Suggestion By Molotov Not Well Received

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24867, 6 May 1946, Page 5

Suggestion By Molotov Not Well Received

BYRNES PROPOSES PLEBISCITE IN BORDER ZONE

(N.Z. Press Association— Coayrighf) (Rec. 11 P-m.) * Paris, May 5. The first sign of a possible Russian compromise came on the evening of the tenth day of the Big Four Foreign Ministers’ conference in Pans, when Mr Molotov suggested that if Jugoslavia’s claims could be met on the Trieste question, perhaps Italy’s claims could be met on reparations and colonies. The suggestion met a cold reception, Mr Bevin remarking: “I don’t see how you can bargain peoples against something else.”

Thereafter Mr James Byrnes (United States) made efforts to break the continuing deadlock by proposing a plebiscite under Allied control in the area between the frontier lines proposed by Russia and America, to let the people decide whether thev wished to be under Italian or Jugoslav role.

Mr Bevin and M. Bidault, however, indicated that they felt that a plebiscite would be getting away from the principle laid down in London last year that the frontier line should be determined after an investigation based on ethnical grounds. Mr Molotov said that if a plebiscite were held, it should cover all Istria, as well as Venezia Giulia. No decision was reached on Mr Byrnes’s proposal. »»■»_> m ■im » ■ im. «i ni—

Open alignment of the Jugoslav delegation behind Russia’s attitude was revealed when the Jugoslav Deputy-Premier (Mr E. Kardelj) at a press conference said that Jugoslavia could never accept the frontier lines proposed by the British, American, and French experts. He added that he could not at the moment declare that the Jugoslav Government would bind itself in advance to accept the conference’s decision If ft went against Jugoslavia’s claim.