No. 92
Editorial Note
On September 27 the British Cabinet discussed the oil question and took the following decisions on Iran:
- 1.
- The British were not prepared to authorize the use of force to maintain the staff at Abadan.
- 2.
- Because of the situation created by the expulsion order the British would refer the dispute to the United Nations Security Council after informing the United States.
- 3.
- The British staff should remain at their posts at Abadan and the question should be reconsidered at the end of the warning period.
- 4.
- No concessions should be offered Mosadeq.
- 5.
- The Shah should be informed that the British might make more acceptable proposals if they could deal with a more reasonable Iranian Government.
- 6.
- The Shah should be warned that expulsion of the British staff might lead the British to take more stringent measures to protect their legitimate rights and interests and these measures might further damage the Iranian economy.
A copy of these decisions was handed to Raynor just before noon on September 28 by Bernard Burrows, who also handed him a copy of a draft Security Council resolution which called on Iran to act in conformity with the International Court of Justice decision and in particular to allow the British technicians to remain in Iran. [Page 174] (Memorandum of conversation; 888.2553/9–2851) For texts of the British resolution and the letter transmitting it to the Security Council, see U.N. Docs. S/2358 and S/2357 in United Nations Security Council, Sixth Year, Supplement for October, November and December, 1951, pages 1–3.