From The Past Pages Of Dawn: 1951: Seventy-five years ago: Warships, planes alerted

LONDON: Ten British warships were standing off the port of Abadan and Royal Air Force planes were alerted to begin mass evacuation of Britons from Iran and, if necessary, put troops ashore to maintain the safety of British nationals, while Prime Minister Attlee heard a first hand report from Cabinet Minister Richard Stokes on Friday [Aug 24] of the breakdown of Iranian oil talks and then called at 10, Downing Street a Cabinet meeting to face the possibility of grave consequences. Britain threatened on Thursday to use force, if necessary, to keep the possession of the world's largest refinery in Abadan. The evacuation of British personnel from all Iranian oilfields and other installations was ordered after the failure of 'rock bottom' negotiations with Iran for the continued operation of the nationalised oil industry. [Meanwhile, according to Dawn's correspondent in Dacca,] About 25 per cent of the ration cards issued to the citizens of Dacca and its suburbs, proved to be 'ghost' cards, so in place of 477,308 cards in force so long only 370,891 cards were re-validated early this month when on the completion of the sixth year of rationing in Dacca, the ration cards were renewed, it is authoritatively learnt. Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2026