FOREIGN MINISTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1945, Page 5

FOREIGN MINISTERS

TRIESTE OWNERSHIP CLAIMS RUSSIA SUPPORTS JUGOSLAVIA (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) (Rec. 9 a.m.) LONDON, September 17. The' broad shape to a peace treaty with Italy is expected to be sketched at to-day’s meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers. A large portion of the deliberations are being devoted to the opinions of the Dominion, Italian and Jugoslav representatives as to where the Italian-Jugoslav frontier shall be fixed. The Jugoslav Government has not withdrawn claims that it sought to enforce yesterday, when Tito’s forces occupied Trieste, while in the recent declarations Jugoslav Ministers demanded the whole of Venezi Aguilia, including Trieste, Pola, Fiume and Zara. It is the opinion that while certain of the Jugoslav demands are likely to receive on all sides the most sympathetic consideration, the claim on Trieste is known to find little support among the British, American and French delegations. Only Russia supported it and it remains to be seen whether Mr. Molotov will consider it a claim to be stressed to the end.

“The Times’s” diplomatic correspondent recalls that for nearly two centuries before 1891, prior to the development of railways, Trieste was a free port. He adds: “There seems all the more reason now for it to become a free port again. It would be odd if the statemen who are striving to open Europe’s waterways in the endeavour to free cmmunications and trade, should neglect to ensure the opening under international guarantees of the gateway into Central Europe, “The proposal will almost certainly be strongly advocated in tiV Council,” he continues. “Nominal sovereignty over the port, once the proposal is carried, would become a minor matter. International guarantees and requirements would be decisive. But it is widely thought, certainly in the west, that as the port is largely Italian, sovereignty should remain Italian. Such a solution would seem to offer the best chances of fair ahd lasting settlement. Jugoslavia would get the areas which are indisputably Jugoslav, and would enjoy the fullest use of the port without absorbing the large Italian community. A settlement will probably not be reached without much argument.” It is thought likely that two or three meetings will be required to hear the discussions on this frontier problem, whereafter the Foreign Ministers will probably refer it to a committee of deputies to prepare detailed recommendations, as they have already done with the question of the disposition of the former Italian colonies. The deputies will submit recommendations on these colonies two weeks before the date to be agreed later of the second session of the Council. It is stated the Council hopes to do most of its work this week. After discussion of the Italian treatv, it is expected that other subjects’ will be: The regimes of exenemy Balkan countries, the proposal for opening the main European waterways for international use, and if the strong French desire prevails, the Potsdam scheme for reparations from Germany.' Commentators indicate that, thus far, the work of the Council has progressed. if not altogether smoothly, at least with enough absence of friction so as not seriously to overheat the machinery. The beginnings of the discussions wore delayed owing to

FAULTY PREPARATIONS.

it is reported. When the Foreign Ministers assembled it was discovered a mass of documents and memoranda remained to be translated and studied by the delegates, who were seeing them for the first time. In view of the fact that the Potsdam Conference had indicated the general lines to be followed at the London meeting, there has been considerable surprise and even annoyance that the first days of the meetings should thus have been needlessly wasted. More time, however, was given to the establishment of the secretariat which will have its headbuarters in London and give continuity to the Foreign Ministers Council. This secretariat will be responsible in future not only lor preparing the ground work, but ensuring the right approach to the agenda. , . , , Recent incidents which have given added interest to the Council’s deliberations are the Russian demand for 50 per cent, of Austria oil, which was made to the Renner Government without any prior notice or consultation with the other Powers concerned. „ . „ There were also Russian Press attacks against Britain and America, on the eve of the London meeting, for their alleged interference in Bulgaria and Rumania: and the charges in “Red Star” that General cic Gaulle’s recent remarks in an interview with “The Times” were toe result of British machinations designed to resurrect the idea of an anti-Soviet bloc in Western Europe. The fact that London is the meeting place of statesmen of the Big Powers is being accepted in a matter-of-fact manner by the public, who thus far have been equally curious about the Russians’ reasons for an abnormal bodyguard provided for M. Molotov, who seems to be regarded as something in the nature of a queen bee. as they have about the outcome of deliberations. All the visiting Ministers have been entertained separately by Mr Attlee at Chequers, including a recent arrival, Dr. T .V. Soong.. Mr Bevin was present on all occasions. He is reported to have impressed all the delegates to the conference, in which he is considered as a hard and bold bargainer, who knows how to drive home his arguments. Simultaneously with the Foreign Ministers’ conference, Mr Bevin and Mr Bidault started exploratory negotiations for a British and French alliance. They began conversations which are being carried on by 4he Ambassadors, Mr Duff Cooper and M. Massigli.

JUGOSLAVIAN CLAIMS. (Rec. noon). LONDON. September 17. The Council of Foreign Ministers, over which Mr. Bevin, presided, heard the Vice-Premier of Jugoslavia, M. Kardelj, express the views of his Government on the question of Julianmarch and other Jugoslav territories occupied by Italy. The Jugoslav Government, in a memorandum, declared that Julianmarch was geographically and ethnographically a constituent ' part of Jugoslavia. It was mainly occupied by Slovenes and Croats for 13 centuries. The Italian minority lived exclusively in a number of towns where they represented “isolated islands” on basic Jugoslav national soil. The memorandum argued that Trieste, Julianmarch and the rest of Jugoslavia were indissolubly linked. Trieste for Jugoslavia represented the most important port, for its trade held no such importance for Italy. The only rational and just solution was that Julianmarch in its entirety should be united with Jugoslavia. “The Times’s” diplomatic correspondent commenting on the Jugoslav Government’s memorandum says: The -Jugoslav ethnic claims will be almost certainly accepted. Allied Governments may be expected to draw the new frontier well to the west of the old Wilson Line, that is they will give Jugoslavia more of Julianmarch than the Wilson Line proposed to give. But

there remains Trieste, doubly difficult because its population is largely Italian, and because it is a port of wide international concern, serving a large, part of Central Europe. ; . ’ ASSEMBLY MEETING. (Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept/17. The executive committee of the preparatory commission of the United Nations decided that the General Assembly of United Nations organisation would be convoked in London, if possible not later than December 4.