'F 80 File 82/34 I APOC Concession' [‎113r] (210/436)

H The Times"
9.12.32. NSW HOTS TO PERSIA
RBFSREKCR TO THR HAX3UE COURT.
Westminster, Thursday.
Before a crowded House of Commons to-day Mr. Eden
recounted the latest developments in the dispute between the
Anglo-Persian Oil Co. and the Persian Govt., to which the British
v Govt, is a party.
The gist of his statement was that if the Persian Govt,
did not withdraw by December 15 its cancellation of the company's
concession, the British Govt, would refer the matter to the Court
of International Justice as a matter of urgency, and would ask the
Court what measures it could take to protect its interests pending
a decision; that meanwhile it would hold the Persian Govt, respon
sible for any damage to the company's interests and property, and
that ii the Persian Govt, failed to give the company protection
the British Govt, reserved the right to take such measures as were
necessary to give such protection^
This statement was embodied in a Kote handed to the
Persian Govt, to-day, and was the sequel to the reply of the Persian
Govt, to the British Note of December 2 - a reply which Mr. Eden
declared to be "wholly unsatisfactory.« It refused to withdraw the
cancellation of the concession, though it did not rule out the
negotiation of a new agreement with the company; and it denied
responsibility for any possible damage to the company's property.
Mr. Eden roused loud cheers from the Govt's supporters for his
unequivocal condemnation of the Persian policy of unilateral repu-
alaiion of a contract end general cheers for his announcement that
the matter would be referred to the Hague Court if the Persian
Govt, did not withdraw its notice of cancellation.
Lansbury, however, smelt war in the British Govt's
reservation of the right to protect its nationals if the Persian
d0 a0 l Ghallen S ed Eden and Mr. Baldwin to
say whether this meant the use of armed force in certain circums
tances, and when told that hypothetical questions could not be
answered and that the Govt, must be guided by circumstances he
tried to move the adjournment of the House. The speaker could not
JPTf ? 1:0 Proceed, because he could not formulate a definite
patter to discuss, and he finally subsided with a protest against
an ^unfortunate statement." K
iiii \k
PREPARING THE BRITISH CASE.
as* 8ii :
Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes
a n0 d isP 0 sition among members of the House of
^.i/nons yesterday to cavil at the Govt's stem warning to Persia
£+ efforts of m. Lansbury to secure an immediate debate,
ihe ne* Note was of special Interest to members, as this is the
rirst occasion on which the British Govt, has taken advantage of
-lie Optional Clause to propose the reference of a dispute with
mother Govt, to the Permanent Court of International Justice in
f5teps are now taken by the officials of the Govt.
'Srt * 0 Dre r re the case for presentation to the
'im* I* t. ^ b ® forwarded next Thursday, unless in the mean-
'ersian oil^ompanyr ld ^ Withdravm lt6 notice to the angle-
+ v l « n ^ GO y e r nae ? t ci ^ c ^ es l a st night satisfaction was express-
aken J^ th!? ?^ 2 ^ e £ er the ,Batter t0 The had
5 thi meantime. ^ been n0 naVa1 ' ^ movement