Evening star., 1951-11-09
| 'hossadegh 70 Speak
Before Press Club;
May Leave Thursday
By Garnett D. Homer

By Gornett D. Homer
1ranian Premier Mohandad
Mossadegh today arranged to ad-
dress National Press Club lunch
con next Wednesday and leave
Washington shortly thereafter re-
gardless of the outcome of talks
aimed at opening the way to set
tlement of his country's oil dis
pute with Great Britain.
A spokesman at the Iranian
Embassy said the Premier intend
ed to leave for home the last of
next week, probably Thursday, al
though his departure plans were
not definite.
1t was understood Mr.. Mossa-
degh earlier had planned to leave
Washington this week end, aban-
doning efforts here for settlement
OF the British-Iranian oil dispute,
unless the British Immediately &C
cepted an American compromise
formulated as the basis for new
negotiations.
Persuaded to Delay Departure.
Apparently American officials
prevailed on him to remain here
a few days longer to give time
for further consideration of COM
promise proposals by British Prime
Minister Churchill's new Conserv-
ative cabinet in the hope that some
way to break the deadlock would
be found by next week.
Diplomatic informants said they
understood Mr.. Mossadegh is will
ing to go along with the American
formula, which in essence calls
for:
l. Complete Iranian control over
its own oil production. with the
help of neutral" technicians.
2. Sale of a major share of the
1ranian production to the British
at fair wholesale price, with the
British ding distribution
around the world.
British Refusal Reported.
But the British are reported to
have refused so far to agree to any
formula that would entirely ex-I
clude the Anglo-Iranian OH Co.
from operations in Iran. This
British government controlled
firm operated the great refinery att
Abadan before Iran nationalized
the oil industry and drove out the
British technicians.
Usually reliable informants said
they understood the British had
not yet given a definite mo" toI
the proposal, but had been insist
ing on further study.
Mr.. Mossadegh's plans to depart
next week apparently firmed up
suddenly today.
On his arrival in this country
several weeks ago. he was invited
to address a National Press Club
luncheon. Press Club officials said
they had no reply until one of the
Premler's aides telephoned today
to say he would be happy to ac-
cept the invitation for a luncheon
next Tuesday. In view of the
Armistice Day holiday Monday,
Press Club officials said they
needed more time to arrange the
affair and suggested that it be set
for Thursday. But they were told
that Wednesday was the latest
the Premier could appear because
ne planned to leave for. home
Thursday.
Holds Daily Parleys.
Mr.. Mossadegh came here on
October % at President Truman's
invitation. and since then has
been involved in almost daily con-
ferences with American officials
seeking to work out some basis
for resumption of direct negotia-
tions between Iran and Britain.
Although reluctant to go home
without some break in the crisis.
he is reported to have decided
that he cannot stay in Washing
ton much longer in the face of
criticism in Iran.
Assistant Secretary of State
George McGhee, who has been in
charge Of the talks with the
Iranian Premier here on the
American side, has clamped a.
tight secrecy lid on the discus
sions. He is reported to have kept
details of the discussions secret
from even his State Department
colleagues.
In this situation, it Is impossible
for reporters to check the accura-
cy of reports coming from diplo-
mats who may have only partial
information on what is going on.
One report was that a major
stumbling block concerned the dis
count at which Iran would sell oil
to the British, with Iran reported
offering up to 10 per cent of It's
production at a price about Is per
cent below the world market, and
Britain holding out for q discount
of 40 to SO per cent.