ASSASSINATION AT POLA

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 February 1947, Page 5

ASSASSINATION AT POLA

ITALIAN WOMAN'S “GESTURE OF PROTEST” STATEMENT BY PREMIER [N.Z.P.A. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] LONDON, February 14. It is now learned, says the Trieste correspondent of The Times, that when Maria Pasquinelli, the 34-year-old Italian teacher, who assassinated Brigadier R. W. Mr de Winton, commander of the 13th British Infantry Brigade in Pola, was arrested she was carrying a letter which was alleged to state that for many months she had planned to make a gesture at Pdla and had chosen February 10 as the most suitable day. Her gesture was intended as a protest against the handing over of the city, which she regarded as Italy’s “last outpost.’’ She regarded the " senior military officer, whoever he might be, as the “nearest representative” of the Big Four who had betrayed her country. She showed not the slightest perturbation when arrested and maintained a cynical attitude. The Italian Prime Minister, Signor de Gasperi, told the Constituent Assembly that the Allied authorities were warned that Pasquinelli intended to murder a senior British officer. Therefore, the Italian authorities could not be blamed. Responsibility lay with the Allies in Pola. Signor de Gasperi added that such incidents came from a feeling of exasperation against the peace treaty, but the Italian authorities had done everything possible to calm this agitation. TWO REPORTERS DETAINED BY JUGOSLAVS LONDON, Feb. 13. After being detained by Jugoslav frontier guards for 18 hours, Reuter’s correspondent in Trieste cabled to London an account of an incident which occurred when he and a correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph News Agency were returning to Trieste from Pola last night. The Army driver of their truck did not see the Jugoslav post in time because of pouring rain and the truck hit the frontier barrier. The Jugoslavs placed the driver and correspondent under arrest and forced them to spend the night in the back of the truck. They were released this afternoon as a result of a British colonels representations.