SKIRMISHES MAY BE EXAGGERATED TO SUPPORT PENDING SOVIET MOVES

Chronicle (Levin), 21 May 1946, Page 5

SKIRMISHES MAY BE EXAGGERATED TO SUPPORT PENDING SOVIET MOVES

Press Assn.-

By Telegraph

Copyright

Received Tuesday, 10.10 a.m. LONDON, May 20. The Persian War Minislry has denied reports broadcast by -Tabriz radio of fierce fighting' between Azerbaijan troops and the Persian Governraent Army. It said that no orders had been sent to the commanders to attack AzerbaijaTn. ^ Some observers in London suggest that Tabriz radio, wnlch is under Moscow's infiuenee, may be deliherately exaggerating frontier skirmishes to support pending Soviet diplomatic moves bel'ore the United Nations Security Council. The Tabriz radio reports come on the eve of the date fixed by the United Nations for submission to the Security Council oi' the Persian Government's report on the withdrawal of' the Russian forces from Persia.* Observers point out that the Soviet agreement to withdraw was conditional upon "no un1 oware! incident arising." Tabriz radio to-day stated that Persian Government troops were operating about 100 miles south of Tabriz, atiacking Shahindt.j and also Baglufhe and Mishes, south of I,ake Urmia in the Kurdisran Province. The Associated Press of Great Britain's Tabriz corresjiondent reports ha! the American Consul to-day advised I'nited States ciiizens, coniprising three elderly American srhool teachers, two nurses and a doctor to leave Tabriz. Tabriz radio has reported that two American correspondents interviewed the Azerbaiian Premier, M. Pislievari, who told them the Red Army had left Azerbaijan and added that negotiations witii the Persian Government at Teheran had no results. A later mc.ssago states that the until the conclusion of the negotiaI'crsian Government stated that an tions with the Azerbaijan mission, immediate inquiry had been order- comprising Government ofhcials ed into Tabriz radio's report of a and representatives from Tabriz, clash between Persian and Azer- they will remain on the frontiers to baijan forces. maintain order. The statement says that the re- The newspaper Ettelaat says that ports oi wariare are obviously un- infonnation has reached the Per-I-rtme SuIU nehf hS diu' G£,"eral St,aff '"dicating that rcpeatedlv stated that Persian an Azerbaijan force _ attacked the troops world not move from their Persians, but the latter stood their present positions. and adds that eround without counter-attacking. .