RUSSIANS LEAVE AZERBAIJAN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24868, 7 May 1946, Page 5

RUSSIANS LEAVE AZERBAIJAN

Evacuation From Tabriz CROWDS LINE STREETS

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON. May 6. The Tabriz radio announced that the Red Army began the evacuation of Tabriz, the capital of Persian Azerbaijan after five years’ stay. The troops marched to the station through streets lined with crowds and decorated with Russian and Persian flags. The emergence of a new Government styling itself the National Government of Kurdistan is signalised in the Tabriz radio announcement that a 20 years’ treaty has been concluded between the “national governments of Azerbaijan and Kurdistan.’’ The Teheran correspondent of “The Times” states that there is a further bewilderment for those who are tryipg to determine exactly what is impliea in the Persian Government’s declaration early in April that Azerbaijan is “purely an internal problem.’’ The reference to Azerbaijan as a “nation’’ is surprising rather than novel, but the Kurdish “nation” is a new appearance. The term presumably refers to the 500,000 Kurds in Turkey, iPO.OOO in Iraq, and 250.000 in Syria. Meanwhile the Sechetary-General of the United Nations Organisation (Mr Trygve Lie) has called a meeting of the Security Council for Wednesday, to consider the Persian case. Under the terms of the RussianPersian agreement all Red Army «roops are to be out of Persia to-morrow. “Four Persian provinces have been completely evacuated.” reports the “New York Times.” "When the Security Council reconvenes. probably next Tuesday, it will be officially informed by Persia that Russia has fulfilled her pledges made in Teheran early in April, ar.J withdrawn her troops from all Persian provinces.” The Persian Prime Minister (Ghavam SultanehJ.ln a speech said that the Soviet Union had proved that she would not stand in the way of the independence and happiness of the Persian people. "We hope that the Soviet Government will help ns in the future in every respect,” he said. Correspondents state that the greatest secrecy is still being maintained about the discussions in Teheran with the delegation from Azerbaijan. No one except the negotiators and the Persian Government itself knows what stage has been reached in the discussions. AUSTRALIAN HEALTH SCHEME PLAN FOR MEDICAL CENTRES (Rec. 10 p.m.) CANBERRA. May «. The Commonwealth Government proposes to introduce a scheme with a full service of diagnosis and treatment, including treatment by specialiata without charge. The Minister of Health (Senator J. M. Fraser) announced this to-day to a health conference of State Ministers. Medical centres will be established wherever needed to work in conjunc* tion with existing hospitals. The Commonwealth will accept responsibility for the full cost and maintenance Of such centres and the payment of the staffs. There will be no compulsion on doctors or patients. It is not proposed that the Commonwealth shall take over any State or other hospital at present existing. The full co-operation of the States is being sought