“BROZ ORDERED TO WITHDRAW”

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24567, 16 May 1945, Page 7

“BROZ ORDERED TO WITHDRAW”

British-U.S, Action In Trieste Dispute LONDON. May 14, “The British and United States Governments, acting together. have peremptorily ordered Marshal Broz to withdraw his troops from the British-American military zone, which includes Trieste,” says the political correspondent of the “Daily Express.” “The Soviet Government (has been informed, “The Note sent to Marshal Broz is not in the <form of an ultimatum, but it is made clear that the withdrawal must be carried out immediately.

“The two Governments take a most serious view of Marshal Broz’s action in seizing the Italian area and of his declaration that he proposes to hold it. They contend that there should not be local frontier settlements pending a general peace settlement, and that there should certainly be no redraw* ing of frontiers by .force, "A meeting between Mr Churchill, President Truman, and Mariihal Stalin Will, it is hoped, be possible within the next few . weeks. The Trieste “Tfee British cruiser Orion and the destroyers Cleveland a °d Lauderdale have arrived at Trieste," says the correspondent of the “Daily Herald” at Ailing- Naval Headquarters in Italy. “ijjssloni inThe Jugoslav newspaper "Borba” to-day'described Italy's claim to Trieste as “imperialistic’’ as against the geographical, economic, and political reasons- on which Jugoslavia Ms based her claim to Trieste. - The Jugoslav Vice-Premier (M. Edvard Kerdelj) denied that Jugoslavia was trying to present the world with a fait accompli by occupying Trieste. He said: “Jugoslavia has never denied her readiness to discuss and put forward demands on the final drawing of frontiers with her neighbours at the Peace ‘ Conference. Therefore Jugoslavia’s attitude to the present status of this territory does not differ from the attitude of the rest of the Allies in relation to the territories they occupy/ 1 A message from Rome reports that the Italian Foreign Minister (Signor Alclde de Gasped) has offered to make territorial concessions to Jugoslavia. He has simultaneously issued a warning that the continued occupation of Trieste by force would breed a strong nationalistic reactionary government in Italy and provide Italy in coming years with a reason for going to war with her neighbour. The Allied Government, he Said, should move in and take the place in Trieste formerly held by the Italian Government. Italy was quite willing to have Slovenes in local offices where there was a majority of Slovenes, but the over-all administration must be neutral to protect the citizens of all races. "The dispute over the administration of Trieste and the surrounding areas has led to a delicate and critical position which is causing considerable anxiety in London." said the diplomatic correspondent of the Press Association. "As matters stand at present Marshal Broz has announced ms Intention of setting ufi a Jugoslav administration to control not only Trieste but a wide surrounding area of the province of Venezia Giulia, including a strip of southern Austria. Britain and the United States believe that for the completion of Allied military operations the area should be controlled by Field-Marshal Alexander. They deprecate any attempt by Jugoslavia to occupy the territory before she is authorised to do so by the peace conference. * ~ A . . “If Jugoslavia carries out a grab and control’ policy,’’ adds the correspondent, “she may tempt other countries to follow suit and possibly end all hopes of an orderly settlement.” BRITISH OCCUPY HELIGOLAND . RUGBY, May 14. British forces have occupied Heligoland, where the White/Ensign of the Royal Navy now flies, according to an agency report. Heligoland, a tiny island in the North Sea 30 miles from the German coast, became an important German fortress and naval base until it was temporarily demilitarised by the Treaty of Versailles. It was a British base curing the Napoleonic Wars, BLUM RETURNS FROM CAPTIVITY LONDON, May 15. M. Leon Blum, the 74-year-old former Prime Minister of France,, with Mine. Blum, returned to Paris from captivity yesterday afternoon. He was welcomed by a large number of friends and 'members of his family at the Orly aerodrome, near Paris. M. Blum, who was. by Marshal Petain in Seotember, 18ft. has passed through eight concentration camps, including- Dachau. New Rhine Bridge.—"The third railway bridge across the Rhine built by American engineers was opened for traffic near Duisburg 6n Sunday,” says Reuter’s correspondent at Supreme Allied Headquarters. “The bridge, which was built in less than seven days, is j 2815 feet long, with 38 piers. The commander of the 15th Army (LieutenantGeneral Gerow) dedicated the bridge 'to all who fell fighting against Naz-ism’.’’—-London, May 14.