DELAY DEPRECATED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26114, 29 March 1946, Page 5

DELAY DEPRECATED

EXPLOSIVE SITUATION THREAT TO WORLD PEACE (Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, Mar. 27. Mr Byrnes asked that Ala’s statement be confined to the issue of postponement, and requested him to answer, “Do you have the authority to accept postponement? What are the dangers in the situation that prevent postponement? ” Ala replied that Soviet troops were still in Persia. “ Persia has no assurance that the troops will be removed by a given date. Persia is suffering from intervention in its internal affairs because of the presence of Soviet officials and armfid forces. Such a situation is explosive, and delay in the settlement of this dispute is a threat to world peace.” He asserted that Persia would not agree to a postponement until Russia gave the Council assurances that the Red Army would be withdrawn by a definite date without regard to unforeseen circumstances. Tne Council adjourned till to-morrow, u>hen it will sit as a committee in executive session. One member said the next open meeting would probably be on Friday.

It is not known how long the Russians will be absent, but it is recalled that Mr Gromyko warned that Russia was unable to discuss the Persian case before April 10. The Polish delegate later stated that Russia had not withdrawn from the Council.

A Soviet delegation spokesman said the Russians would attend the executive session upon the understanding that only procedural matters and not the Persian question will be discussed.