RUSSIA AND PERSIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 October 1944, Page 5

RUSSIA AND PERSIA

OIL CONCESSIONS DISPUTE

LONDON, Oct. 29

Russian-Iranian relations remain friendly, but “Premier Saed’s disloyal attitude to the Soviet Union precludes further co-operation with him,” said M. Kavtzradze, Soviet Vice Commissar for Foreign Affairs, addressing a Press conference in Teheran. Referring to the Saed Government’s decision to postpone granting oil concessions until after the war, he said that the Saed Government had not advanced a single plausible explanation for its decision. M. Kavtzaradze explained that Russia sought drilling rights in several districts in Northern Iran, and promised the Saed Government royalties on the tonnage output. The Soviet also offered to sell oil at a reduced price to the Iran Government services and public and private uses. M. Kavtzaradze dici not name the amount proposed for royalties or the term of the proposed concession. He claimed that employment would be provided for thousands of Iranian labourers. He said that the Russians were also prepared to prospect, for coal, iron and copper deposits. Premied Saed had led him to believe that the Russian offer would be accepted, and he (Kavtzaradze) described the postponement of the oil question until after the war as tantamount to a refusal.

BRITISH PRESS CONCERNED

RUGBY, October 30

The British Press gives some prominence to the Russian' attacks on the Persian Government for having refused to consider Moscow’s request for oil concessions in Northern Persia, until after the war. The Soviet Vice Commissar of Foreign Affairs (Mr. Kavtzaradze) speaking at Teheran on Sunday, made it plain his Government did not intend to accept this refusal. As the Russians occupy Northern Persia under the joint An-glo-Russian-Persian Agreement of 1941, Persia hardly seems to be in a position to ignore the Soviet desires. The Vice Commissar, therefore, was able to express with confidence the belief that the impediments in way of concessions would be removed. Regarding the terms on which Russia asked for concessions, M. Kavtzaradze said the Soviet Government would offer Persia the oil products required by that country on favourable terms. At the expiry of the concessions, all enterprises would pass into Persian possession.