FORCING “CONFESSIONS” FROM PRISONERSTITO ACCUSES RUSSIANS OF USING “MONSTROUS METHODS”

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 October 1949, Page 5

FORCING “CONFESSIONS” FROM PRISONERS—TITO ACCUSES RUSSIANS OF USING “MONSTROUS METHODS”

BELGRADE, October 3 (Reo. 11 a.m.). —Marshal Tito personally and directly accused Russia tonight of using "mysterious and monstrous methods” to force confessions from political prisoners. Tito spoke before a group of 600 army officers and guests at the conclusion of Jugoslavia’s biggest troop manoeuvres of the year, held south of Belgrade in the Republic of Serbia.

He told his soldiers: “We are prepared to defend this country until the last breath, regardless of whence an attack, comes.” His reference to the Russian prosecution' methods came in connection with the trial and death sentence of the former Hungarian Foreign Minister, Laszlo Rajk, who was accused of plotting with Jugoslavia for the overthrow of ’ his country’s Gvernment, . , Tito said: “You saw that everything went as it should at, the trial. I do not know how one gets people to accuse.themselves as much as possible, but it is certain that there is some moristrbusi method:” ... With scornful sarcasm, Tito gibed at Russia’s political tactics and her accusations at those who did not profess unswerving obedience to the Kremlin.' ' ■ ; ’ / Frontier Convention Denounced Bulgaria denounced the frontier conyeption of 1947 with Jugoslavia. Informing the Jugoslav Ambassador in Sofia‘of this decision, the Bulgarian foreign Minister, Mr V. Pop-

tomov, said the Jugoslav authorities had obstructed the objects of the convention, which was designed to encourage friendly relations by facilitating passage across the frontier between the two countries. Jugoslavia, he added, had used the convention as a cover for hostile agents and had sent the holder of Bulgarian official papers to concentration camps.

Jugoslavia also received a Note from Hungary, the theme of which was: “We don’t want your medals.” The Note and a pile of medals which Tito had given Hungarian officials were handed to the Jugoslav Minister in Budapest. Hungary’s Vice-Premier. Mr Rakosi, headed the lisft of officials who returned their medals. The Note said the trial of Laszlo Rajk proved that the medals were presented by “hirelings of imperialist Powers.” Russian Bombers The Vienna correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that Russian four-engined bombers are reported to have made their first appearance in Hungary. They have been seen on training flights, escorted by fighters, along the Jugoslav border. The bombers, are the Russian version of the Superfortress, and the accounts of their appearance give new point to recent reports of high pressure development of runways a mile long in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The correspondent adds that unusual military activity in Jugoslavia and Hungary is reported.