METHOD OF SETTLEMENT CRITICISED

Chronicle (Levin), 8 April 1946, Page 5

METHOD OF SETTLEMENT CRITICISED

RUSSO-PERsfAN AGREEMENT Received Sunday, 8.55 p.m. LONDON, April 7. Diplomatic quarters in London regard the Russian-Bersian agreement as a settlement reached hetween parties # hehind the hacks of their lawyers, says Sunday Times' diplomatic correspondent. The suhstance of the agreement is not necessarily criticised, but the method employed in reaching it has produced a certain dissillusionment. The correspondent adds tnat it is generally considered that the influence of the Security Council played an important part in oringing about the agreement, and the terms represent a gubstantiai modihcation of the original Russian claims regardmg the oiiuelds and the autonomy of Azerbaijan. As a result of negotiations in Teheran and Mcscow, all outstanding questions between Russia and Persia have been settled on a basis of complete reciprocity and good will, stated the Government spokesman, Prince Firouz. A communique states that Mr. Sultaneh began liegoiaations in Moscow and, contmued tiiem in Teheran - after his return and the arrival of the Russian Anibassador. The negotiations ended yesterday, and complete agreement was reached on all questions. The Red Army troops will evacuate all Persian territory within one and a half months from March 24. Au agreement for the formation ot a joint Russo-Persian oil company will be submitted to the fifteenth Majlis (National Assambly) for its approval within seven months after March 24. Since Azerbaijan is an internal Per-

sian affair, peaceful arrangements will be made betweeu the Persian Goyernment and the peqple of Azerbaijap for carrying out improvements in accordance with the existing laws and in' a benevolent spirit towards the people of Azerbaijan. Prince Firouz said that the Pergian Cabinet gave its "unanimous appfoyal" to the communique. No formgl treaty had been signed between the two coupfries, ; • * Referripg to the oil agreement, Prince Firouz explained: 4 ' Only agreement in pripciple has been reached, The details are to' be worked out jater — of course, subject to Parliament' s approval." Asked if the oil discussions were not ! illegal, Prince Firouz replied: "Thei law specifies oil concessions, wheyegsj the proposal concerns the organisation ! of an oil company, jointly finapceid with . Russian and Persian capital. No | details of the perqentage of capital con- 1 trol were worged out. " Prince Firouz said that the Azerbai- 1 jan problem cpiild be worked out with; the Azerbaijan Government on tjje j understanding that certain social- and| economic reforms would be 1 initiated ! throughout the country. He termed the signing of .the gommunique as an evept of pgra.moujit importance, which he believed would he welcomed by all Persia's' afiies. as-'a great contribution towards interngtional peace and accord.« Prince Firouz descpibed the reports of fighting hetween Rurdish tribespien and, Per§ian' troops in West Persia as ! greatly exaggerated, and said that "Persian troops had been sent to the ar§a to meet any eventuality. "The sitilation is up'der control;" he said. Pfinc'e Firouz declared that the elec- j tion of the new Parliament would be j held as soOn as the Russian evacuatipn ! was completed. • . i