SOVIET EYES ON PERSIA

Chronicle (Levin), 4 February 1948, Page 5

SOVIET EYES ON PERSIA

' ( N.Z,P,A

-Reuter

New and Dahgerous Position Reported

\ CoinjrlQht)

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. d' " . • .L0N130N, Feb. 3. What the Daily Herald's diploma,tic correspondent describes as ."a new -and 'dahgerous situation" lias arisen • between Russia and Persia as the result of a strong Liussian note ficeusing the Persian (fovernment of lending itself t-o Amei'i.can " plans for converting Persia into "a military-strategic base". The note, accordirig to The Times's diplomatic correspondent, speaks of American activities on the northorn frontiers of Persia (vvhicll Russia has previously claimed as being within the Soviei det'ence zone) and says that these activities are incompatible ,with the state of goodneighbourly reiations pro'claimed in the SovietPersian 1921 treaty. .It adds: "The Soviet Governtnent therefore expects the Persian Government without delay to take the necessary measures to eliminate the existing abnorma] situation.'! It is this reference to the Soviet-Persian 1921 treaty which is especially ominous, says the Daily Herald's diplomatic correspondent. This treaty, he points out, gives the Soviet the right to advance its troops into the Persian interior if "a third power should desire to use 'Persian territory as a base of operations against Russia," and the Soviet note, the correspondent adds, i seems designed to build up a case which would enable the Soviet' Government to claim the right to reoccupy the north ern provinces of Persia from wliich it withdrew its troops in 1946. The note alleges that "considerable contingents . of American soldiers are about due to arrive in Persia" and that Ajnerican officers are

supervisiiig the building of fortifications and airfields near the Soviet frontier. " ' The Times's diplomatic correspondent points out that this is the I'ourth note delivered by Moscoav against real or fancied American actions in the past few days. The first prot'ested agai.nst American plans fo nse an airbase in British•admiiiislTred North o Africa, 1 the seeond against American war ships' presenqe in Italian waters and the third against Ihe use of American aircraft in the Yellow Sea to observe Russian shipping. The sending of such notes, The Times correspondent says, is a neAv develo])ment of the general Soviet eampaign against American administration but theJatesl note' is the most serious beeause it is addresscd not to Washington or London like the others, but to the small neighbour against which Soviet claims are still outstandhig. •