LONDON: Reports of alleged revolt in Azer­baijan and of assistance which the rebels are sup­posed to be receiving from the Russians sho­uld be regarded with extreme caution, says the “New Statesman and Nation” in its current issue. “Dissatisfaction,” adds the “New States­man”, “with the corrupt right wing oligarchy which rules from Teheran is undoubtedly widespread, especially among national minorities, who are demanding local autonomy, not a fusion with the U.S.S.R.

“There are good grounds for believing that many recent incidents have been deliberately provoked by right parties and Government agents, who have not hesitated to carry out their attacks on the progressive Tudeh party into the Russian zone. If Britain and the United States have a concealed fear that the Soviet Union seeks to annex some of the Northern Provinces of Persia, nothing is more likely to encourage the Separatist movement than the maintenance of the present reactionary and corrupt regime in Teheran.”

[Meanwhile, as reported from Tokyo,] At least four prominent Japanese officials were marked for assassination by 13 fanatics who killed themselves on August 28 after the police frustrated their attempt to conduct this slaughter in protest against the surrender of Japan.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2020