BOLSHEVIK DESIGNS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 128, 2 June 1920, Page 5

BOLSHEVIK DESIGNS.

ARMENIANS ROUGHLY HANDLED, ' •

DESIGNS ON PERSIA POST-

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rThA Times Rervif».> (Received June ■2, 8.4.5 a.m.) TEHERAN, June 1. The Tartar Soviet Government of Azerbaijan, established after the occupation of Baku, exists merely as. a nominal Republic. It is torn by conflicting Turco-Russian intrigues, Moscow influence predominating. The Government maintans relations with Persia, but has broken off relations with the Entente

jTho Bolsheviks proeeded to deal with Georgia and. Armenia. They temporised with the former, arid pretended to recognise their; independence, and actually signed peace at Tiflis on May Bth. There was great rejoicing. • Meanwhile, heavy Red forces were concentrated on the frontier from Baku, where -heavy fighting was proceeding. The Armenians were roughly handled from the outset, but they pluekily rejected the order to evacuate Karabagh and Zamtezur. They hastily! formed a new Cabinet, which suppressed internal Bolshevism and prepared to resist the Reds to the last ditch.

Prolonged resistance is impossible, ji'nd the only hope is peace between the Allies and the Bolsheviks, which is likely to cause Turco-Bolshevist dissension and disintegrate the mqnstrows opportunist alliance, and inclining the Bolshevists to s;ive Armenia a. chance, whereas Turkey is determined to .destroy the latter.

Apparently the wide-reaching Bolshevik designs on Persia have been postponed, pending tlie. subduing of Georgia and Armenia. '

The situation at Enzeli is unchanged.