Evening star., 1946-08-18
$4,000 Red Troops
Reported DepIoyed
Near Northern Iran
By Joseph c. Goodwin
Assoeieted Press Foreign Correspondent

4iAAGAe6AN, mug. 4. - AL Olll
cial foreign source who requested
anonymity today said reports
from the northern frontier indi-
Gated the Russians had massec
between Is and Is divisions
possibly as many as $4,000 men
along the Araxes River boun-
dairy between Iran and Soviet
Russia. .-- .s..s3,,..
This official. who said the reports
came from qualified military OBJ
servers described the troops .as
typical Red Army mountain units
and added they were deployed fol-
38 miles east of Dzhulfa, border city
80 miles north of Tabriz.
(T'he official Soviet news
agency Tass said yesterday it had
been authorized to deny similar
reports attributed to Hussein
Ala, Iranian Ambassador to the
United States.
tAla said in Washington Tues
day that he had received some
reports that the Russians had
concentrated troops in the Cau-
casus north Of Iran, but that his
information did not indicate their
purpose. He added that they
might be used to counter British
pressure against Iran in the
south, or to bring pressure on
Turkey in view of Russia's pro-
posals for hand in direct con-
troll and defense of the Darda-
nelles.
tAla said the British had
brought in mechanized Indian
troops at Basra, Iraq, on the
1ranian border near the British
operated oil fields, creating q
serious situation involving Brit
ain, Iraq and Iran
3 Americans Leave for Tabriz.
The foreign informant estimated
the average strength of the Red
Army divisions at 5000 men each
with "mechanized divisions prob
ably slightly smaller
Deployment of the Russian troops
east OF Dzhulfa would place them
near the head of rail and highway
lines into Azerbaijan province
which the Russians evacuated last
May.
The American military attache,
Col. William T. Sexton. and three
aides left here last week for Tabriz
en- route to the northern frontier.
Ihey were arrested by Azerbaiian
democrats in Tabriz last June 10
and later released.
Premier Ahmed Qavam is great
ly concerned" over the rumored
Russian troop movements in the
north and the British decision to
move Indian troops into Basra, a
highly placed diplomatic source
said. A shipload of troops arrived
at Basra today, Teheran newspa-
pers reported.
Cruiser Off Bahrein.
En- route from India r flew over
the Persian Gulf and saw the Brit
ish light cruiser Norfolk anchored
on Bahrein Island and a British
destroyer in Iraqi waters, across the
narrow Shaft AL Arab from Aba
dan Island.
An armed sloop was anchored at
Basra and residents said two other
gunboats" had been seen cruising
In adjacent waters.
British officials said the
. troops moving to Basra were re-
placements for an equal num-
Der coming out. A treaty per-
nllts Britain to maintain troops
there. The Indian government
had announced the troops were
being sent to help protect lives
ana property after troubles in
the Anglo-Iranian Co. oil fields.
In Adaban, scene of recent dis
orders in which 19 persons were
Killed. officials said the government
was preparing against possible new
clashes" between Arab elements and
ludeh Qeftist) party members.
Residents described the labor
"as still tense" American
sources said the riots started ir
the Arab section of the town. The
Tudeh press charged that "the Arabs
were armed by the British"
Qavam Facing Crisis.
Meanwhile, in Teheran a Foreipr
Office offlcial said Premier Oavau
lis facing the greatest crisis of hi.
career in the still unsettled Azerbai.
Jan problem.
The official, who is in dailv con.
tact with Qavam. said the North
west province. despite the an.
of an agreement earl,
in June, remains cut off from thu
central government.
"Azerbaijans still collect custom,
duties on imports from the rest O,
Iran and prohibit shipment of Aver.
balJan produce into the rest of tn.
country. All Azerbaijan foodstuff,
are being shipped to Russia"
The Iranian government has an.
nounced that the Azerbaiian com.
mission is expected here for fur.
ther discussions.