REMAINING TROOPS IN PERSIA

Chronicle (Levin), 25 March 1946, Page 5

REMAINING TROOPS IN PERSIA

Press Assn.-

COMPLETION IN SIX WEEKS " IF NOTHING ! UNFORESEEN HAPPENS "

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Monday, 1.15 p.m. LONDON, March 24. Moscow radio has stated that the withdrawal of the remaining Russian troops from Persia began to-day. The Rus- i sian Command expects the wiihdrawal to be completed in I from five to six v/eeks "if ncthing unforeseen happens."

Earlier it was stated that M. Sultaneli had announced at a Press conierence that the ietter which the Persian Ambassador in the Lnited fcStates iM. tmssein Aia.i sent to the United Niuions Seere-tary-General iMr. Trygve Liei was not autnorised. He had caDied M. Ala instructing him to avoid any siatements or actions eontrary 'to aipiomatic etnics and Iikely to iead to uirther misunderstandmgs. AI. Sultaneh said tnat, 111 conl'ormity with the decision of the ia.st meeting oi' the Security Couneil. Persia would repori progress on thf direet negotiations at tne next ineeimg. He expressed the opinion that it was possibie that the ctirect negotiations between Russia and Persia migiit result in a settlement oi the dispute before the Security Couneil met on March 25. M. Sultaneh added that he was not eoncerned with the Russian attempts to postpone the meeting of the Security Couneil and was indill'ereiit as to whether it met immediately or in 15 days' time. "What reaily mattered was that a satisiactory solution shouid be found. Ile was confident that tliis would oe done. He eategorieally denied rejioi'ts that l'resh Russian troops had eniereci Persia sinee March 2, and eiiiphasised that the question was tiiat ihe Russian troops already th.ere shouid ha witlidrawn.