SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT RECEIVED WITH RELIEF

Chronicle (Levin), 26 March 1946, Page 5

SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT RECEIVED WITH RELIEF

Eeceived Monday, 9.10 p.m. LONDON, March 25. The announcement that the Russian troops are wLiidrawmg from Persia presented tne nrst ray oi hope oi a i'air and friendiy so.ution smce tne Persian probiem became acute, says tne Tjmes' diplomatic correspondent. London was ali the more surprised at tiie more favourame turn becaase Britam's lequest in the last week to Moscow ior a repiy to ner inquiry of three weeks ago brought no response. Tne New York Times says a highly-authoritati^e source disclosed that the Uiiited Siatcs woukl insist that the Security Council examine tne boiia iides oi any agreement between Kussia and Persia, and would aiso propose international measures to ensure that the new pact was not violated. The American view is that, | if the Moscow radio reports are correct .and the Russians are withdrawing, an agreement may already have been reached. The Unlted States Government sces no reason for hasty action.

IMMEDIATE CRISIS OVER "Tlie immediate liuoSian-Persiau rrisis is over," says tfce Daiiy Maii in a iL\a;er on the liussian annutUiceiiient tluiL tne evacuation oi t^rda nas tieguii. • • i h.- sudaen encl oi a wmch seciaed to sec back the clock to 1938 aua ar uised lears oi anotner ..ar, wil. ha i-e..cA-e«i wrtfi reiiel thronghout the wuri.i. x'ne fcJoviet G o v g r 11 ms i vc actsd w,ij wis.loai and oumi—uii.ymse. Tliere f.ui be no quesuon, liowever, that its uec.sion was prxnpted oy 'che lii'in atoi1,1,10 adopted oy E^utain and Ameriea mul tholr raiusal tu poidpone examiiia l.oii of the dispute beitie the Security rouncil." 'ine leader coiinuents: '•The i.iatter will no douiit i omahi on tlie a0cnda. Ii is necessary that it sh-uld. The.e is i; ,'jod deal to he explaiiied, iacnuing the continuance of the itusiian oc. epa tion beyond the treaty date. In the nilerests of future international rala-ti-.us, it is necessary to kno-.v what the .situation was and how it .vas clarmed It will he asked why, if Kussia can L gtn to wlthdraw lier troops 011 xaarch shc could not have done so 011 the afev.?ed date, IMarch 2. Moscow 's aniiuinoeiiieiit also contains pojnts which aie not quite clear. The withdrawal, it is stated, wiil be compieted in five or sia weeks if nothing unforeseen napp us ro prevent it. The periuu of reeah

for these troops would seem unduly pr.longed, except 011 the assumption unat 110 preparations were made to get Inem out on March 2. ' ' What, it will oe asked, is likely to happen in the next five or six weexs to Kfcop Russian forces in Persia? Such yuestions may seem hypercnticul wheir Wbighed agamst the ail-importani, fact thax a dangerous world crisis has blown Over, but if the situation is to have a miai satisfact^ry setxiement, there niust he no loose ends." The leader declares: "The fact is that Kussia broke her treaty with Britain and Persia. Kussian troops occupicd the territory of a friendiy nation iuiig aixer cney snoaid have withdrawn, aua tne Kussian fauure to repiy to repoatea reciuesus lor information shouid ujt oe giossed over. The Security rouncil for tnese reasons shouid not iightly disrniss the Kussian-jrersian dispute. "The Kussian Government's decision is uiiciuestionahly a victory in advance for Umted Nations and wnat it represciits, but there shouid he 110 disposition to crow over the Russian ciimhaovvn. The crisis is too grave for that. watner snouid there he a renewed uttempt to understand the Russian view- ; point, to hanish the fears and sus- j picions which are at the bottom of her search for security. ' ' j