Trieste

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25450, 23 March 1948, Page 4

Trieste

The Free Territory of Trieste, as defined in the Italian peace treaty, has proved an unworkable arrangement. The Security Council and the Italian and Jugoslav Governments jointly have been unable to agree upon a governor; consequently it has not been possible to summon the constituent assembly which was intended to replace as soon as possible the military governments of the two zones, one administered by Jugoslavia, the other by Britain and the United States jointly. As the declaration by Britain, France, and the United States claims, the Jugoslav zone has virtually been incorporated in Jugoslavia. It is anything but a “free” territory. Only one party, the Communist, is permitted; newspapers opposed to the Communist regime have been suppressed; Italians have been expelled from the zone and their property confiscated; and a new currency has been introduced. Proposals for change were bound to be made soon.

Clearly the western Powers take the view that they might as well be made by them, and made now, when they will help the anti-Com-munists in the Italian elections, as later. They might, in any ease, have been forestalled by the Communists. Fortified by seemingly unlimited funds and aided by a pro;Communist press which does not seem to suffer, as most Italian newspapers do, from shortage of paper, the Italian Communists are making a big bld for power. They are, especially, making the propaganda use of their minor triumphs of diplomacy, such as the release, on Communist intervention, of members of an Italian mission imprisoned in Albania; the release, on Communist trade union intervention, of some 70 Italian fishing vessels illegally" seized by Jugoslavia; and the change in the Soviet attitude to the restoration of Italy’s African colonies and to the participation of Italy in the international control of Tangier. Correspondents in Italy have reported recently the dropping of broad hints that Cdmmunist success in the elections will ensure the return of the city of Trieste to Italy. As this would depend on a complete change In the attitude of Jugoslavia, which has fought bitterly by every means to secure full control of the whole city and the Free Territory, it might seem an unlikely development. The Improbability may be more apparent than real. Russia, which since the end of the war has taken the hard line with Italy—seeking heavy reparations, demanding part of the Italian fleet, and attempting to gain Libya for herself and Trieste for Jugoslavia—has lately wooed the Italian voter assiduously. The stakes are high, and it would certainly be within Russia’s power, if she feit so disposed, to persuade Jugoslavia, a member of the well-disciplined Communist block, to forgo her claims to Trieste.

Such a move might turn the scale in the Italian elections on April 18. The latest estimates from foreign observers in Italy are that the Communists, with Mr Nenni’s nro-Com-munist Socialists, may poll 40 per cent, or more of the total vote. In that case Mr de Gasperi might be unable to form a Government without Communist help. As the New York “ Herald-Tribune ” put it, “ To “ seize power Communism only has “ to fool some of the people some of “the time—just enough people just “ long enough to take over the gov- “ ernment. From then on, disillusionment must fight all the reSources of the police state. Com- “ munist propaganda at the present “.stage fights for short-term goals, “to attract a fighting minority and “ to confuse and distract the major“ity”. Mr de Gasperi spoke truly when he said that the democratic parties in Italy “ must win this time “or we will never vote in Italy “ again ”, Communist success in the Italian elections would upset the balance of power between the Russian bloc and the western world, and it.would threaten the position of Britain and the United States in the- Near and Middle East. The idea of bidding for the votes of Italian nationalists, Which is what the Trieste proposal amounts to, will no doubt be repugnant to many; but the western countries cannot afford not to use the weapons they have at band nor to deny them, if possible, to the opposition.