RUSSIA AND PERSIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1945, Page 5

RUSSIA AND PERSIA

REPLY TO U.S.A. NEW YORK, December 8. Commenting on the Russian reply to the United States Note uriging the withdrawal of all Allied troops from Persia by January 1, the Persian Minister to the United States (Hussein Ali) reiterated the charge that the' Russians were continuing to support the Persian rebels in the Azerbaijan province, and claimed that the Russians’ refusal to allow Persian reinforcements into the territory was illegal. Hussein Ali said there might be some connection between the northern disorders and his country’s refusal to grant Russia oil concessions there. Mr. Molotov’s reply to the United States said that Russia saw no reason to depart from the arrangements fixed two months ago, to withdraw the troops by March 2. The Soviet adhered unwaveringly to the Teheran declaration. The Persian Government’s account of the so-called uprising in the Soviet area did not correspond with the facts. The Soviet did not hinder the movement of Persian forces in northern Persia, but opposed the moving of additional forces in the belief that it would only increase the disorders and bloodshed. The Azerbaijan people were only asking for national autonomy within the limits of the Persian State. EMERGENCYCOUNCIL. (Rec. 10.48 a.m.) , LONDON, December 9. A Teheran message says that the Government has formed a Superior Council, consisting of six members, mostly ex-Prime Ministers, to direct emergency affairs in Persia.