STATUS OF TRIESTE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1946, Page 8

STATUS OF TRIESTE

“MUST NOT BECOME ANOTHER DANZIG" AMERICAN DELEGATE’S VIEWS • ’ PARIS, Sept. 16. The Italian politicaTcdmmittee coh-, tinued to discuss the statute for. Trieste. Senator Tom Connally (America) said that Mr Molotov had expressed the view that, under the American draft, it might be possible for foreign governments, to establish military bases in Trieste. He added: “Our proposal is that the free territory shall be neutral and demilitarised. It is provided in our draft that no military, naval or air installations or equipment shall be maintained, built or manufactured in the free territory. How more thoroughly can this purpose be accomplished, than by such a declaration? Trieste must not become a centre o£ irritation which may disturb the peace of the world. 1 ' ■ “We are not here to serve the interests of Jugoslavia or Italy. They are both subordinate to the peace of the world. Jugoslavia and Italy must accept the settlement that may be. reached in good faith, with a genuine desire that the system may be a success. There must be no men-? tai reservations. If they fail, they fail in their duty to the world. “The free teritory of Trieste must not be a paper state. It must be a real state, with its own independence and dignity. The challenge to peace is right here at this table. We must not agree to another Danzig. “The free territory of Trieste must be free from Jugoslavia, from Italy, from intrigue, and from conspiracy. Its title to existence musjb be its own. Let us make Trieste a symbol of peace and security in the world.” The committee concluded its general discussion of the statute of Trieste and adjourned. Jugoslav Claims.

Mr. Kardelj (Jugoslavia) said that the attitude shown by some of the great Powers was not the result of their concern for the people of Trieste, its hinterland, or the interests of Italy. The Soviet Union had supported Jugoslavia’s claims to Trieste without asking anything in return or laying down conditions. Those who were accustomed to the old style international relations would obviously suspect the sincere, unselfish help given by the Soviet to the small nations. Jugoslavia was not demanding Trieste in order to hand it over to the Soviet or because the Soviet wished Io menace the supremacy of any Power in the Mediterranean. Its demand was an old, historic aspiration of the people of Jugoslavia. The commission concluded the general discussion.of the Statute for Trieste and adjourned. The Bulgarian political and territorial commission, which ended its last meeting on September 1.3 in confusion with the chairman walking out, resumed to-day. It spent three and a half hours in discussion and decided to refer the Greek request for revision of the Greek-Bulgarian boundary to the military commission for consideration of the strategic implications.

M'r. Jordan’s Protest. The decision was reached after a clash between the chairman, Mr. Kisselev (White Russia), and Mr. W. J. Jordan (New Zealand). The commission overcame the seeming impasse created by Friday’s incident by ignoring ii. Mr. Novikov (Russia) asked for rejection of the Greek request and the adoption of the Big Four's proposal that Bulgaria’s frontiers should remain as at January 1, 1941. Mr. Jordan, who is vice-chairman, protested that after three hours Mr. Kisselev did not know where he was. The meeting had to consider 36 amendments and was still on the first. “People think we are a party of squatters here because there is nowhere else to go,” said Mr. Jordan. “You have to deal with the Greek proposal. Go ahead. I have never seen anything like this.” Mr. Kisselev, after claiming that in his Parliament it was regarded as proper to hear everyone who wanted to speak, went on to take the vote, after which Mr. Novikov suggested that the chairman and vice-chairman in future should discuss procedure privately. Mr. Kisselev and Mr. Jordan shook hands after the meeting.

At a meeting of the Balkans economic commission, Mr. Hadju (Czechoslovakia) protested against America holding up in the Danube 48 ships belonging to Czechoslovakia, and appealed for their release. The Jugoslav delegate associated himself with the protest, adding that 168 vessels had not been returned to Jugoslavia. “Justice and Peace.” Mr. J. Thorp (America) said that it was deplorable that time should be taken up in discussing a matter so irrelevant. There was no suggestion that it had anything to do with the Rumanian treaty. The matter had been placed on the United Nations agenda with the consent of the United States Government. The incident ended after Mr. Hadju* had commented: “Justice, like peace, is indivisible.” Mr. Korbel (Czechoslovakia) suggested that an informal sub-commit-tee of six should discuss controversial clauses in the draft treaties. Britain and America supported this, but the Russian delegate opposed it, orguing that a new sub-committee would merely increase the main committee s already complicated task. The commission on Russia s motion then appointed a sub-committee to find an agreed text defining the United Nations shipping to be restored bj Rumania. The commission adjourned. Czechoslovakia and H Ui lo ar X‘. At the Hungarian political and territorial commission’s meeting, Mi. Masaryk (Czechoslovakia)- attacked the American proposals that the Hungarians and Czechs should meet to determine the details of the proposed transfer of 200,000 Magyars, from Czechoslovakia. “It puts Hungary, a vanquished nation, on the same footing as Czechoslovakia, a member of the United Nations,” he said. Czechoslovakia did not oppose bilateral negotiations, but the Hungarians previously had declined cne Czechoslovakian suggestion for sucn negotiations. , . , . s •' Mr. Clementis (Czechoslovakia) said the transfer of the Magyars woum finally solve the minority problem. Czechoslovakia irrevocably had decided not to retain minority populations. He denied that the transfers were inhuman, and rejected the Hungarian argument that, there was no room for more Magyars, pointing our that Hungary was transferring more than 400,000 Germans to Germany. The White Russian, Ukrainian and

Jugoslav delegates supported the Czechoslovakia amendment seeking a tightening up of the Hungarian draft treaty clause dealing with the dissolution of Fascist organisations . “Plenary sessions of the Paris Conference will begin on October 6 to consider the reports of the commissions on the five draft treaties,” said Sir Joseph Bhore (India), chairman of the Italian economic commission, after submitting a time-table he had worked out to cover all outstanding items for discussion.