IRAQI OIL PIPE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 15

IRAQI OIL PIPE

Syria Delaying Repair

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 18. Syria yesterday made a new threat to prolong the interruption of oil supplies from Iraq to the Mediterranean, the “Financial Times’* said today.

The newspaper reported a statement from the Syrian Minister of Economic Affairs. Khalil Kallas, which said Syria would not allow Iraq oil to pass through her territory “until the Middle East is as it was before the Anglo-French invasion.’’

Observers in Damascus interpreted this to mean that Syria was trying to withdraw last week’s pledge that she would allow the damaged pipelines to be repaired after the AngloFrench forces had withdrawn from Port Said

Observers believe Syria would demand the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Sinai before repairs could begin, and even after that was accomplished she might ask for the Palestine problem to be first considered again by the United Nations.

According to ‘The Times,’’ the Lebanese Government has told Syria that it will be unable to provide her with further supplies of refined oil products after about January 10. when stocks of crude oil at the Tripoli refinery will be exhausted. The Lebanon has told Syria that the closure of the refinery was enforced by the destruction of pipeline pumping stations in Syria. Syria’s oil requirements are about 4C0.000 tons a year, nearly all of which is supplied from Lebanese refineries

The “Daily Express” today said the Prime Minister (Sir Anthony Eden) had extended the time limit to the United Nations to make up its mind about using the Anglo-French salvage fleet.

This was why Mr Lloyd had announced yesterday that the AngloFrench offer remained open. The “Daily Express’’ said that at first the United Nations SecretaryGeneral (Mr Dag Hammarskjold) was asked to give a final answer by last night. Now the deadline had been extended to Thursday. London diplomats believed the week-end incidents in Port Said were inspired by the Egyptian Government so as to justify Colonel Nasser’s claim that the safety of the Anglo-French salvage crews could not be guaranteed. the “Daily Express’’ said.

The “Daily Mail’’ said the United States Secretary of State (Mr Dulles) was exerting the utmost influence to break the salvage deadlock. It was possible that he would impress on Colonel Nasser the gravity of the holdup, not only for countries dependent on oil, but for Egypt. Lieutenant - General Raymond Wheeler, the United Nations expert in charge of clearing the Suez Canal, is due in Port Said today to resume his inspection of the waterway. Last Wednesday. General Wheeler said the main United Nations salvage fleet would reach the canal area in about 10 days. “Would be Tragedy’’ Mr Lloyd told the House of Commons that if the period for the clearance of the canal was prolonged, it would be a tragedy from the point of view of the economies of many countries of Asia, as well as of Europe. He said it had been suggested that the Anglo-French salvage fleet should be split. “We have been asked to allow the vessels to continue to work after the withdrawal of our forces. “We are prepared to agree to that,

provided that security arrangements have been made for the equipment and the crews, and provided the civilian crews are prepared to continue at their work after the withdrawal of the Anglo-French forces,’’ said Mr Lloyd. “That depends on them being satisfied about the security arrangements.’’ Mr Lloyd said that the British and French had offered the whole of the Anglo-Freruch salvage fleet to be used under United Nations auspices provided the safety of the equipment and crews can be guaranteed. “That offer has not yet been accepted,’’ he said.