PERSIA TO ACT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21925, 21 January 1946, Page 3

PERSIA TO ACT

SUBMITTING CASE SECURITY_COUNCIL DISPUTE WITH SOVIET ATMOSPHERE OF TENSION T 10.30 a.m.) ' LONDON. Jan. 20. The Persian delegation to the United Nations Assembly has decided to bring the’ dispute with Russia to the attention of the Security Council. / The Assembly was notified of this decision by a letter over the signature of the chief delegate. Seyed Hassan Taquibadeh. The letter said: The Persian delegation, after due deliberation, has decided to request the Secretary-General of the United Nations. in accordance with the terrm of Article 35 sub-paragraph 1 to bring the matter of Persia's dispute with Russia regarding their interference m the' internal affairs of Persia to the attention of the Security Council foi investigation and the necessary recommendation of the appropriate terms of settlement.” Azerbaijan Only Involved . The, Persian Ambassador m London, who leads the delegation, or, Friday called on the UNO executive se-Te’ary. Mr. Gladwyn Jebb. after which a short statement was issued that the purpose of the visit was to discuss with Mr. Jebb technical arrangements in connection with the Dossible ap.v /ach. by the Persian Government to the United Nations on the situation north-west Persia. • The correspondent says that two points emerge from this statement. First, the Iraruar% Government has instructed its delegation to_ make an approach, but the delegation is still seeking the best way through technical difficulties. • Secondly, the statement refers only to the situation in north-west Persia, that is in Azerbaijan and its neighbourhood. The first announcement bv the Persian Prime Minister had suggested f'at the v/hole Persian situation might be- raised, and that the Government might lav before the organisation its desire for the early withdrawal ot. British as well as Soviet troops before the treaty date,#March 2. In general, the delegates are intent on- building up the United Nations Organisation end the Persian question is by no means foremost in their thoughts at present. Stream of Radio Abuse The presence of an immense armed force in closer occunation than during the war increases the atmosphere of tension in which Persia awaits the proposed submission of her case to the United Nations Security Cour.il, says the’ Daily Telegraph’s correspondent in Teheran. ' There is a constantly increasing stream of abuse against the Persian Government from the Moscow radio. The official Russian news agency Tass reigns' supreme in Tabriz, while the Russians refuse to permit foreign correspondents to enter Azerbaijan. ' An enormous army blankets the, area of Azerbaijan, and the “Democrats” are holding -locomotives and railway stock, possibly with a view to an armed descent on the capital. It. is also significant that the Russians retain full control of the railways while those in the south were handed over to Persia 'when aid to Russia ceased in Jply, 1945. The Moscow radio, quoting the Teljeran newspaper Mardam, said:— “Large numbers of plain-clothes gendarmes are being sent daily to the northern areas of Persia, where they have carried out terroristic activities against the members and organisations of- progressive parties. These agents set fire to the premises of the Ponular Party’s club in Azerbaijan and bombarded the building.”