STORM CENTRES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25204, 17 May 1945, Page 5

STORM CENTRES

TERRITORIAL CHANGES FIRM ALLIED POLICY URGED (Reed. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON. May 15 "Trieste, one of those pinpoints on the earth's surface containing enough dynamite to blow up the world, comes into the same category as Danzig and the Sudetenland," says the Daily Mail in an editorial. "The British and American Governments are determined that Trieste shall not develop into another Danzig. "The point in question has nothing to do with Trieste. The point involved is whether Europe and the world shall be settled by passion and not by reason. "Trieste does not stand alone. There are at least five other storm centres, apart from the big question of the Polish Government. Russians on Banish Island "The Russians have occupied the Danish island of Bornholm. commanding the western approaches to the Baltic. "The Lublin Poles are taking over Frankfurt-on-Oder, thus anticipating the expected decision to place Poland's western borders on the Oder line. "A Russian-sponsored Government has been established in Vienna without the agreement of the other Allies. "The French are conducting an unofficial plebiscite among the Italians in a strip of the Italian Riviera, with the object of claiming it as French territory. "The Greek Regent, Archbishop Damaskinos, has paid an ostentatious visit to the island of Rhodes, which is now Italian, but possibly will be Greek in future. Policy ol Land-Grabbing "The object of these moves clearly is to establish territorial rights and spheres of influence so strongly that tne Peace Conference will not be able to shake them. The only sensible way to tackle the situation is to deal calmly but firmiv with the insidious policy of land-grabbing and stop it before it goes too far. Britain and America have adopted this policy, and they are entitled to ask for wholehearted support from Russia in pursuing it."

The strategic importance of the islands of Bornholm (Denmark) and Rugen (Germany), in the Baltic, is shown by this map. The Russians are reported to have occupied Bornholm.

The British United Press correspondent at Copenhagen re-ports that Russian reinforcements continue to arrive on Bornholm Island, although nearly all the German soldiers have now left.

Addressing crowds which gathered to welcome him at Rhodes, the Regent of Greece. Archbishop Damaskinos, said Greece had no other ambition but to obtain her national rights, plain justice and the opportunity to collaborate with all her might in setting up a true moral order in • the world. They could await with confidence the official sanction of the Great Powers for their unjon with the Motherland.

ITALIAN ATTITUDE POSTPONING DISCUSSIONS LONDON. May 15 The Italian Prime Minister, Signor Bonomi, offered tonight to reopen discussions with the Yugoslav Government on the problem of Trieste "when the passions of war have passed," says the British United Press correspondent in Rome. He argued that Britain, America and Russia should approve of Italy's position in maintaining her territories as the result of their signatures to the Atlantic Charter.

Signor Bonomi, with the Italian Foreign Minister, Signor Degaspari, and other members of the Government supporting him, gave the most elaborate press conference ever arranged in liberated Rome. Facing 100 journalists, he talked passionately for a quarter of an hour on the Trieste question. It was obviously an official effort to strike a dramatic Italian blow for Trieste at the time when Italy is feeling the greatest satisfaction for the strong line which Britain and America have taken.