“ANNOUNCEMENT WAS A LIE"

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24820, 9 March 1946, Page 7

“ANNOUNCEMENT WAS A LIE"

The atmosphere in Teheran is growing more tense hourly over reports of the failure of the Russians to evacuate the country, says Reuter’s correspondent in Teheran. A Persian Minister said: “When the Russians announced that they had evacuated Meshed, Semnan, and Shadrud, we dispatched our forces. They were stopped at Garmsar by the Red Army. The Russians have not evacuated any place. Their announcement was a lie.”

The commander of the Garmsar gendarmerie telephoned yesterday afternoon that the Russians were still in occupation. The Moscow radio yesterday broadcast a joint Russian-Persian communique stating that questions concerning both countries were discussed in an atmosphere of friendship during the conferences between the Persian Prime Minister (Ghavam Sultaneh), Mr Stalin, and Mr Molotov between February 19 and March 6. "Both Governments consider that

with the appointment of a new Soviet Ambassador to Persia favourable conditions for a continuation of friendly relations between the two countries have been created,’’ said the communique.

“I am absolutely confident that all Russian and Persian misunderstandings will in the very near future be settled and sincere relations established between us, because we want it.” This was Ghavam Sultaneh’s farewell message before boarding the aeroplane at for Teheran, according to the Moscow radio. The radio added that Ghavam Sultaneh thanked Mr Molotov for his attention to the Persian delegation. Three were killed in Teheran and five were injured when gendarmes prevented pro-Soviet Tudeh Party supporters and partisans of the Right from entering Parliament buildings. The Russian radio and newspapers have still not mentioned Mr Churchill’s speech or the British and American notes on Persia.