Evening star., 1951-11-01
Time for a Compromise

Although tne SlLuaClOn Stlu calls Tor a
crosSed-fngerS attitude there are indications that
the dangerous Anglo-Iranan oil controversy may
yet be settled satisfactorily. Premier Mossadegh
has extended his stay here for additional talks
with American mediators led by Assistant secre-
tary Of State George McGhee At the same time
Anthony Eden, in one Of his first acts on return
ing to office as Britain's Foreign Minister, has
recalled the British Ambassador to Teheran
Tor consultations-a move suggesting that
negotiations between the two countries may be
resumed in the near future. Meanwhile Trans
chief delegate to the United Nations has voiced
considerable optimism regarding the outlook for
an amicable agreement.
The fact that there has been a government
change in Britain may make it easier to negotiate
such an agreement 1t is true enough, of course,
that Prime Minister Churchill and his newly
elected Conservative Party have been in substan-
tial accord with the defeated Laborites on the
Anglo-Iranian ISSUE but his return to power
paves the way for fresh approach to the prob
lem in terms Of detail If not In terms of principle
That in itself can do much to improve the at
mosphere, persuade DR.. Mossadegh to reconsider
and modify his past position, and in general
promote the kind of reasonableness or good will
that is needed to break through the present
critical impasse and arrive at sound settlement
along the lines advocated by our State Depart
ment in its mediating efforts.
Even though secrecy surrounds the current
talks with Dr. Mossadegh, enough information
has been let out to indicate that our American
proposals involve among other things, two major
objectives: QJ The promptest possible resump-
ton OF direct Anglo-Iranian negotiations, and
(2) agreement On an interim plan designed to
move into world markets the huge amount of
petroleum products now stored at Abadan with
tn on hn fofo
ators are reported to be arguing in favor of this
stopgap measure on the ground that Britain
and Iran. even if they soon get together again
around conference table, probably will require
long time to work out permanent settlement
and that meanwhile Trans strained economy
may be wrecked unless the oil is taken out of
storage and sold abroad
1t is obvious, certainly, that the present stu
alton cannot continue indefinitely without i'm
poverishing Iran. The stored oil must be sold and
the production stoppage brought to an end or
the country will be so lacking in income that it
will be reduced to bankruptcy and economic
and political chaos. Nothing could be better
calculated to play into the hands of the Com
munist Tudeh Party and bring on conditions that
could quickly lead to Kremlin-drected coup in
Teheran. In that case, the Iranians would be-
come another people dragged behind the Iron
Curtain, and the British would lose everything
they have invested over there AS for the West
as a whole, it would be shut of from major
source of petroleum supply and outmaneuvered,
in terms of the power balance, in one of the
worlds most strategic areas.
So it is plainly in the interest of all parties
concerned-all that Is, except the Kremlin-to
work out as quickly as possible good settlement
of the Anglo-Irania dispute. DR.. Mossadegh is
as patriotic as he is Communist, but he
needs now to bride his emotionalism and deal
realistically with this extremely complex issue.
BY the same token the British must avoid stiff
necked attitude likely to add fire to Trans
already-inhamed public opinion. If signs mean
anything, both sides have arrived at a point
where they are genuinely anxious for a reasonable
compromise. II so, the course proposed by the
State Department can lay the groundwork for
an agreement that will endure