AGREEMENT SIGNED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1945, Page 5

AGREEMENT SIGNED

TRIESTE DISPUTE

ZONES OF CONTROL

!By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

LONDON, June 10,

The Yugoslav news agency reports that the Foreign Minister, Dr. Ivan Subasie, announced that a military agreement on the provisional administration of Trieste was signed at Belgrade by the British, Yugoslav, and American Governments.

Announcing the agreement, Dr. Subasic said it covered the occupation and temporary administration of Istria, Trieste, and the Slovene littoral. "The agreement is the basis on which representatives of the staffs of the Yugoslav and Allied armies will solve the necessary detailed arrangements," he stated. "I hope and believe that military staff talks will be held soon, and that full mutual understandings will be reached which will be of great value, ensuring peace in the Adriatic and Central Europe."

Reuters diplomatic correspondent says it is believed that as a result of the agreement a line of demarcation has been established running from south of Trieste and northward through Gorizia to the Austrian frontier in the region of Villach. FieldMarshal Alexander will control the whole of Venezia-Guilia west of the line, and the Yugoslavs will administer the territory east of the line. The peninsula will be placed under Allied command, though the rest of the peninsula presumably will remain under Yugoslav administration. It is understood that the Yugoslav forces will withdraw eastward from the line, leaving the Allied command in full control of the strategic railways and other lines of communication to the north. A limited detachment of 2000 Yugoslavs is remaining west of the line as part of the joint Allied command, under the direct orders of the supreme commander. Yugoslav observers are also being attached to Allied headquarters.

The demarcation line south of Gorizia branches eastward from ' the mouth of the Isonzo River in such a way that the town of Trieste remains completely in the supreme commander's area. The agreement covers only the period of Allied military administration, and does not prejudice the ultimate disposal of any of the disputed areas. The Yugoslav and Italian claims will be judged on their merits at the peace settlement.

Following the signing, of the agreement, Trieste's first independent newspaper has appeared. It states that its policy is the promotion of peace, freedom, work, and stability. It tends to defend the rights of man and of democratic institutions.