MOVE IN YUGOSLAVIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24759, 6 December 1943, Page 3

MOVE IN YUGOSLAVIA

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT- APPOINTED (Reed. 11.50 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 5 A meeting of 140 delegates from all parts of Yugoslavia held in liberated territory decided to form a provisional Parliament for liberated Yugoslavia, also a National Committee of Liberation with all the rights and functions of a provisional Government. Dr. Ivan JRibar, who was the first President of the. constitutional assembly in Belgrade after the last war, was elected President. General Tito, who is at present Commander-in-Chief of the Yugoslav People's Liberation Army, was appointed head of the Committee for National Defence and promoted to marshal. Yugoslav circles in London express the opinion that the creation of the provisional Government is likely to have a far-reaching effect on the position of the Yugoslav Cabinet in Cairo, says the Exchange Telegraph Company. Reports reaching Loudon from Cairo indicate that the position of the Cairo Cabinet is felt to have become untenable in British as well as Yugoslav circles. It is believed that Dr. Branko Cuhrilovic, who was a member of the last Yugoslav Cabinet formed in London, will be called on to form a new Cabinet ou a broad basis which may share Government business with the provision al Government. It is also learned that the Cnjro Cabinet to-day dismissed all Yugoslav press department officials in London who were installed after the Cabinet upheaval on March 27, 1941, which was responsible for the overthrow of Prince Paul. CZECH-SOVIET TREATY SUMMARY ANNOUNCED SIGNATURE AT EARLY DATE LONDON, Dec. 4 The Czechoslovak Foreign Office has issued a summary of the Czech-Russian treaty of friendship, collaboration and mutual assistance, which will be signed in Moscow in the next few days. The summary says; (1) The present war against Germany and her allies will be pursued until complete victory is achieved; (2) Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union promise each other common action and mutual assistance should Germany in the future renew her policy of "drang nach osten" (drive to the east); (3) immediately after this war the_ two countries will inaugurate economic collaboration; (4) the treaty hinds both States not to interfere in each other's political affairs; (5) a protocol invites participation in the treaty of those European neighbours of the Soviet Union or Czechoslovakia who have not been in the German camp in tlnfpresent war. The President of Czechoslovakia, Dr. Benes, left London for Moscow late in November, accompanied by his staff. The treaty will be signed on Czechoslovakia's behalf by M, Fierlinger, Czechoslovak Ambassador in Moscow. Dr. Benes will witness the signature of the pact, and will visit units of the Czechoslovak armed forces stationed in Russia. He will also meet leading Soviet statesmen. He expects to return to London before Christmai.