PERSIAN TANGLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10606, 3 June 1920, Page 6

PERSIAN TANGLE

SERIES OF INTRIGUES TUEKS DETERMINED TO DESTROY' ARMENIA. % THE ONLY HOPE. By Telegraph — Press Assn. —Copyright Australian ami N / Cabin A—ocialiuii.. TEHERAN, May 31. The Tartar Soviet Government at Azerbaijan, which "'as established after the occupation of Baku, exists merely nominally. The Republic is torn by conflicting Tureo-Kus-'.ian intrigues, with Moscow influence predominating; • The Government maintains ’ relations with Persia, but has broken* -off relations • with the Entente. Eighty interned British people are employed n-s labourers! The Bolsheviks subsequently pro cocdocl to deal with Georgia and Ar menia. They temporised with the former. ’ pretended to - recognise its independence, and" actually signed pence it Tiflis on May Bth.'There was great •ejoieing. Meanwhile, heavy “Red” "orccs concentrated on the frontier tom Baku, where heavy fighting is >roceeding. Armenia was roughly handled from ;ho- outset, hut plnekilv rejected an mlcr to evacuate Karahagh and Zanjezur. The Armenians hastily formed i new- Cabinet, which suppressed internal Bolshevism, and is prepared to resist the ‘Tied,- 1- to the last ditch. Prolonged resistance is impossible. The only- hone is peace between the Allies,, and Bolsheviks, which would he likoIv to cause dissension between Turks and Bolsheviks, and disintegrate the monstrous opportunist alliance. Tho Bolsheviks arc inclined to give Armenia a chance, whereas ..Tjirkev is. determined to utterly ..destroy her. Apparently the Bolsheviks’, wade-rea.chmg designs on Persia nave been postponed. pending the «iuhduing_ of Georgia and Armenia. The situation at EnzcH Is unchanged.*