RETURN OF TRIESTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26746, 15 April 1948, Page 5

RETURN OF TRIESTE

“Violating Elementary Principles Of Democracy”

SOVIET REJECTS PROPOSAL

New Zealand Press Association-—Copyright Kec. 10.45 p.m. LONDON, Apl. 14. Moscow Radio announced that Russia yesterday rejected the joint British-American-French proposal for a conference to consider returning Trieste to Italy in Notes delivered simultaneously in London, Washington and Paris. The Notes point out that the Italian Peace Treaty was prepared by the Foreign Ministers’ Council and later ratified by the 21 nations attending the Paris peace conference. “ The proposal to revise the treaty by means of correspondence, or by convening private conferences is regarded by the Soviet Government as unacceptable, and as violating the elementary principles of democracy.”

[This announcement by Moscow radio is the first direct intimation of the Soviet Government’s attitude towards the three-Power proposals, although indications of its opposition have been made known through Yugoslavia and Communist sources in Italy. On March 19 the British ForeignOffice issued a joint declaration by Britain, France and the United States on the proposal to return Trieste to Italy. The announcement said the three Powers made the decision because the Security Council could not agree on the selection of a Governor for Trieste, and because Yugoslavia virtually incorporated its zone into Yugoslavia, The Yugoslav authorities had evicted Italians from the zone, established a totalitarian police force, confiscated land for political reasons and redistributed it, established people’s courts, and suppressed opposition newspapers and meetings. Yugoslavia’s measures definitely compromised the possibility of a permanent statute for the Trieste territory. In these circumstances the United Kingdom, France and the United States had concluded that the present settlement could not guarantee the preservation of the basic rights and interests of the people of the free territory The proposal for the return of‘ Trieste to Italy woula be sub-

mitted to the Security Council for approval. The return of the free territory of Trieste to Italian sovereignty had been adopted as the best solution to meet the democratic aspirations of the people and make possible the reestablishment of peace and stability in the area. te The disposition of Trieste was one of the most bitterly fought issues in the Italian peace treaty Both Yugoslavia and Italy claimed the area, and the Western Powers contended that such facts -as historical and ethical associations made it an Italian area. Yugoslavia argued similarly that it should belong to her. Russia supported Yugoslavia. Finally a compromise on the solution of a free territory was agreed upon. The only chance it had to work was that the Western Powers and Russia should compose their differorices, so they would be able to agree on such relatively minor issues as the selection of a Governor. Failing an East and West agreement, Trieste, as the southern anchor of the dividing line between Communistcontrolled land and the Western European nations, had no future except to be constantly fought over. Britain and the United States, each -with 5000 troops, occupy the northern zone; Yugoslavia, with the same number, occupies the southern zone.]