OIL CRISIS IN PERSIA

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26514, 31 August 1951, Page 9

OIL CRISIS IN PERSIA

U.S. Representative Meets Shah TEHERAN. August 29. The American Ambassador to Persia (Dr, Henry Grady) had a long audience with the Shah to-night in what is generally regarded as a new American drive to persuade the Persians to put forward fresh suggestions for a resumption of oil talks. Dr. Grady hopes to see the Prime Minister (Dr. Mussadiq) to-morrow. Earlier to-day the Shah received a former Prime Minister (Mr Quavam Es Sultaneh) a bitter opponent of Dr. Mussadiq and the man most likely to assume power if the Government fell. No statement was issued on the conversations.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mussadiq, whose health was reported to be much improved yesterday, suffered another relapse this morning. This, for the third time, prevented him from making a statement to a secret session ot the Senate on the suspension of the oil talks and the nation’s economic state.

It remains to be seen whether Dr. Mussadiq's illness persists, as seems likely, until September 2, when he is supposed to deliver a similar apologia to the Majlis. These recurring bouts of sickness are playing no small part in whipping up dissatisfaction among senators and deputies, some of whom regard Dr. Mussadiq’s repeated, absences as an insult to the Houses. Unless Dr. Mussadiq shortly issues his eagerlyawaited explanations and the plans for the future, it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that Opposition deputies will take a resolution embodying a vote of no confidence in the Government to force the Prime Minister into the open. A message from The Hague states that, the International Court to-day granted Britain a five-weeks' extension of the time limit (from September 3 to October 10) for presenting its views in the oil dispute. The date lor the submission of the Persian replv to the British aide memoite is similarly extended from December 3 to January 10 1952. Britain’s original request on May 27 asked the Court to request Persia to submit the dispute fo arbitration.