ITALY GIVEN PORTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 185, 20 May 1941, Page 2

ITALY GIVEN PORTS

YUGOSLAV COAST APPORTIONED CROATIAN QUISLING IN ROME.

(United Press Association—Copy rip lit. I LONDON, Alay 18.

The Axis Powers had a busy time in Rome to-day parcelling out the Adriatic ports. The port of Susak, near Einme, goes to Italy, together with gome of the hinterland, although it is in Croatia. Italy takes Split and the surrounding area, and all but tlireo of the islands off the Yugoslav coast. The remaining three go to Croatia. Italy takes the coast line as far as the Albanian border. Italy and Croatia have signed a 25-year pact under which Croatia may not enter into any agreement with any other Power without Italy’s consent. Croatia has also undertaken not to establish any military or naval bases unless with the. assent of Italy. The Italian language must be used in the law courts.

The notorious Croatian terrorist and arch-Quisling, Dr. Pavelic, who is being entertained with great pomp in Rome, ceremonially offered the crown of Croatia to King Victor Emmanuel. He has been installed in a luxurious villa hitherto reserved for Italy’s most distinguished foreign guests. This is a big contrast to the quarters he had on his last visit to Italy, when he was thrown into prison at Turin. Dr. Pavelic was the man who engineered the assassination of King Alexander at Alarseilles in Alarch, 1934. Even now, in France, he is under sefttonco of death. Rome was gaily, decorated to-day in honour of. the man who plotted the murder of his king. What are described as commercial relations have been established between Germany, and the new State. German, Croatian, and Italian representatives comprise the permanent frontier commission which has been set up in Vienna.

Under the new administration lockouts and strikes are prohibited* pro-t duction being under. State control. There is no news of legislation to protect the workers or to improve their conditions. Aleanwhilo tho systematic Axis plan to loot Croatia continues. The Berlin radio has announced that tho German language is now compulsory in Greek schools. A message from Jerusalem says it is reliably reported that 50,000 labourers are going to Germany from Croatia in exchange for materials.