'F 80 File 82/34 I APOC Concession' [‎236r] (416/436)

Answer No. 8. I shall be much obliged to you if you will kindly convey the
above statements to the press of the world, and emphasise the following points,
namely, that the action of the Persian Government in cancelling the D'Arcy
Concession has not been prompted by ill will or prejudice towards the company;
neither should it be interpreted as an inimical gesture against foreigners in
general. Nor was it intended to signify that the Persian Government does not
put any real value in the friendship of Great Britain. Our action simply means
that we want to protect our just rights and interests. We do sincerely believe
that international goodwill and good understanding can only be attained when
the nations of the world recognise and respect one another's rights. Friendly
relations can exist only when agreements and conventions are not established in
a one-sided manner.
I have one more request for you, and that is to bring the following fact before
jour colleagues in the newspaper world ; From a moral standpoint it is against
the integrity and the moral prestige of a newspaper to publish fictitious and false
news. As a matter of fact, newspapers have a great moral responsibility; it is
through them that public opinion has to be enlightened and led towards the
truth. To follow the opposite course would be treason towards their responsibility
as torch-bearers of truth and dispensers of goodwill among the nations. I am
talking of ideal journalism; but when we come down to bare facts it becomes
obvious how far removed we are from the above ideal. When the news of the
cancellation of the D'ArcyTJoncession reached the world, immediately after its
publication some newspapers in different countries began to publish false news
and rumours. Some of them started to talk about brigandage and lack of security
in various parts of Persia, and especially in the southern region, where the Anglo-
Persian Oil Company's premises are located. It is, I think, perfectly clear to
you during your sojourn in the country, that the situation is absolutely normal.
Furthermore, security reigns supreme all over the country, particularly in the oil
regions, where things are exactly as they were before. Some other newspapers
have been talking about the financial needs of Persia, and that she is compelled
to sell the Crown jewels and the peacock throne in order to obtain funds. Yet
again, newspapers of the same type have reported that the British Government
is sending an army and her battleships to Persia. For what purpose are such
false rumours disseminated abroad? Is it ethically becoming of the journalistic
profession to have to sacrifice their integrity for the sake of sensationalism, and
in this way mislead their readers ? Is it not better for the newspapers to
endeavour to soothe raging prejudices and to try for the spreading of goodwill
and understanding among nations, rather than to poison the public mind and
aggravate the differences ? Instances of this lack of understanding of the duty
which the press owes to the public have been noticed before as regards the
presentation of Persian affairs. The newspapers of Europe and America on many
occasions have published fictitious and false news about our Government and our
country. At times this erroneous information has smacked of ridicule, and has
done little credit to the intelligence of its authors.
Finally, may I be permitted to point out that the publication of such news
by the foreign press only serves to harm its prestige and that of its country of
origin in the eyes of Persia. The spreading of these falsehoods does not do any
harm to our nation in the long run; but it unfortunately leaves a residue of ill-
feeling' towards those who stoop to such methods.
B M. A. F.
o