TRIESTE DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25202, 15 May 1945, Page 5

TRIESTE DISPUTE

INTERIM AGREEMENT JOINT OCCUPATION PORT ANI) CITY AREAS LONDON, May ltf Allied soldiers will remain in Trieste to operate the port, while Yugoslav forces will remain in occupation of major portions of the city. These, says the Belgrade correspondent of the Associated Press, were apparently the main points of the agreement reached between Marshal Tito and an emissary from Field-Marshal' Alexander's headquarters. The discussions followed the Yugoslav Government's demand for the withdrawal of the British and American forces which occupied the port and part of the city. The Allied Command insisted on remaining in possession of the port for supplying the occupation forces in Austria. Firm Stand by United States A New York message says that the United States took a firm stand against: Marshal Tito's demand that the Allied forces should withdraw from Trieste, reports the New York Herald-Tribune's Washington correspondent.. The acting-Secretary of State, Mr Joseph Grew, in a statement, said: "One of the most difficult problems to be solved will be a just and equitable solution of territorial Questions which for many years have plagued Europe. The Allies "have been officially informed that it is the firm policy of the United States that territorial changes should be made only after thorough study and after full consultation and deliberation between the various Governments concerned. Only on this basis can adequate consideration be given to the human, economic and political elements involved, and a just and stable solution found. Careful Study Required "There are 30 or more territorial questions in Europe which require careful study before decisions can be reached. These include the much disputed north-eastern frontiers of Italy. Many months ago it was decided that the best way to avoid hasty and precarious solutions in the British and American theatre of operations was to establish an Allied Military Government.

"Apart from the fact that this is a British and American theatre and that British and American troops forced the surrender of the German garrison at Trieste, the disputed areas are temporarily of prime importance from a military point of view. Because the Allied occupation forces require an administration zone with adequate port facilities and lines of communication and supply leading to Central Europe, it was deemed particularly essential to establish Allied control. - "The proposals in this connection were presented to, and accepted by, Marshal Tito last February, but notwithstanding thig agreement, claims have now been advanced that by virtue of conquest the Yugoslav forces are entitled to occupy and control the administration of this region. Awaiting Peace Settlement "This Government reiterates its view that a disinterested military government is essential in Venezia Giulia in order not to prejudice, through sudden unilateral action taken in the flush of victory, a final solution corresponding to the problems and principles involved. "The present problem is far more than a frontier controversy between two claimants. It raises the issne of the settlement of international disputes by orderly process, rather than by unilateral action. "The disposition of Venezia Giulia must await a definite peace settlement, in which the claims of both sides will receive full and fair hearing, or be made a matter of direct negotiations freely entered into between the parties involved. No territorial problem can be solved by proclamations issued in the wake of an army on the march."

GERMANS STILL HIDING SUDETEN MOUNTAINS AREA (Herd. .5.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 13 Large groups of Germans are still hiding and sometimes resisting in the Sudeten Mountains and Bohemian Ranges, reports the Associated Press correspondent in Moscow. Many Germans are believed to be hiding in the forests. The Russians are continuing to comb out a steadily increasing total of prisoners. CLOTHES FROM GERMANS AID FOR FORMER SLAVES LONDON, May 13 The British Military Government at Luneburg has ordered a levy of a set of clothes from every German man, woman and child, reports the Exchange Telegraph's correspondent. The clothes will be handed over to former slave workers from Belsen concentration camp. Tent* of thousands are still wearing striped prison uniform, he says. Games and other amenities are also being exacted from the German civilians. The Military Governor of Luneburg disclosed that he was at present supervising the repatriation of 200,000 persons from Eastern Europe. He already had returned 80,000 people to France, Belgium and Holland, to which he was repatriating 4000 a day. The Germans had the responsibility of feeding all the liberated people'remaining on German soil. The Military Governor said he expected that complete repatriation of the displaced peonia would take a year.