The latest note of Iranian Premier Mohammed Mossadegh to the British government in the petroleum dispute is a strange document — almost a naive one. [Oct. 7th letter to Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden, in reply to his Oct. 5th message]

Premier Mossadegh has invited an Anglo-Iranian Oil Company mission to Tehran for a conference aimed at negotiating a settlement with respect to its seized properties, but the British are asked to pay over 20 million pounds first? Then if an agreement is reached they would pay the remaining 29 million pounds of an amount the Iranians claim in disputed royalties.

That is peculiar enough but the Iranian note adds: “You are now once again reminded of the impossibility of the continuation of this state of affairs and any eventuality arising from pursuit of this policy (delay in reaching a settlement) is not the responsibility of the Iranian government”. [Actual quote: “I once again remind you of...”]

By “eventuality” Dr. Mossadegh of course means national bankruptcy and a Communist seizure of power in Iran. If he were threatening instead to jump out of a window with a British vase in his arms the situation would be no more comical nor any less a dilemma.