VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 267, 23 August 1946, Page 3

VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

AMERICA ACCUSES YUGOSLAVIA { “Diplomatic Showdown With Russia” a (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) NEW YORK, August 21. A new United States Note to Yugoslavia demands that American airmen imprisoned in Yugoslavia be released within 48 hours, also permission for American diplomatic representatives to investigate the disappearance of a United States Army plane. The Note accuses Yugoslavia of plain violation of international law, and says Yugoslavia’s explanation of recent incidents was wholly inadequate and shocking to the people of the United States. It adds that if the demands are not conceded the United States will ask the Security Council to take appropriate action.

The Note is described by the Associated Press as the latest in a series of strong actions by the United States against Russia and countries in the Russian bloc amounting to a diplomatic counter-offensive aimed at halting the expansion of Russian power over other nations, and as a showdown between Russia and the United States.

The Note apparently lays the basis of an unprecedented appeal to the Security Council by the United States.

The Note states: “Your Government expresses regret because of what you call an unhappy accident. Your Government is aware that this was no accident. A Yugoslav fighter deliberately fired on a United States passenger plane. The attack on August 19 was not the first. A United States passenger plane on August 9, while in tlie vicinity of Klagenfurt, was fired on by a Yugoslav fighter and crashlanded, her crew and passengers being taken into custody by the Yugoslav authorities.

“These outrageous acts were perpetrated by a Government that professes to be a friendly nation. The use of force by Yugoslavia under the United' Nations Charter in the circumstances was without the slightest justification, in international law was clearly inconsistent with relations between friendly States and was a plain violation of Yugoslavia’s obligations under the United Nations Charter not to use force except in self-defence. “The United States Government demands that you immediately release the occupants of these planes in custodv, also ensure their safe passage beyond the Yugoslavian borders,” the Note adds. “The United States Gov ? ernment also demands that its representatives be permitted to communicate with any .of the occupants of the two planes still alive.

“If within 48 hours of the receipt of this Note these demands have not been complied with the. United States Government will determine its course in the light of the evidence then and the . Yugoslav Government’s effort to right the wrong done,” the Note concludes, “if within that time these demands have not been complied with the United States Gov- . ernment will call on the Security Council to meet promptly and take appropriate action.” The Note was handed to the Yugo Slav Charge d’Affaires, Mr Serge Mik iedo, by Mr Dean Acheson (Acting

Secretary of State) a few hours aftex a trans-Atlantic telephone copversa tion with Mr James F. Byrnes (secretary of State). The Belgrade correspondent of the Associated Press says it is learned that the wreckage of the second American plane shot down on August 19 lies only two miles from the Austrian border.

Mr Byrnes at present is more concerned with Yugoslavia’s audacity than the peace conference, says the Paris correspondent of the Associated Press. He has devoted the last two days to investigating the ’shooting down of two American planes, why seven American citizens have been made prisoners, and whether three airmen lost their lives.

Diplomats believe that Mr Byrnes dictated the Note to Yugoslavia. Broz-Tito has summoned foreign re lations experts to join him at Lbed, where to-day he is meeting the United States Ambassadoi’, Mr Richard Patterson, in connection with the shooting down of American planes over Yugoslavia. It was stated in Paris to-day that Mi Bevin would see Mr Kardelj and warn him that if Broz-Tito continues to provoke trouble, British and Yugoslav lations will be gravely impaired. A spokesman for the British tion to the peace conference later de nied this report. He stated that Britain was not joining in American action, although British and Yugoslav relations' were not good. The Washington correspondent ot the Associated Press of America quotes high diplomatic authorities as saying that the United States is considering fighter plane protection foi American transport planes flying near the Yugoslav border. He added that any such plan would retain the present ban against American flights over Yugoslav territory. Diplomats point w out that the whole consideration is based on the point that the United States planes attacked might not have been over Yugoslavia at all.