Slow Progress In Attempt To Settle Oil Crisis

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26477, 19 July 1951, Page 7

Slow Progress In Attempt To Settle Oil Crisis

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, July 18. The Teheran correspondent of the “Daily Mall” says that Mr Averell Harriman (Mr Truman’s special representative) is making slow progress in his attempt to settle the Persian oil dispute. He did not see the Prime Minister (Dr. Mussadiq) yesterday, and he will not see him to-day. It was an obviously depressed Mr Harriman who disclosed this at a press conference last night in the United States Embassy, Mr Harriman's only meetings with Dr. Mussadiq remain two bedside talks at the Prime Minister’s home on Monday, These in all lasted three hours. Mr Harriman is due to see the Speakers of both Houses of the Persian Parliament to-day.

Mr Harriman told an earlier press conference that it was not feasible for the Persian Government -to change the oil nationalisation law. He was still studying the law and The Hague Court’s recommendations on the Persian oil dispute and the Persian Government’s answer to them, he said. His role in Teheran so far had been mainly that of a listener. He disclosed that America vyas willing to help Persia under the programme of technical assistance for under-developed countries. He said that this type of assistance would not be dependent on a settlement of the oil dispute. Both American find Persian sources in Teheran are maintaining an unusual reticence over Mr Harriman’s talks. . _ . His visit late last night to the British Ambassador (Sir Francis Shepherd) was also shrouded*in secrecy, All that could be learned was that the British Ambassador had briefed Mr Harriman fully on the British viewpoint.