NO INQUIRY INTO RIOT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27193, 10 November 1953, Page 11

NO INQUIRY INTO RIOT

Italian Demand Rejected

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. HAO p.m.) TRIESTE, Nov. 9. Allied authorities today rejected the demand by the Italian Prime Minister IMr Pella) for an official inquiry into the Trieste riots. Six rioters were

An authoritative Allied source said reports received Merom police officers during the street battles of November 5 and 6 made it clear that the police action was completely justified. The British and American authorities were convinced that the police acted in the only way open to them. The source said that it was not deemed necessary to make any further inquiry. An Allied official said the persons who were to blame for the bloodshed belonged neither to the police nor to the Allied Military Government. “They are to be found in a hard core of toughs who inspired and organised the riots.”

The Italian Foreign Office statement that the demonstrations were completely spontaneous was also rejected by the Allies.

Most of the fighing, it was 'Claimed, had been deliberately planned by NeoFascist elements.

Allied officials noted that the Italian Foreign Office statement on the rioting particularly criticised the Allied authorities for repeatedly removing the Italian flag fromthe Town Hall. An official, said: “The' Italian Mayor Mr Gianni Bartoli, was well aware it is illegal for the Italian flag to be shown in any public building since the zone is still under British and American command.”

“The Mayor raised the flag on the Town Hall on October 8 when the Allies first announced the decision to leave Trieste and hand over to the Italians. On that occasion courteous requests to remove the flag took three days to have any effect. Stronger action was therefore necessary last week.

‘‘Mr Bartoli’s action in repeatedly replacing the flag was in itself a provocative gesture.”