Persia Dominates Moscow Meeting

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23387, 19 December 1945, Page 5

Persia Dominates Moscow Meeting

Protest To Be Made To United States “Usurpation In Azerbaijan” By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Received 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 18. MR Ernest Bevin (British Foreign Secretary) has I" received further reports on the Persian situation, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. He had further talks w'ith Sir Reader Bullard (British Ambassador to Persia) and read translations of Russian reports giving more information on the establishment of the new Government in Azerbaijan. Mr James F. Byrnes (U.S. Secretary of State) also studied the latest reports of the Persian situation. The Foreign Ministers in Moscow yesterday met for the second time for 135 minutes. No statement was made. The “Daily Telegraph” says the situation in Persia is believed to be engaging the Minister’s immediate attention and added that official observers in Moscow describe the atmosphere of the conferences as cordial. Mr Molotov has been invited to become chairman of the meetings. The Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press says it is reported that Mr Bevin and Mr Byrnes, in reply to official inquiries, have been informed that Generalissimo Stalin is in good health, but no indication was given when he was likely to return from his holiday. The Persian Cabinet is reported to have decided to send a protest to the United Nations against what is described as usurpation iij Azerbaijan, says Reuter’s correspondent at Teheran.

The fall of Tabriz was described by eye-witnesses. Colonel Chahende, of the Tabriz garrison, and Colonel Homayun, Chief of the Tabriz Gendarmerie, who arrived at Teheran. They said that resistance at Tabriz would have been impossible and stupid. The Persian barracks with a garrison of 900 was surrounded by Russian troops with machine-guns and by Democrats, also with machine-guns, who occupied the roofs of surrounding houses. A surrender agreement, therefore, was signed. All officers and a majority of the men left the barracks secretly, taking arms and hiding in the neighbourhood. No Spontaneous Uprising United States officials, who asked to be not identified, said they believed that the Azerbaijan uprising was not spontaneous, but due largely to the

presence of Russian occupation troops, says the Associated Press. The officials said there were not widespread demands for complete autonomy until the present uprising was considerably advanced. The United States differed strongly from the Russian view that Soviet officials had the right to bar regular Persian Government troops from Azerbaijan, because their presence would increase disorders. The Persian Ambassador, after interviewing the Acting Secretary of State (Mr Dean Acheson) told reporters he had requested the United States to lodge a vigorous protest with Moscow and said: “Russia wants to present Britain and America with a fait accompli. M. Molotov wants to sit down with Mr Byrnes and Mi' Bevin and ask them what can be accomplished In Persia now that the new Azerbaijan Government is established."