TRIESTE DISPUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 25 May 1945, Page 5

TRIESTE DISPUTE

POSSIBILITY OF AGREEMENT OPTIMISM IN ALLIED CIRCLES NEGOTIATIONS SAID TO BE RUNNING SMOOTHLY London, May 23 Official circles in London state that exchanges on a diplomatic level on the Trieste situation are still proceeding. say.-, the Press Association’s diplomatic correspondent. Progress is being made and a second comm r.v.ca.ion received from Field Marshal Alexander represents a constructive approach to the solution. The correspondent understands that Yugoslavs have agreed on the establishment of a military government under Field Marshal Alexander with Yugoslav participation and operation through civilian authorities already established in the disputed Optimism in Allied circles in Trieste about the possibility of reaching an agreement with Yugoslavia is higher than at any time since the city was entered. It is reported that negotiations now proceeding on "higher levels" are running smoothly and an agreement within a matte i of days would cause no surprise. Despite the better atmosphere however, neither side has relaxed vigilance. Marshal Tito's forces have been strengthened by the arrival of 20 medium tanks of Russian manufacture British and American troops yesterday peacefully penetrated into the hills north-east, of Trieste and east from Gorizia. From their new positions General McCreary’s men now overlook the strategically-important railway between Trieste and Gorizia. over which the bulk of Allied supplies for Austria will pass.

Dissensions between Britain. America and Yuogslavia were denied by Marshal Tito in a speech at Zagreb, according to the Yugoslav News Agency. Marshal Tito said: "This affair will certainly be solved, but we will firmly defend our rights." He added that the fact that the Allies had an agreement regarding zones of ocupation could not be the reason for preventing Yugoslavia from protecting her enslaved brethren. It is reported from Trieste that Field Marshal Alexander visited there to inspect New Zealand troops General Freyberg was host at a dinner last night at which there were several Senior Yugoslav officers as guests. The dinner is said to have no significance as the invitations were issued a week ago. The Trieste correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says a new feeling of calm and relaxation seems to have spread. Yugoslav patrols in the city are now greatly reduced in numbers and there are also fewer young partisans marching through the streets with tommy-guns. The food situation in Trieste continues to cause alarm, but the local authorities have published a statement that the Yugoslav Government is sending stocks of UNRRA food to the city. ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA London, May 24. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Rome correspondent says the Italian Ambassador to Moscow reporting to Signor Bonomi, Prime Minister, on the Soviet attitude to the Trieste dispute, says while the Russian Government unofficially sympathises with Marshal Tito the latter could not count on any official backing from Moscow should he take an intransigent stand.