Evening star., 1951-06-02
Iran
Continued From First Page.)

London informants said he urged
the British to try to satisfy some
of Trans demands in the dispute
and work toward a settlement.
The British government, which
owns So per cent of the stock of
the billion-dollar company, is re-
sisting nationalization.)
A reliable source who said he
had seen the Truman letter to
DR.. Mossadegh gave this version
of what the President said:
IT am greatly concerned over
the explosive situation which
exists at present between Britain
and Iran.
Hopes to Persuade British.
"I welcome, however. the fact
that you are willing and indeed
anxious to receive a delegation
Including, if necessary. CBritish)
government member for the pur-
pose of negotiations on the basis
of the principle of naturalization,
and I hope to persuade the British
government to send such dele
cation"
The Presidents letter also was
said to have urged Iran to take
no action which would deteriorate
relations with Britain.
One of the Senators present
when the Presidents letter was
read said it was received with
neither strong opposition nor par
ticularly favorable reaction.
DR.. Mossadegh was reported to
have told the Senate Iran could
not receive any British mission
as Mr.. Truman suggested-on a
vague basis"
IF we know why Britain wants
to send a mission" he was re-
ported as saying, land what their
plans are, we may accept the
mission.
One senator was said to have
advised the Premier to accept the
British mission.
Surprised at Compromise.
Mr.. Maxi told the reporters he
was surprised that President Tru-
man should urge Iran to COM
promise with Britain.
Trans task" he declared, lis
simply to enforce the (nationali-
zation) law, which could not be
bypassed in the interest of COM
promise
Observers here doubt that Mr..
Truman's personal intervention
will cool the frenzy of Nationalist
extremists.
An Iranian editor said most of
the press probably will attack the
Presidents message as direct in
terference in Trans affairs.
The letter was delivered to DR..
MosSadegh yesterday afternoon
by Ambassador Henry F. Grady.
The direct communications from
the American President were high
ly unusual and regarded as evi-
dence of the seriousness with
which the United States views the
situation here. American views
on problems abroad are generally
expressed through regular State
Department channels.
The presidential appeals to both
Teheran and London made it ap-
parent that although the United
States takes a neutral stand it
cannot remain Indifferent to the
tense situation.
The United States is repeatedly
worried that Trans neighbor.
Soviet Russia. may take advantage
of the unrest and confusion to
extend its influence in the Middle
East. This could take the form of
direct intervention in northern
Iran or perhaps a substitute of
Russian technicians for British in
the southern oil concessions.
1ranian Communists have been
exploiting the nationalist senti-
ments evoked by the oil nationali-
zation and picturing themselves
as enemies of foreign exploita-
ton of Iranian resources.
Unless Mr.. Truman's letter has
some effect on Iranian officials,
the oil company's holdings are
scheduled to be formally taken
over Monday. Company officials
have not responded to the govern
ment's request that they partici-
pate in the technicalities of this
switch-over. The government has
indicated that British employees
will be retained.
The glo-Iranian Oil Co., a
billion-dollar firm and Britain's
largest single overseas investment
runs the worlds biggest refinery
at Abadan. 1t also controls vast
production, many tankers and
marketing facilities.