IN PERSIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 303, 24 December 1945, Page 5

IN PERSIA

INSURGENTS RISE ANOTHER GARRISON SURRENDERED RUSSIAN FORCES SAID TO BE MASSING Reed. 9 p.m. Teheran, Dec 23. Azerbaijan insurgents have taken over Ardabil, which has surrendered, 'lhe fall of Keziaeh is expected shortly. Thirty-four more officers from the Tabriz garrison arrived in Teheran and were not molested en route. Darachshani is confined in the Teheran Officers’ Club, where he is writing a report on the surrender of Tabriz. Reuter's correspondent says that Mr. Harold Minor, chief of the Near Eastern Division of the United States State Department, who arrived a fortnight ago to study the situation in Azerbaijan, -is still waiting for remission from the Russian authorities lo travel to the area. Six British and American newspaper correspondents are similarly held up. The Associated Press correspondent says that the Government intelligence service reported the presence of armed c.vilians and an unusual concentration of Russian tanks and troops in Mazdnderan province. Other reports indicate anti-Government moves in the province of Khurassan. The Persians feel bound to record bitter feelings and complaints against the flagrant breaches by one of their Allies of the explicit and definite terms of the tripartite treaty of January 29, 1942. says a statement issued by the Persian Ambassador to London. “The three Powers, under the treaty, undertook to respect Persia’s territorial integrity, independence ana sovereign rights,” it states. “Now a series of violations of the treaty by one of the parties has culminated in an attempt to dismember Persia by severing from her one of her most important provinces—Azerbaijan. This is a tragic example of unfaithfulness to the sanctity of a treaty. “Feeling confident that Britain will always honour her obligations, the Persians still have great hope that the Foreign Ministers in Moscow will reach an agreement that will ensure for Persia’s integrity and sovereign rights and that their great neighbour and ally (the Soviet Union) will dispel all suspicions by having her troops and officials abstain from interference in Persia’s internal affairs.’ The Prime Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Hakimi, in a surprise speech, told Parliament that he had decided to take strong measures against the insurgent group which had seized power in Azerbaijan, renorts Reuter's Teheran correspondent. Dr. Hakimi asserted that the revolt yas carried out by a band of adventurers. "All true Persians wish to maintain the integrity and greatness of their native land and oppose acts of trea S hpr , OUS Propaganda,” he said. “I won t r.llor’ th? e nets of propaganda to set fire to this r-.ur

Dr. Hakim reaffirmed his intention to visit Moscow, and added he would urge the Big Three to evacuate Persia as soon as possible.