Tito To Withdraw From Trieste

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23202, 16 May 1945, Page 5

Tito To Withdraw From Trieste

Order By Britain And United States

Delicate, Critical Position Arises

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright

LONDON, May 14. THE British and United States Governments, acting together, peremptorily ordered Marshal Tito to withdraw his troops from the Anglo-American military zone, which includes Trieste, says the political correspondent of the “Daily Express.” The Soviet Government has been informed. The Note sent to Marshal Tito was not in the form of an ultimatum, but it made it clear that a withdrawal must be carried out immediately. The two Governments take a most serious view of Marshal Tito’s action in seizing the Italian area, and his declaration that he proposes to hold it. They are content that there should not be local frontier settlements pending the general peace settlement, and that there should certainly be no redrawing of frontiers by force.

The dispute over the administration of Trieste and the surrounding areas has led to a delicate, critical position which is causing considerable anxiety in London, writes the diplomatic correspondent of the Press Association. As matters stand at present Marshal Tito has announced his intention of setting up a Yugoslav administration control, not only in Trieste but also in the wide surrounding area of the province of Venezia Guilia, extending as far as and including a strip of Southern Austria. Britain and the United States believe that for the completion of the Allied military operations the area should be controlled by Field-Marshal Alexander. They deprecate any attempt by Yugoslavia to occupy the territory before they are authorised to do so by the peace conference. If Yugoslavia carries out its “grab-and-control” policy, says the correspondent, she may tempt other countries to follow suit and possibly end ,all hopes of an orderly settlement. A message from Rome reports that the Italian Foreign Minister (Senor Alcide de Gasperi) offered to make territorial concessions to Yugoslavia. He simultaneously issued a warning that continued occupation of Trieste by force would breed a strong nationalistic reactionary government in Italy and provide Italy in the coming' years with reason for going to war with her neighbour. The Allied Government (he

said) should move in and take the place in Trieste formerly held by the Italian Government. Italy was quite willing to have Slovenes in local offices where there was a majority of Slovenes, but the over-all administration must be neutral to protect citizens of all races. The Yugoslav paper “Barba” to-day described Italy’s claim to Trieste as "imperialistic” as against the geographical, economic and political reasons on which Yugoslavia based her claim to Trieste.

The Yugoslav Vice-Premier (Edward Kerdelj) denied to-day that Yugoslavia was trying to present the world with a fait accompli by occupying Trieste. He said: “Yugoslavia has never denied her readiness to discuss and put forward demands on the final drawing of frontiers with neighbours at the peace conference, therefore Yugoslavia’s attitude to the present status of this territory does not differ from the attitude of the rest of the Allies to the territories they occupy.” The British cruiser Orion and the destroyers Cleveland and Lauderdale have arrived at Trieste, says the correspondent of the “Daily Herald” at Allied naval headquarters in Italy. Discussions are proceeding between the British and Yugoslav representatives about the situation, which remains indecisive. Note Not Yet Handed Over (Rec. 12.35 a.m.) LONDON, May 15. No request to withdraw from Trieste has so far been officially transmitted to Marshal Tito by either the British or American Governments, says Reuter’s military correspondent. A note has been prepared, however, and will be handed to Marshal Tito by the Anglo-American ambassadors in Belgrade. No statement has so far been made officially about the demarcation of the line to which Marshal Tito’s troops would be asked to withdraw, but it is believed that Field-Marshal Sir Harold Alexander settled this question on one of his earlier visits to Marshal Tito. This agreement, it is reported, leaves the greater part of Istria, the disputed province of Cenezia Giulia and the Austrian province of Carinthia, under Field-Marshal Alexander’s command. Flume is left to Yugoslav occupation. Yugoslav circles in London say that a delicate situation would develop if the Yugoslavs were told to move out of Trieste. They are sceptical concerning the willingness of the Yugoslavs to serve under Field-Marshal Alexander. It is still hoped in London that Marshal Tito will recognise the big issues involved and use his statesmanship to assist the Allies in a harmonious settlement.