SOVIET HOLDS OUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22011, 3 May 1946, Page 3

SOVIET HOLDS OUT

RETAINING FORCES AUSTRIA’S OCCUPATION U.S. PLEADS FOR CUT GO a.m.) LONDON, May 2. The correspondent in Paris reports that Mr, James Byrnes, at the Foreign Ministers’ conference yesterday, asked M. Molotov to agree there and then to a proposal .that none of the four Powers should keep more than 15,000 troops in Austria from now until the final withdrawal. M. Molotov replied by saying that the proposal might be taken up when Austria was discussed, but he gave no sign of changing his previous unwillingness to have Austria discussed during this session of the conference. Tlie correspondent adds that at present Russia has 140,000 of the 200.000 Allied troops in Austria.” Russia’s attitude, which was noticeably conciliatory at the opening sessions of the Foreign Ministers’ meeting, appears to have stiffened, says Reuter's correspondent in Paris. The discussions on Italy are slowing down. Agreement Remote Observers believe that M. Molotov’s refusal to allow the formation of an Allied inspectorate in Italy is a forerunner of a stiffer attitude in future. An agreement on all major questions appears to be as remote as ever. The Times correspondent in Paris describes to-day’s discussions as straggling and inconclusive. M. Molotov surprised the others by coming out against the agreement last September for the establishment of an inspectorate. He said that Russia, in recent months, had come to doubt the desrability of such machinerv which seemed illogical and retrograde. He asked Mr. Ernest Bevin whether the proposal involved the maintenance of Allied troops on Italian soil. Mr. Bevin replied that there was no need for troops. The proposal merely envisaged a skilled staff of inspectors to ensure Italian disarmament during the decisive months. U.S. Wants Troops Withdrawn Mr. James Byrnes declared that the United States wanted the withdrawal of troops from all countries except Germany as soon as possible. Correspondents says that Mr. Byrnes, at this stage, advocated the simultaneous evacuation of Italy and Austria but M. Molotov replied briefly that Austria could be discussed only if and when the Ministers considered a general Austrian settlement which he thus far has opposed placing on the agenda. He then reverted to the question of an Italian inspectorate which, he maintained, would offer an excuse for prolonging the stay of Allied troops. The discussion lapsed without an agreement. The Times correspondent in Paris says that Mr. Byrnes is clearly puzzled by M. Molotov's continued reluctance to discuss Austria and equally disappointed at his failure to take up for immediate discussion the United States proposal for a 25-year treaty. M. Bidault called on Mr. Byrnes this afternoon for a long private talk. Signor de Gasperi. Prime Minister of Italy, is flying to Paris to-morrow to plead Italy's case before the Foreign Ministers." He is preparing a speech dealing with Trieste, colonies, reparation? and the navy. The Christian Democrat newspaper II Popolo says: “It is an under-state-ment to say that the Paris conference is preparing a hard peace. It is an absurd peace. 1 '

The Monarchist paper, Italia Nuova. suggests that Italian sailors might scuttle the fleet to prevent its distribution among the Allies. “Italians will never pull down the flag,” it adds.