HC Deb 21 November 1945 vol 416 cc545-6W
Sir J. Mellor

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make about the situation in Persia; and what British troops still remain in that country.

Mr. Bevin

Yes, Sir, I understand that a political group in the province of Azerbaijan, in North-West Persia, which has been carrying on an agitation for autonomy, has resorted to violence against the Persian Government and has seized by force the railway station at the town of Mianeh. In dealing with outbreaks of disorder in Northern Persia in the past, the Persian Government have been handicapped by inability to move their troops there freely, as the presence of Soviet forces in these provinces introduces a complicating factor. In the present case, I understand that the Persian Government are anxious that their troops should not be prevented from proceeding to the affected areas.

With regard to the second part of the Question, the withdrawal of our troops according to our treaty obligations is going well. As the House has already been informed, except for small administrative details, Tehran has already been evacuated. We are now withdrawing from Persia our troops stationed near Kermanshah, West Persia, and this movement will very shortly be completed. When this movement has been carried out, the greater part of our Forces which were in Persia at the end of the Japanese war will have been withdrawn and our small remaining body of troops will be concentrated in the extreme South-West of Persia, except for small details engaged in the disposal of installations and stores.