TITO RESENTFUL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25849, 21 May 1945, Page 5

TITO RESENTFUL

COMPARED WITH HITLER PREPARED TO CO-OPERATE (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. Marshal Tito, .replying to Fieldmarshal Alexander in an interview with “ the New Jugoslavia ” telegraph agency, said: “I cannot but express resentment and surprise at the impossible comparison that the presence of Jugoslav troops in Austria and the Slovene littoral is similar to Hitler’s and Mussolini's and the Japanese methods of conquest. Such an accusation can only be thrown in the face of an enemy, but not against an ally, who has been tortured and bled, white and which is so far recognised by all freedom-loving peoples a? an example of self-sacrifice and heroism.

“ The Jugoslav Army chased the occupation forces right beyond the Isonzo River, and no charter of conquest can be attributed to its presence in the territory. I again declare that Jugoslavia and her army are prepared to co-operate with the Allied forces, but at the same time I declare that Jugoslavia cannot allow herself to be humiliated or tricked out of her rights. Jugoslavia is prepared for collaboration under a basis which shall not be insulting and humiliating to her as an Allied country.” Belgrade radio to-night referred bitterly to the Trieste crisis. “Why is the report spread that the New Zealanders entered Trieste before the Jugoslavs? Would it add any glory to the British Army to say they occupied a few streets in Trieste when they have been victorious throughout the world? We ask to be treated like equals. We have repeatedly emphasised our intention to submit our claims to the peace conference, but we are not prepared to let Signor Bonomi administer Jugoslav territory.” The Belgrade radio broadcast the text of a Note from Tito, in reply to the British and American requests concerning Trieste. Tito’s Note, after reiterating the statement that the Jugoslav armies had the same rights as other Allied armies to remain on territory they had liberated by their struggle against the common enemy, says that the need of the Allies for ports and lines of communication had been completely safeguarded in the spirit of the talks between Tito find Field-marshal Alexander. “The honour of our army and country demands the presence of the Jugoslav Army on the Istria-Trieste-Slovene coastline. The decisions of the peace conference which will be final as regards apportioning the regions concerned are in no way prejudiced. With regard to this, the Federation of Jugoslavia is opposed to all unilateral declarations.”