“STRAINING PATIENCE”

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24869, 8 May 1946, Page 7

“STRAINING PATIENCE”

The Glasgow “Herald” states that although Mr Molotov is likely to continue to oppose the British and American proposals, he cannot continue to strain the patience of the Jugoslavs as well as the British and Americans beyond a certain limit. It is possible, states the “Herald,” that in certain circumstances even Marshal Tito himself could not restrain his own troops. They are in a triumphant, bellicose mooa. end it should not be forgotten that they are not in the main Marxist, but aggressively patriotic. Of all peoples, the Roman Catholic peasantry of Slovenia are the least amenable to Marxist teaching, and Mr Molotov runs the danger, not only of under-estimating British and American tenacity, but of incorrectly assessing the mood of an section of the Jugoslavs. There are no indications that the Russians have in any way essentially modified their claims to Tripoli, All that Mr Molotov has done is to suggest that the Italians should have a secondary voice in the trusteeship. British commentators consider that this i» lk er r! y ,. an eff °rt to enlist support for the Italian Communists.

Similarly, the Russians have not revised their demands for a share of the Italian fleet or for Italian reparations to Russia. In respect to these claims it is reported that the Italians are extremely sensitive to the fate of their fleet and that there might well be a repetition of the German attempt to sacrifice their ships at Scapa Flow rather than hand them over. In respect to reparations by Italy to Russia, it is obvious that any payments made must come out of the pockets of the British and Americans. The position appears to be that after 10 days’ discussion the conference has settled the fate of the Southern Tyrol, which it has allocated to Italy and of two small islands in the Adriatic which are of interest Ohly to fishermen. On all other subjects there is a deadlock or a near-deadlock. The Russians oppose the British and American proposals for the administration of Julian March, the control of Trieste, the Payment of Itaiic.li reparations, the sharing of the Italian fleet, and the conclusion of a treaty with Austria. This last, it is suggested, is so remote that it is unlikely to be seriously discussed at the present conference.