JUGOSLAV DEMANDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1946, Page 8

JUGOSLAV DEMANDS

CUTTING OFF TRIESTE PORT FROM ITALY DELEGATE’S ACCUSATIONS PARIS, September 17. The boundaries of the proposed free territory of Trieste were discussed when the Italian political and territorial commission met to-day. Reuter says that Jugoslavia’s amendment to the Big Four draft asks that the frontiers should be reduced to the immediate precincts of Trieste, thus cutting off the port from Italian territory. The Australian and South African amendments seek to extend the territory to include part of the Istrian Peninsula down to Pola. Mr. Bebler (Jugoslavia) said that they could not play statistics when deciding the fate of the Slovene people. Asserting that 47 miles of Jugoslav coast, were cut off from Jugoslavia under the draft treaty, Mr. Bebler said that the clue to the trouble was in the British draff statute, in which the Goverrior was endowed with extensive and .almost ridiculous powers. He could call on armed forces to come to his rescue in the free territory. Western Powers Accused. Mr. Bebler accused the Western Powers of seeking to establish a bridgehead in the free state of Trieste for future military action against Jugoslavia. He declared that the only reason the proposed boundaries of the free territory were to be expanded beyond the Trieste city limits was “to allow space for the deployment of armed forces.” The governor was given power to call in foreign troops, but against whom? “The object of their action was never named, but it was always implied—Jugoslavia,” he declared. “We see everywhere along the French line that strategic advantages are given to the enemy of yesterday to the detriment of the Allies of yesterday. We see the Kanal valley and Venetian Slovenia given to Italy also Gorizia and Monfalcone. They were given to provide space for armed forces and give strategic advantages to Italy.” “Will Not Sign Treaty.” Mr. Bebler declared that Jugoslavia was being treated like a defeated country. “We have stated that if the French line is adopted we won’t sign the treaty,” he said. “No Jugoslav Government could approve such an injustice.” He urged the adoption of the Jugoslav amendment. Mr. Jordaan (South Africa), moving an amendment that western Istna should be internationalised as well as Trieste, said the proposal was conceived when Italy was known to have resisted the idea of giving up the whole of Venezia Giulia. The populations of the Istrian cities and towns along or near the coast were entirely Italian or had Italian majorities. The inland towns of western and southern Istria had important Italian minorities. The Croats and Slovenes in the sparsely populated rural areas had thrust towards the sea in such a way ( as to make an ethnical line impossible. “How can we be accused of giving Italy what she wants when what she wants is to retain territory which belonged to her?” asked Mr. Jordaan. “How can we be said to withhold from Jugoslavia what belongs to her when the legal title belongs to Italy?” Sub-Committee’s Views. The Italian political and territorial sub-committee, which was established to reconcile the five draft statutes, 1 agreed (1) that voting in the free 1 territory should be by direct, equal, and universal male and female suffrage; (2) that there should be a onechamber Parliament for the free terriI lory. The sub-committee’s decisions are subject to confirmation by the main committee and later by a plenary session of the conference. The sub-committee’s report shows that reparations demands against Italy which have been actually formulated in Paris total £862,000,000, but other claims for which final figures are not available may be more than double that figure. Military Clauses. At a meeting of the Military Committee of the Paris Conference, South Africa’s amendment Io the Italian draft treaty, aimed at ensuring that the military clauses are revised within five years of the treaty coming into effect, was defeated by 16 votes to 4. Only Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands voted with South Africa I’pr the amendment. The committee then adopted the' article of the treaty ns drafted, providing for revision when circumstances make it advisable. Mr. A. V. Alexander (Britain), opposing the amendment, said that circumstances might make revision advisable before five years or later. A second South African amendment' to the Italian treaty, proposing the destruction of all permanent fortifications along the French-Italian frontier, was defeated by 19 votes to cue. South Africa was the sole supporter. The committee adopted Article 41 of the Italian draft treaty, dealing with the destruction , of permanent fortifications on the Italian-Jugoslav irontier, and also Article 42, requiring the complete demilitarisation of Pantelleria and other small islands in the Mediterranean, and Pianosa in the -Adriatic. Further Amendment. A further South African amendment. suggested that the Italians should be allowed to strip submarines for industrial purposes before their destruction. The American delegate argued that the submarines should be entirely destroyed. Mr. A. V. Alexander (Britain), also opposing the amendment, said that under the draft treaty Italy was obliged to apply to the Big Four for permission to take anything from her submarines before sinking them. The amendment was defeated by 17 votes to one. The committee adopted a United States amendment extending by three months the period in which Italian naval vessels must be destroyed. Britain’s request at a meeting of the Balkans Economic Committee for special provision covering compensation for shipping losses by Rumania ' was defeated by 9 votes to 4, with one abstention, Jugoslavia.

DISCUSSIONS ON BULGARIAN .TREATY ' ~PARIS, Sept. 17.. The Bulgarian political and territorial commission, which is so far the slowest of all the Paris . Conference commissions, adopted during a threehour session nine articles of the Bulgarian treaty, including a clause providing for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Bulgaria within 90 days of the enforcement of the treaty. Colonel Hodgson (Australia) with-

drew an amendment making it obligatory for a former enemy country to write into its laws a provision guaranteeing human rights. , He also withdrew amendments providing: (1) That Bulgaria and other former enemy countries should join the Food and Agricultural Organisation, the international Wheat Council, and the International Health Council, and (2) for the appointment of a treaty executive council to deal with all questions arising from the and other treaties.