under
sailing orders. He described thu
alerting order as routine War OF.
flee business.
Unit Assembling Now.
The unit now is assembling
itself at Aldershot, IS miles from
London. It is known as the "firt
brigade" because it is geared fol
emergencies.
Some sections of the British
press have been demanding &
stronger attitude toward Iran
The line taken by these publica.
tions is that Trans oil is so i'm.
portant to Britain and the At.
lantic powers that the British
should resist any attempt by Ira.
nian authorities to take over thu
installations of the Anglo Iraniar
Oil Co., AS Trans Parliament ha.
voted to do.
A few days ago The Economist
a weekly independent journal O.
opinion, said Mr.. Morrison ha.
drafted note to Iran hintin.
that Britain will resist by force, i,
necessary.
The economist said the British
government still believes fore,
will not be necessary, but it hal
rightly decided that unless som,
firm attempt be made to contro
the irresponsible nationalists nov
in power in Teheran they will no
only destroy their own countr,
but inf1anne the whole Of the Aral
Middle East"
Alarm Indicated.
Up until the last few days, a
least. Prime Minister Attlee's cab
met has held to the hope tina
the whole issue could be worke,
out by peaceful negotiation. Tha
still is the public position Of tn
cabinet. Mr.. Morrison's actiyitie
today. however, indicate increas
ing alarm. The foreign secretary
latest note Is expected to be dis
patched to Teheran soon.
The United States is being KEEP
informed about British moves.
The alerted parachute brigad
group contains about 5000 men
It is commanded by Brig. Kennetl
Thomas Darling. Al. an officer will
a distinguished fighting record il
Northwest Europe during Worl,
War II.
Southern Command headquar
ters issued a statement saying:
"The brigade is being held avail
able at short notice, but it is no
under orders to proceed to an
specific destination"
Even if such orders had beel
given, it is assumed they woul'
be top secret.
Training Cut Short.
The recall order cut short b,
two weeks the training exercise
that units of the parachute bri
gade have been taking in Nortl
Wales, Kent and Devon. Mem
bers on leave also are being con
|centrated at Aldershot.
The Air Ministry said tn
transport command which pro
vides planes for the parachut
troops is cooperating with tn
War Office in planning for tn
brigade.
The brigade returned froI
service with the Rhine Army i
Germany about two years ago. ]
consists of three parachute bat
ttalions together with airborn
units of royal engineers and roys
signals.