Evening star., 1951-06-26
Acheson Warns Of Iran Disaster ::
Britain Sends Cruiser to Oil Port;
U.S.. Skepticism on Truce Grows
n Ships Caught
In Abudun Get
Order to Leuve
BY III. Assoeioted Pres.

LONDON, June Zo.-bflCam To-
day ordered the cruiser Mauritius
to proceed forthwith" to the vi
Icinity of Abadan, the Iranian oil
port were 2T tankers are caught
in jam in a dispute over pay
ments for oil.
British Foreign Secretary Nor
rison, announcing the action in
the House of Commons, said the
IBritish-owned Anglo -Iranian Oil
Co. has ordered all its tankers to
leave Abadan Immediately.
Ten of the tankers are loaded
with oil. but have been refused
clearance by Iranian authorities
because the captains refused to
Sign receipts acknowledging pay
ment was due Trans new nation
allied Oil company.
The captains with oil aboard
were told to pump 1t of if neces-
sary to obtain clearance, Mr.. Nor
Irison said.
Situation Termed Serious.
The company issued it's order
with the full agreement of his
majesty's government" Mr.. Nor.
Irison announced. He described
the situation as very serious.
Departure of all tankers pre-
tsumably would mean the shut
down of the Abadan refinery, the
worlds largest. 1t is filling stor-
lage tanks because of the shipping
ltieup. There is enough storage
|capacity to keep the refinery going
about a week.
Mr.. Morrison said If Iran per-
sists in her present tactics AIOC
will be forced to halt operations
within q matter of days"
He warned that Britain will
hold Iran responsible under in
ternational law for insuring the
protection of any British subjects
in Persia" Mr.. Morrison added
Should they prove incapable OF
discharging that task the British
government would be compelled to
assume it themselves, using such
means as are necessary for that
purpose.
"The house may rest assured
that preparations have been made
to take action at short notice"
Cruiser at Bahrein Island.
The Mauritious, 8,000-ton
cruiser with a normal crew OF
730 men, has been at Bahrein
Island in the Persian Gulf since
early June.
Mr.. Morrison said the British
government would take all pos
sible action" for the protection OF
any Briton who might be arrested
by Iranian authorities under a
proposed anti-sabotage law which
carries death penalty.
Laborite j. B. Hynd had asked
Mr.. Morrison If Britain would in
tervene with armed forces in the
event of such arrests.
Mr.. Morrison said if the anti
sabotage law is passed. the 5000
British employees of AIOC would
be in an "intolerable position"
Iranian authoritis, he said
might seek to lay the blame
for any accident in the oil fields
resulting from interference or in
competence on a member of the
company's staff"
Drake Charges Cited.
He pointed out that Eric Drake,
the company's manager at Aba
dan. already has been accused in
a letter by Iranian officials of
sabotage because he refused to
allow tanker captains to sign re-
ceipts for oil In the form de-
manded by Iran.
I'm view of this unfounded
charge of sabotage" said Mr.. Nor
rison, "the company, with the full
agreement of the government. has
instructed Mr.. Drake to proceed
to Basra," in neighboring Iraq.
At Basra, Mr.. Morrison said,
Mr.. Drake will continue to act as
general manager of the company's
activities in both Iran and Iraq