“U.S. Tankers Now On Their Way To Persia, For Oil”

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26856, 8 October 1952, Page 9

“U.S. Tankers Now On Their Way To Persia, For Oil”

(N.Z. Pr«M Association— Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) * NEW YORK, October 7. Forecasting that “a new and unhappy stage” in the British and Persian oil dispute might be about to begin, the “New York Times” said in a leading article today that it was an “open secret” that American tankers were well on their way to Persia and that other tankers were also believed to be heading for Abadan.

“It looks as if the British efforts to put an embargo on the oil and to prevent independent operators from buying-and shipping any, are going to be broken down or at least subjected to determined attack,” said the article.

The big American companies, of course, strongly oppose the encouragement of the Persians, for if Persia got away with the procedure of breaking a valid contract, the other Arabian countries and Venezuela might get ideas, said the newspaper. “However, as Mr Alton Jones’ visit to Persia showed dramatically, the independent operators’ companies have no such anxieties. Persia has crude oil which she is willing to sell cheaply.”

“The tanker situation, tight a year ago, has now loosened up considerably, so are rates down to the point where it will pay to send tankers to Persia.

“Dr. Mussadiq probably feels he can find needed dollars by selling the oil. “The British will naturally use every legal resource to prevent it but they may not succeed this time. “The State Department will be upset because this will be bad for British and American relations, and for the whole problem of international contracts.”