Mr. Mossadegh’s visit to the United Nations in October was for the purpose of telling Iran’s side of the British-Iranian oil dispute. He spoke his piece before the Security Council, arguing that the council had no authority to deal with the dispute between Great Britain and Iran; that this dispute was an internal question. The Security Council finally set aside the oil controversy.

Iran’s oil troubles started in March 1951 when the Iranian government took possession of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. This company, which had the sole right to take oil from the rich oil fields of southern Iran, is British owned. British-American efforts at a settlement have failed. One of their proposals was that Iran let the United Nations Security Council decide how much is owing to the British for the seized property. Britain has pledged to buy whatever oil Iran still has in storage. But Mohammed Mossadegh insists it is up to Iranian courts to decide how much Iran owes Britain. [Britain considered the oil stolen property]

A feeling that the economic freedom and the welfare of the Iranians was at stake was the motive behind nationalization of the oil industry. They have felt, especially the Mossadegh group, that the oil company was dominating the life of the country to the detriment of Iran; that the British were exercising too much political control by developing influence.