JUGOSLAV REPLY TO RUSSIA “Hands Off,” Tito Says To Moscow

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1949, Page 5

JUGOSLAV REPLY TO RUSSIA “Hands Off,” Tito Says To Moscow

BELGRADE, August 23 (Rec 10 a.m.). —Jugoslavia demanded today that Russia maintain a ‘‘hands off” policy in Jugoslavia’s internal affairs. This was laid down in a new Note to the Soviet Union arising out of Russia’s protest against Jugoslavia’s arrest and detention of 31 reputed Russian citizens. Simultaneously, however, Jugoslavia offered to extradite these Russians if that was what Moscow wanted. The. Note said this offer held good for the departure of all other Russian citizens who were anxious to leave Jugoslavia.

The text of the Note was released by the Ministery of Information. It called Russia’s previous charges of imprisoning Soviet citizens “unfounded.” These charges were delivered in an unprecedented diplomatic Note handed to a porter of the Jugoslav Foreign Ministry before dawn five days ago. The new Jugoslav Note emphasised that Jugoslavia was an independent, sovereign State and its people and Government were, under no conditions, willing to allow anyone to interfere in their internal affairs. Then it made its major point in question— Russian domination which has grown in importance since 14 months ago when the Soviet Union, with its Communist-dominated satellites, denounced the Government of Tito. “The Jugoslav Government underlines that no pressure from outside has so far had any effect on its internal policy, nor will it have in the future,” the Note adds. Solution Of Problems The Note continues: “The Jugoslav Government has always declared its preparedness to solve all disputed questions between the two States by agreement. On this occasion Jugoslavia repeats its resolution and declares its readiness to approach a solution of all disputed questions with the Soviet in accordance with and in the spirit of the international obligations undertaken by both Governments.” Jugoslavia accused Russia of ignoring the facts of the arrest of what Jugoslavia characterised as “traitorous White Guardists.” Russia did this, the Note says, to justify its attitude of hostility towards Jugoslavia. These “White Guardists” had seriously violated the laws by their espionage and hostile activity. -j? Not Losing His Nerve Observers in Belgrade regard the Jugoslav Note’s dignified presentation as more evidence that Marshal Tito regards the latest Russian attack as more propaganda and is not losing his nerve, says the United Press correspondent. For the first

time the Press Office summoned foreign correspondents to release today’s Note in advance of the release to the domestic press. No Troop Movements

Allied observers in Vienna said tonight that they have seen no evidence of Russian or other troop movements towards Jugoslavia’s borders. They say there are only 10 divisions of Russian troops in Central and Southeastern Europe and these are on essential garrison duty. There has been no evidence of any. reinforcement movements, such as would be necessary for military action against Jugoslavia, they declare. In Bucharest today, the Rumanian National Defence Minister, General Emil Bodnarash, speaking at the fifth anniversary celebrations of Rumania’s liberation from the Germans, said that Marshal Tito had “withdrawn Jugoslavia from among the popular democracies to make her join the imperialist camp.”