PERSIA CONFIRMS EVACUATION

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24882, 23 May 1946, Page 5

PERSIA CONFIRMS EVACUATION

Further Advice To UNO

AMBASSADOR’S STATEMENT REPUDIATED

(N.z. Press Association—Copyright, [Rec. 11-30 p.m.) NEW YO r K> May 21 In a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (Mr Trygve Lie) conveying instructions from Teheran, the Persian Ambassador to the United States (Hussein Ala) said Hat a Commission from Teheran had thoroughly investigated the Azerbaijan regions and had found no trace of Russian troops er equipment. The evacuation had been completed by May 6 gcording to trustworthy reports. The completion of the Russian withdrawal was earlier anjounced in Teheran by the Persian Government spokesman (prince Firouz) who said: “The alleged complaint by Hussein Ala concerning continued Russian interference in Azerbaijan ras not the Persian Government’s view. I cannot believe that je made the statement, but if he did it represented his own personal views.” The Associated Press says that Security Council delegates Ut reluctant to comment on the latest development, but generally agreed that until the question of internal interference was cleared up the Council could not drop the case. The Russian ielegate (Mr Gromyko) declared that he would not attend tomorrow’s meeting of the Council.

STATEMENT MADE IN TEHERAN

Announcing the Red Army’s withjrawal. Prince Firouz said that the British, American, and Russian Embassies had been notified, and that Husain Ala, as the Persian delegate to "XO had been Tnstructed to comEinicate this information, to the Security Council prince Firouz told the correspondent g the Associated Press that when the

total evacuation of Persia by all foreign troops had been notified to the Security Council, he could not imagine any pretext for interference in Persia’s internal affairs. “Persians will abhor . any interference m their sovereign rights and infringement of their independence by one or a Collection of countries, by a commission or otherwise, especially when it is not asked for,” he said.

BORDER CLASHES ADMITTED

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijan Govemtent has lifted martial law. It stated bat "conditions no longer justified the seasure, because peaceful methods revaiL” .. The Azerbaijan newspapers and adio have made no further mention f fighting. The Teheran radio admitted that order clashes had occurred between lersian Government forces and Azereijan forces. The radicr added that he Persian Prime Minister (Ghavam Sdtaneh) had given strict orders fortdding Persian troops to move furfcer from their positions. A joint

commission formed of Persian Government representatives and Azerbaijan officers had been established “to prevent further unpleasant incidents.” Ghavam Sultaneh has ordered an investigation of the border fighting. The military governor of Teheran has arrested three Right Wing former deputies, says Reuter’s correspondent in Teheran. They are AU Dashti, Jaman Imami, and Salay Sayid Sanandji, who formerly represented Isfahan, Teheran, and Kurdistan respectively. The arrests are reported to be related to Ghavam Sultaneh’s proclamation of May 18, in which he attacked reactionary conspirators.