REMOVAL OF DOCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26707, 28 February 1948, Page 7

REMOVAL OF DOCK

STRONG PROTEST TO RUSSIA

REQUIRED FOR AUSTRIAN

TREATY

Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON. Feb. 27. The British. French, and American Foreign Minister’s deputies, who are at present engaged in discussing the Austrian peace treaty, protested to the Russian deputy, Mr Nikolai Koktomov, against the disappearance from Austrian territory of a large Danube floating dock, the- property of the Danube Shipping Company. Mr James Majoribanks, the British representative, described the dock as the most important single asset of the Danube Shipping Company, and said that its location was of fundamental importance to the consideration of that company's assets “ My Government,” he said “ strongly depreciates any attempt to prejudice the outcome of our discussions by removing such property from Austria thereby transferring it from one category to another at the very time when we are seeking a settlement. The whole purpose of our negotiations will' be undermined.”

The American and French deputies strongly supported Mr Majoribank’s protest, but the Russian delegate denied all knowledge of the whereabouts of the docks. He said he would have inquiries made but in the meantime the British protest was premature. The Russians have for sorhe time claimed all the Danube Shipping Company’s assets in Rumania, Hungary and Bulgaria, and 25 per cent, of its assets in Austria. It was claimed in reports from Vienna a week ago (fiat the Russians had seized the company's floating dock which was the largest of its kind 'on the Danube, and had removed it to Hungary.