§ 2. Mr. Priceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that British and American oil concerns have 1932 recently approached the Persian Government with a view to securing oil concessions in that country; and whether, in order to avoid friction with the U.S.S.R. he will consider taking the initiative to negotiate an agreement between Persia, Great Britain, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. on future oil concessions in that country.
§ Mr. LawThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the Persian Government have announced that they intend to postpone the question of granting oil concessions until after the war, and my hon. Friend's suggestion would hardly be consistent with this decision. But I should perhaps add that the areas in which the British and American companies were seeking a concession are not the same as the areas in which the U.S.S.R. were seeking a concession, so that the possibility of friction with the U.S.S.R. in this respect does not arise.
§ Mr. PriceMay I ask whether the U.S.S. R. has also put in a request for a concession in the Northern part of Persia recently?
§ Mr. LawI think that is so. The U.S.S.R. has put in such a request, but the attitude of the Persian Government has been made clear, and, of course, our own attitude has been made clear, too.
§ Mr. MolsonPresumably, this does not in any way affect the long-standing concessions which the Anglo-Persian Oil Company at present hold from the Persian Government?