Will Persian Parliament Quash Oil Plan for Soviet Control?

Grey River Argus, 24 May 1947, Page 5

Will Persian Parliament Quash Oil Plan for Soviet Control?

■ LONDON, May 22. Persian official quarters in London believe that the Premier, Gharam Sultaneh, will soon submit the terms of the Soviet-Persian oil agreement to the new Parliament. Persia and Russia, in Moscow on May 6, 1946, agreed to form a joint company, but owing to the dissolution of the old Persian Parliament, the agreement was not presented, as it must be according to constitutional law. The decision on the proposal for a joint Soviet-Persian company, with a 51 per cent. Soviet holding, to exploit the oilfields in northern Persia now rests with the new Parliament. There has been considerable opposition recently to a company in which the controlling interest would not be in Persian hands. The new Parliament, which reflects the sweeping defeat of the proRussian Democratic Party in the recent elections, will also have to review the recent developments in Persian-American relations. Persian officials in London confirmed that American technical advisers, who were nvited to Persia by the present Government in connection with the new seven-year economic plan, had completed their report for submission both to the Persian and American Governments.