Foreign Ministers

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 64, 13 September 1945, Page 7

Foreign Ministers

PEACE TREATY FOR ITALY

LONDON, September 12

The Foreign Ministers of- the Big' Five Powers met again in London today, and began discussions of the problems of a peace treaty for Italy. A diplomatic correspondent says the Foreign Secretaries face two main questions: Which among the claims against Italy are fair; and what should be the treatment of a country which fought for the Axis but which has already gone quite a long way in "working its passage home"?

An obvious point is the future of Italy's former colonies. Italy had four main territories in Africa, all at the moment-under British military Government. In this connection is the system of trusteeship worked out at San Francisco.

One other thing1 to be decided is whether the former Italian territories should be under trusteeship, and if so, who are to be the trustees?

There is also, the Greeks claim, the Dodecanese Islands which have a Greek population. The Yugoslavs have been pressing for alterations in the status of Trieste and its hinterland. The Austrians want the south Tyrol, which was taken by Italy after the last war, reunited with Austria.

Also the French want some changes in the frontier across which they were attacked in IS4O.

The correspondent says it is not likely that any claim for reparations in money will be made. In fact, the economy of Italy is in such bad shape that UNRRA has been called upon to send considerable help there. President Truman said that international control of the Dardanelles will be discussed by the Foreign Ministers. It was debated in general terms at Berlin, though no direct communication has been made to Turkey. The British Government is holding a reception for the delegations at the House of Lords tomorrow. The French Ambassador to Moscow is in Paris on his way to join the French Foreign Minister in London.