§ 36. Mr. Wyattasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what stage has now been reached in the negotiations between Her Majesty's Government, the United States Government and the Iranian Government as to the disposal of the oil in Iran belonging to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
§ Mr. EdenI am not yet in a position to make a statement on the consultations which have been going on between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government and between the Persian Prime Minister and the United States Ambassador at Tehran. I can assure the hon. Member that I will inform the House as soon as it is possible to do so.
§ Mr. WyattIn view of the somewhat flamboyant promises made by the party opposite at the last General Election, is not it about time that something were done in this matter and some oil made to flow again from Persia?
§ Mr. EdenI do not know what the hon. Gentleman means by flamboyant promises. I certainly made none. I said that I hoped that, despite the existing situation, it might be possible to rescue something; but I had no confidence in the matter.
§ Sir H. WilliamsWhat have the United States to do with a dispute between our Government and the Persian Government in regard to British property in Persia?
§ Mr. EdenI think that I should say that the recent arrangements arrived at here in London with Mr. Byroade, had they been accepted by the Persian Government, would have been very satisfactory to Her Majesty's Government.