Mr Marshall Attacks Russia for Blocking Austrian Settlement

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26783, 28 May 1948, Page 5

Mr Marshall Attacks Russia for Blocking Austrian Settlement

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright. Rec. 9.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, May 26. The Secretary of State, Mr George Marshall, to-day challenged Russia to give proof of its desire for international co-operation by reopening Austrian peace treaty negotiations. At the same time he announced that the United States had proposed a Big-Four conference on Danube navigation, to be held in Belgrade on July 30. Mr Marshall again bitterly accused Russia of blocking an Allied agreement to restore Austria’s independence and prewar frontiers. “A swift and easy solution of Austrian peace treaty problems could have been found had the Russian attitude been less inflexible. That solution had been consistently frustrated by the delaying tactics of the Soviet Union. Now after over 18 months of continuous negotiations and over 325 meetings of Big-Four Representatives, we again find the solution deferred.” Mr Marshall attributed the impasse to Russia’s insistence that Austria should give Yugoslavia territory and reparations. The United States, he said, firmly contended that Austria’s 1937 frontier should, be • maintained and that there should be no reparations. The re-establish-ment of the Austrian State was essential to Europe’s peace and security. Mr Marshall said the United States had suggested that the Danube conference should be held by Russia, France, Britain and the United States. “It is our conviction that a beneficial and new convention for navigation on the Danube should be worked out as soon as possible.”