'File 82/34 II (F 94) APOC Concession' [‎143v] (245/362)

2
M. Benes presented the following report( 2 ) :—
"At its meeting on the 26th May, 1933, the Council considered the
communication from the Persian Government, dated the 1st May, announcing
that, as the outcome of the negotiations undertaken at Tehran with the repre
sentatives of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, a new concession had been
signed by the company and the Imperial Government of Persia. The
rapporteur was able to add on this occasion that, having got into touch with
the two parties to the dispute, he had found that, as a result of the signature
of the new concession, the dispute between the two Governments might be
regarded as virtually settled. As, however, the Council was soon about to
disperse, the rapporteur begged it to give him an opportunity, at its next
ordinary session, of submitting to it a report on the complete and final
liquidation of the dispute.
" Since then, there has been another communication from the Persian
Government, dated the 5th June (document C.371.M.182,1933.VII), announc
ing that the Persian Parliament has ratified the new concession to the Anglo-
Persian Oil Company.
" The text of the new concession is appended to this report. ( 3 )
f£ In these circumstances, I am happy to say that the Council may take it
that the dispute between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom
and the Imperial Government of Persia, which was brought before it last
December, is now finally settled."
Mirza A hoi-Hassan Khan Foroughi (representative of Persia): I have the
honour to announce my Government's entire approval of the report placed before
the Council. I have nothing further to add. I wish merely to express my
happiness at having had this opportunity of making before the Council a state
ment testifying to the better relations between my Government and that of His
Britannic Majesty.
I cannot fail to renew the expression of gratitude tendered by my predecessor
to the Council in connexion with this incident nor to offer our warm thanks to the
rapporteur, M. Benes, and to the Secretary-General for all the trouble they have
taken and the impartiality they have shown.
Sir John Simon : I am very happy to be able to join with the representative
of Persia in expressing, on behalf of my Government, our satisfaction that this
troublesome matter has been brought to a complete agreement, and, at the same
time, to join in thanking the rapporteur, M. Benes, for the useful part which he
has played in bringing about and reporting that result.
My colleagues will recall that it was my duty some time ago to bring this
matter before the Council, and that the points of view of the Government of the
United Kingdom and that of Persia were then put before the Council. At that
time it was still uncertain whether agreement could be reached by the method
which is consecrated for use in such cases when Governments are not at one here
at Geneva.
I take great satisfaction in thinking that the action of the United Kingdom
Government in bringing the matter to the Council has resulted in an agreement
which is both complete in itself and expresses the continued good relations which,
I am sure, will always exist between the Government of Persia and the Govern
ment of the United Kingdom.
The Council took note of the rapporteur's report.
(The Council went into private session.)
( 2 ) Document 0.572.1933.VII.
( 3 ) The text of the new concession will be published in the Official Journal as an annex to the
Minutes of the sixty-seventh session < f the Council.