LITTLE NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 58, 18 December 1945, Page 3

LITTLE NEWS

TALKS OPEN IN MOSCOW

PERSIA HIGH ON AGENDA (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.)) LONDON, December 17. Just as Mr Ernest Bevin, Mr James F. Byrnes and M. Molotov sat down lor the first conference at Speridonovka Palace, news was flashed from Persia of the seizure by Azerbaijan "Democrats” of 40 more towns around Tabriz, says the Moscow correspondent of the Daily Mail.

Russian newspapers yesterday carried long reports concerning the establishment of the new Azerbaijan Provincial Parliament, and an article in “Pravda” reviewed the disposition of foreign troops in Persia, particularly British and American. The correspondent adds that this suggests that Persia must be high on the conference agenda, the preparation of which was discussed this afternoon.

Mr Bevin and Mr Byrnes earlier warned correspondents that there would be little news while-the talks were progressing.

Stalin Not Returning

The correspondent adds that there is no suggestion of Generalissimo Stalin returning to Moscow to be on hand. He is still at Sochi, in the Caucasus.

M. Molotov, Mr Bevin, and Mr Byrnes, met for the • first time -this afternoon, 'says the Exchange Telegraph Agency’s correspondent at Moscow. The business was mainly preparatory, Mr Bevin earlier conferred with Ambassador Bullard from Teheran on the latest developments in Persia.

The official programme of the Azerbaijan Parliament is “consolidation and creating of the autonomous life of Azerbaijan without infringing on the integrity of the Persian State.” A British Embassy spokesman stated that the first official meeting of Foreign Ministers broke up last evening after, lasting 145 minutes. “Another meeting will be held to-day. A British 'Note to the United States on the withdrawal of troops from Iran States that the Government entirely agreed with the view that the fulfilment of the assurances of' the declaration of Teheran requires that the Iran Government should have full freedom to move its armed forces in such a manner as it considers necessary' in order to preserve its authority and maintain internal authority.

Lost to Persia

The Persian Governor of Azerbaijan (Bayatt) has arrived in Teheran from Tabriz.

He reported that the Tabriz garrison was completely surrounded and the fall of the town was imminent.

“Azerbaijan seems definitely lost to Persia. I was advised to leave Tabriz by the leader of the Democrat Party 7,” he said.

The Persian General Headquarters in Teheran has recalled the battalions which the Russians halted when they were moving north to reinforce Azerbaijan. The new Government of Azerbaijan issued a proclamation guaranteeing respect for the rights and privileges of all foreign representatives in Azerbaijan, stated the Moscow radio. ' The proclomation announced the intention of seizing the estates of reactionary landlords and sharing-Jhem out among peasants, and promised to establish a people’s militia for the protection of Azerbaijan, to carry out a purge of police and gendarmerie, and to introduce social and health insurance and free education.