Russia And Satellites Want Britain, France And Italy Out Of Control Of Danube

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 August 1948, Page 5

Russia And Satellites Want Britain, France And Italy Out Of Control Of Danube

WESTERN DELEGATES IMPOTENT AT PRESENT CONFERENCE (N.Z.P. A. —Copyright.) Received 7.25 p.m. ' LONDON, Aug. 3 The Russian draft convention for future control of navigation on the Danube River, which Mr. Vishinsky will submit today to the Ten-Nation Belgrade Conference, completely excludes the Western Powers from administration of the river—a right they have possessed since the present convention was signed 27 years ago.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” Belgrade correspondent points out that although the Russian draft provides for traditional freedom of navigation, on equal terms, for vessels and commerce of all nations, the vital change introduced is that its application and safeguarding of its provisions would be left entirely to Danubian States. A commission, consisting of Russia and her Danublan satellites —Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia—would oe set up for this purpose. It would supersede the 1921 commission and all the property of the latter, of which Britain, France and Italy are members, in addition to Danubian States, would be transferred to the new commission. All the credits advanced to the existing body by Britain. France and other countries would be forfeited. Just when the Danube Conference appeared over for the day Russia circulated her proposed Danube River Pact, says the Associated Press correspondent. The pact would exclude Britain and France and give Europe’s Communist - dominated

| States virtually exclusive control i over the Danube. 1 Reuter says Mr. Vyshinsky earlier I accused the Austrian delegate. Count | Orsoni Rosenberg, of sabotage beI cause Count Rosenberg had asked the conference to reconsider its decision not to allow Austria voting ■ rights. I The conference unanimously adopted the rule of a simple majority for conference decisions. The French delegate, in face of Soviet opposition. . withdrew his motion requiring a I two-thirds majority. British and Wrench delegates at the conference already have served notice that they will not accept abrogation of their existing rights without the consent of all parties, but as the conference yesterday agreed upon a simple majority voting the western delegates are faced with a choice of sitting impotently while the Russian proposals are passed in quick succession by the seven-to-three majority of the eastern bloc, or of leaving the conference in protest. The result of the latter course, according to the "Dally Telegraph’s” correspondent, would be to leave the river divided into the eastern part from the boundary of the Russian zone of Austria to the Black Sea, and the western part in the American i zones of Austria and Germany.