CONTROL OF TRIESTE

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 November 1946, Page 7

CONTROL OF TRIESTE

DEMAND FOR WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS

FOREIGN MINISTERS’ TALKS NE WYORK, November 21.

Mr Molotov (Russia) addressing the Foreign Ministers’ Council, withdrew, at least temporarily, his proposal for a customs union between Trieste and Jugoslavia but demanded the withdrawal of British and American troops from Trieste within three months of the enforcement of the Italian Peace Treaty. The Big Four failed to make any progress on the question of the withdrawal of troops, Mr Byrnes (Unted States) and Mr Bevin (Britain) contending that they must make sure the control of Trieste was solidly founded before there was any agreement on withdrawal. They also contended that the United Nations Security Council should have the final say in fixing the date of the withdrawal. The Council likewise failed to agree on Mr Molotov’s demand that Jugoslavia should have a share m the control of the free territory’s railway system and that special port facilities should be provided for Jugoslavia in Trieste. Mr Byrnes said he opposed any proposal which he felt was contrary to the whole idea of a free territory. The Council reached an agreement on the question of citizenship in the free territory by accepting Mr Molotov’s proposal excluding active members of the Fascist regime and former members of the Italian police.