'File 82/34 II (F 94) APOC Concession' [‎126r] (212/362)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
PEESIA. May 19, 1933.
CONFIDENTIAL. Section 1.
[E 2565/17/34] No. 1.
Foreign Office to Mr. Cadogan {Geneva).
(No. 342. Confidential.)
Sir, Foreign Office, May 19, 1933.
WITH reference to Mr. Hoare's telegram No. 95 of the 8th May (repeated
to you as Foreign Office telegram No. 220 of the same date) regarding the
agreement reached in Tehran between the Persian Government and the repre
sentatives of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, I am directed by Secretary Sir John
Simon to transmit to you the accompanying copies of the French text and of the
company's (provisional) English translation of the new concession which has
been granted to the company.^)
2. The text of the concession is now before a parliamentary commission of
the Persian Majlis. It appears that discussion of its terms by the Majlis as a
whole has been adjourned until the 21st May at the earliest, and it is, therefore,
very unlikely that it will be finally ratified and promulgated by the Shah by the
time the Council of the League of Nations meets on the following day. According
to a later telegram from His Majesty's Minister at Tehran, it appears that the
Persian Government have now published the full text of the new concession both
in Persian and French, but the company are, nevertheless, most anxious that, until
the agreement has actually been ratified, any general discussion of its terms should
be avoided as far as possible. I am to request, however, that you will now deliver
two copies of the French text and of the English translation to M. Benes, in
accordance with the promise which has already been made to him (see Foreign
Office telegram No. 13 of the 2nd May to His Majesty's Minister at Prague
repeated to you as No. 13, Saving, of the same date), explaining orally at the
same time the desire of the company to keep the text as far as possible secret
pending ratification.
3. The procedure to be followed when the Council meets will, of course,
depend largely on the rapidity with which the agreement is ratified by the Majlis.
As you are aware, the dispute is due to come before the Council during the
present session, and will automatically do so unless His Majesty's Government
and the Persian Government agree to make a joint request for postponement.
If the agreement is ratified, and the necessary decree promulgated by the Shah,
in the course of the week beginning on the 22nd May, it will presumably be
possible to dispose of the question finally during the present session, the
rapporteur informing the Council that a settlement has been reached between the
two Governments, and the necessary statement prescribed by article 15 (3) of
the Covenant being drawn up thereafter. If, on the other hand, the requisite
action is not taken in time by the Persian Parliament and by the Shah, it will
presumably be necessary either to concert with the Persian Government with a
view to a joint request being made for postponement of the question until the
following session of the Council, or, alternatively, to arrange for M. Benes to
inform the Council that he understands that a settlement has been reached, but
that as certain necessary formalities are still outstanding he will be glad if the
question can be postponed.
4. As you are aware from Mr. Hoare's telegram No. 95 referred to above,
the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs has promised to instruct the Persian
delegate at Geneva to concert with you on the question of further procedure. I
am to request, therefore, that you will discuss the question both with M. Benes
and with M. Sepahbodi, and adopt whatever arrangements appear most suitable
m the circumstances, reporting the action you decide to take in due course.
I am, &c.
C. F. A. WARNEE.
[8.03; t—I]
( 1 ) May 15, Section 1.