"F 80 ملف 82/34 I امتياز أ.ب.و.ك" [ظ‎‎٢‎٣‎٥] (٤٣٦/٤١٥)

Government alone is obliged to comply with the provisions of the contract?
Surely, when one of the parties to an agreement shows any disinclination to
execute the clauses and conditions of the contract, the other party is automatically
released from its obligations to respect the said contract.
This is not the time nor the place to go into any detail as regards the failure
of the company in fulfilling its obligations. An attempt to enumerate the
instances of negligence on the part of the company would lengthen our interview.
For instance, the company has not adequately complied with its undertaking as
regards payment of royalties to the Persian Government. While enjoying no
immunity from internal taxation, the company has refused to pay the said taxes.
Besides, the said company has not given the opportunity to the Persian Govern
ment to avail itself of the right of inspection into its accounts. In the case
of the determination of ordinary and capital expenditures and the inclusion
of the latter in royalty calculations, the company has acted against the spirit
of fair play. There are a host of other arguments which will be given at the
-appropriate time and place.
Question No. 5.—There have been hints in the foreign press about American
and Soviet-Russian interest in the Anglo-Persian conflict. Is there any truth in
these allegations ?
Answer No. 5.—I emphatically deny the said allegations. It is to be much
regretted that after the lapse of a period of several years from the accession of
His Imperial Majesty to the Throne of Persia, during which space of time the
world has witnessed the deeds of the Shah's Government for the liberation of
Persia from foreign influences, troublemongers can still succeed in spreading
such distortions of actual facts. It has been my good fortune and a great honour
to have had in various capacities a close and perfect contact with the national and
international policies of His Majesty from the very first days of the establishment
of his reign. I have been one of those persons who have been instrumental in the
carrying out of His Majesty's decisions for the advancement of the country. I
can, therefore, explicitly declare with pride and perfect assurance to the world
that the protection of the integrity and independence and the national rights of
Persia has been the axis around which the wheel of our diplomacy has been
turning for the last decade. In this respect, the present Government of Persia
has shown its complete freedom from the influences of outside groups of Govern
ments. I am sure of my ground, and I can assure you of this fact, that those
persons who endeavour to poison the public opinion of the world in this matter
cannot produce the smallest pretext for the justification of their false claims.
Question No. 6.—What would be Persia's course of action if England were
to land forces to protect British lives and properties ?
Answer No. 6.—As I have explicitly made it plain in the answers to the
foregoing questions, British life and property are well protected, and there is no
probability of encroachment upon their rights in this country. Therefore, it
does not seem logical to me to imagine that the British Government would take
such action as you mention. Should the contrary happen, the British Government
will undoubtedly be considered as an aggressor in relation to Persia, and the
Persian Government will not hesitate to take the steps which such an inconceivable
attitude on the part of the British Government would entail.
Question No. 7.—Is Persia still willing to negotiate its grievances directly
with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company ?
{a) Would you withdraw the annulment as a preliminary to such
negotiations ?
(6) Would you insist on negotiating in Tehran, or would London or some
neutral point be acceptable ?
Answer No. 7.—The first part of this question has been answered already,
but the answer to the second part is in the negative. The Persian Government
sees no reason for the withdrawal of the annulment of the D'Arcy Concession.
The answer to the third part of your question is in the affirmative; the Persian
Government will insist upon the negotiations with the company taking place in
Tehran.
Question No. 8.—Has your Highness any message—on the oil dispute or any
other phase of your situation—which I could transmit to the press of the world ?