Second Thoughts

Abstract

In his interesting account of the Persian oil crisis Louis treats the negative conclusion reached by the Cabinet in their meeting of 12 July as a decisive turning point.² No doubt this was what Attlee intended, but the course of military movements and the evolution of military planning during the rest of July reflected little perception of any fundamental change in British policy. On the contrary it was then that Buccaneer almost came to the boil.

In view of the Persian Government’s confiscation of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company’s property, the 1st Loyals were kept standing by to move to Persia if required; and on several occasions, jeeps, support weapons, ammunition and stores were loaded on to aircraft.

Dean¹