FUTURE OF FIUME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19069, 15 January 1924, Page 7

FUTURE OF FIUME

JUGO-SLAV-ITALIAN TREATY. AN AGREEMENT REACHED, Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright BELGRADE, Jcanuary 13. The Little Entente Conference noted with satisfaction the easing of the Jugo-Slav-Italian situation, in which the settlement of the Eiume question constitutes the first step. The newspaper Verme states that the Eiume question can oe regarded as definitely settled. It says that an Italo-Jugo Slav political agreement is anticipated between Rome and Belgrade.—Reuter THE TERMS OUTLINED. AN ALLIANCE TO FOLLOW. BELGRADE, January 13. (Received Jan. 14, at 7.10 p-m.) Later messages confirm the Italo-Jugo-Slav settlement o# Fiume in terms of which Italy annexes Fiume, hut Jugoslavia is given the use of the port for half a century. Jugo-Slavia also obtains the smaller ports of Barros, Delta, and Ranchino. The agreement will be followed by an Halo-Jngo-SLavia treaty alliance.—A. ana N.Z. Cable. The Treaty of London of April, 1915, granted Italy & large area of the Dalmatian coast, and during the discussion of peace terms difficulties arose between the Italians and the Jugo-Slavs as to their respective shares. Eventually Fiume was constituted an independent State by the Treaty of Rapallo, which was signed on .November 12, 1920, and ratified in the succeeding February. In June, 1921, a further agreement was arrived at between the Free City, Italy and Jugo-Slavia, in reference to the Port of Fiume, which includes the Port of Barros, according to which equal rights were granted to the three parties concerned. The Treaty provided that the area of Fiume was to be delimited by a special commission composed half of Italians and half of Jugoslav delegates. In September of last year the peace of Europe appeared to be menaced by the demands which were made on Jugo-Slavia by Italy respecting the final settlement of Fiume, but the crisis was tided over by a mutual agreement to continue negotiations. For a time discussion centred round the Italian proposal that Italy should annex the Italian part of Fiume, that Jugo-Slavia should annex the Slav section, and the ports of Fiume and Pcrto Barros could be administered, as an entity, by a mixed commission. Meanwhile the Government of Fiume resigned, and a military governor was appointed pending a resumption of the negotiations.