Editorial Note
During the fall and winter of 1953, there was considerable discussion within the United States Government of the need of the new Iranian Government, headed by Premier Fazollah Zahedi and supported [Page 1355] by the Shah, for oil revenues and the effect of this situation on the Department of Justice’s civil suit against certain oil companies. This matter was discussed at the 160th meeting of the National Security Council on August 27, 1953; at the 178th meeting of the NSC on December 30, 1953; and at the 180th meeting of the NSC on January 14, 1954. A plan was proposed to establish an international oil consortium in Iran; and, in a letter of January 21, 1954, to President Eisenhower, Attorney General Brownell stated his opinion that the plan, which included the participation of some American oil companies, was not in violation of the antitrust laws, subject to certain conditions. He also said that his opinion did not limit the rights of the Department of Justice in continuing its civil suit against Standard Oil Company of New Jersey and other oil companies. For the memoranda of discussion at these NSC meetings and the text of Brownell’s letter, as well as other documentation related to the civil suit against the oil companies, see volume x.