MAJOR QUESTIONS MAY BE ASKED OF MOSCOW AND TEHERAN

Chronicle (Levin), 30 March 1946, Page 5

MAJOR QUESTIONS MAY BE ASKED OF MOSCOW AND TEHERAN

Press Assn.

Mr. Trnman Has No Misgivings Abont Russian Walk-out * . ;

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Friday, 11.45 p.m . NEW YORK, March 29., The Associated Press learns authoritatively that the closed Seeurity Councii meeting' decided to proceed with the Persian case without Russia. The Councii may also ask for a report from j Moscow and Teheran on three major questions' — 1. Why are the Russians' assurances that their troops afe j withdrawing from Persia unsatisfactory to the Persian Govern- j ment? ■ I 2. What are the negotiations now under way between Russia - and Persia? 3. Is the removal of the Red Army conditional upon these negotiations? i It is understood that Mr. Byrnes is in favour of asking these j questions and has substantial support on the point.

After its closed meeting' tbe Councii issued a conimuuique: ' ' Member s of tbe Seeurity Councii beld an executive meeting to discu.,s inforrnally tbe further procedure to be followed by th-e Councii in dealing with Persia* s appeal. Various alternative suggestions for furtber procedure were considered, afd as a result of tbe cliscussion, a considerable area of agreement was found. Representatives of all the menibers of tbe Councii, except the Soviet Union, attended tbe meeting. The Councii will hold a public meeoing at 3 p.m. tomorrow." Mr. Gromyko told reporters that be did not know wlietfcer be would actend toinorrow's Councii meeting. Mr. Gromyko left tlio Russian Con-sulate-General by car today about the time tbe Seeurity Councii was due to start, saying be was en route to tbe meeting. Reporters following hina say tbat, after circling round United Nations' office, wbere tbe meeting was to be held, be instructed tbe driver to return to the consulate. The diplcmatic cdrrespondent of tbe London Daily Telegraph says tbat Sir Alexander. Oadogan bas beeh instructed to press for coiitinued discussion of tbe Persian case, even if Mr. Gromyko remains absent. President Truman at a Press confer-' ence said Mr. Byrnes had bis f'ull support in pressing for mnnediate consid- 1 eration of tbe Pei'sian appeal before the Councii. He de'nied tbat be and Mr. Byrnes had . discussed approacbing Generalissimo Sfcaiin directiy, adding : tbat matters wbicb in wartime bad ; been tackled by tbe Britisli, Rur-sian ■ and American leaders should now be bandled through tbe Seeurity Councii or other bralicbe's of UNO. The Presidsnt again rejected a sug- , gestion tbat be should call anothen meeting of tbe "Big Tbree." He added tbat he did not believe the Russian walk-out was nieant to be pernianent. He bad no misgivings. Tbe British Cabinet, at a meeting which lasted for two hours, considered for part of tbe time the Seeurity Councii situation. Lobbyists do aiot indicate wbat developed. Tbe Seeurity Councii, at its open meeting, will invite tbe Persian Ambassador (Mr.»Ala) to answer tbree miportant questions, says tbe New York Herald-Tribune. They are: Firstly, does be have instructions to oppose delay, in other words, would d-elay be harmful to Persia? secondly, does be have official conftrmation of tbe Russian claims of an understanding on troop withdrawals? thirdly, can be sbed. ngbt on tbe optimistic Persian Governnient statement regarding tbe prospect of withdrawals? Tbe New York Times' correspondent, James Eeston, says: "Tbe. Councii :s not clear about tbe rules and procedure in the absence of Russia, and tbe deiegates are not sure wbere Mr. Gbavam Sultaneb (tbe Persian Prime Minister) stands. It is knov.n tbat be is under pressure from Moscow to grant ceroain concessions, particularly oil, in reiurn for a prornkti to witbdraw the troops. At the sarue time, it is known that be wants to keep bis case beiore the Councii in tbe hope of minimising tbe Rnssian demands. Conasquently, tbe delegates want to get a statement from him clarifying the state of tbe negotiations. as well as a statement from Stalin an'swermg tbe qu-estion aoout the negotiations. "Washington and London have been trying unsuccessiully since March 2 to get some explanation of what is happening in Persia, and their inquiries have either been ignored or brnshed aside. Now a concerted effort will be made to clarify tbe- situation." A later message says it is learned tbat the Persian delegate to the Seeurity Councii will bring additional and fully-documented evidence of Russian interference iii tbe internal affairs of Persia through its agents, officials and armed forces when tbe public session of tbe Councii resumes tomorrow.