LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1843, 18 June 1920, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

PERSIA AND SOVIET RUSSIA.

REPATRIATION OF PRISONERS.

By Electric Tejegraoh.—Copyright ! . LONDON. June 16.

At a public meeting of the Council of the League of Nations held in London, Lord Curzon, who presided, described the correspondence exchanged between Persia and the Bolshevik Government. He considered that. Persia had acted rightly in negotiating with the Soviet / and requested Prince Firouz to keep the Council informed of the course of events. -•'

Dr. Nansen reported on tho repatriation of prisoners of war, of whom he said there were still, a quarter of a million in Russia, and there was an equal number of Russian prisoners throughout. Europe. The difficulties of repatriation had been hitherto insurmountable. He hoped the new route to the Baltic Would enable the repatriation of 6000 to and from Russia before the winter. —(A. and N.Z. cable).

THE CRAFTY BOLSHEVIK. INVASION OF PERSIA. ■ • Received June 18, 8.45 a.m. LONDON, June 16. Prince Firou.: explained to the Council of the League the nature of the communications which had passed between Persia and Soviet Russia. It was shown that Persia had formally protested against the landing of Bolshevik troops. Tchiteherin (BolshevikForeign Minister) had replied in friendly terms and added that orders had been given for a withdrawal. In view of subsequent events, Prince Firouz again telegraphed on May. 12th. to Tchiteherin, pointing out the latest developments in Russia did not co incide with the Soviet assurances, and add ing that, unless matters were put right,,it would be impossible for Persia to enter into any friendly negotiations with the Soviet. — (Reuter).

GEORGIAN REPUBLIC INVADED. RUMOURED REVOLUTION AT TIFLIS. Received June 18, 10.35 a.m. DELHI, June 17. Disquieting news has reached India from the Caucasus to the effect that, in addition to the Bolshevik invasion of Persia, large numbers of Bolshevik cavalry havo advanced from Baku going towards Tiflis. Communications with Tiflis are cut off.

The reports from these are conflicting. It is uncertain whether the Bolshevik troops have reached the town or not. The report is persistent that there has been a .revolution in Tiflis and a proBolshevik Government is now established. The Bolshevik forces lately engaged in fighting General Deniken are being collected and re-equipped near Rostov and it is intended to move by rail to Baku and thence by road to Tabriz, from whence the offensive against Persia will be launched. All the small British detachments in Northern Persia are being collected at Kahurn,which covers Teheran, and British reinforcements from Mesopotamia are journeying to Kahujn, where arrangements.have been made, to create a defensive'position.— (A. and N.Z. cable).