Show ANOTHER SCRAP OF PAPER the decision of the iranian government to expropriate e the british owned anglo iranian oil company is one more sordid example of the cynical disregard some nations seem to have for their treaties and agreements the story js s essentially a simple one britain needs oil from iran and iran needed the royalties that would result from the development of her oil resources the anglo iranian oil company was formed the british and the iranian governments ern ments concluded an agreement and it was duly signed by the proper authorities then iran got a new premier and a soviet influenced government A bill to expropriate and nationalize the company was hammered through the iranian parliament the british government is fighting arans action but regardless of the ultimate settlement the action will inevitably deter capital wherever its origin from going abroad it will thus prevent the development and use of resources which the peoples of the world sorely need and more important still it will cause a further breakdown in public faith in the word of government the late wilhelm II 11 called his governments ern ments treaty with belgium a scrap of paper it and sent his legions across the border arans action can be compa compared to that there is no difference in principle we live in a time in which great and small governments government seem to think nothing of lying and of violating both the letter and spirit of solemn agreements so long as that is true there can be no stability and safety in the world for anyone |