BRITISH POLICY OUTLINED

Chronicle (Levin), 1 May 1946, Page 5

BRITISH POLICY OUTLINED

RUSSIA MORE CO-OPEItATIVE . i Received Tuesday 7.0 p.m. LONDON, April 30. Mr. Bevin outlined an entirsly new plan for Italian colonies during a fivfehonr nieeting of the Fore-ign Ministers; says Reuter's Paris correspondent. He made a revolutionary proposal favouring immediate independeiice for botn Tripolit.ania and Cyrenaica united into a singie state. Mr. Bloiotov also radically modified. the standpoint which Russia took at London in Septemher but the Foreign Ministers did not reach a decision and went 011 to discnss firstly, thfe Dodecanese islands and secondly, Aupbria hhd. Germany before an adjournment. It was the longest session Lo date. Each Foreign Minister exprfessed views regarding the disposal of tnfe colonies. Mr. Molotov wafered dbwn the-claim for sole RUssian trusteeShip-. Russia now proposes that Tripolitania and Cyrenaica he administered under United Nations "pnt in the case oi Tripolitania, under a EuSsian administrator supported hy an intfernatibnal advisory committee including British and American representativfeS; and two representatives of the local population. Mr. Molotov proposed the same form oi administration for Cyrenaica, suggesting an American or British administrator. . Mr. Bevin began recalling that all four African colonies were conquered Dy British, Doininion ahd Indian trobps, after which they had heen under efficient British military administration. He also emphasisod that they ran along the lifeline of British communications. Mr. Bevin pointed out that Tripolitania. and Cyrenaica, like other Arah States today enjoying independence, were fbrmerly constituted provinces of the Ottoman Empire. He recalled Britain 'S pledge given to the Arab tribes, incluaing the Senussi, never to return thbm to Ifaly, Tnose promises wer'e given when Britain was fighting alone and before. either Russia or America were ihvolved, and were explicity contained in a stdtement Mr. Eden made iii tlie 'Cohimons 011 Jaiiuary 8, 1945. Mr. Bevin made it clear that Britain considered herself hound to honour the pledge aua foreefully pleaded the right of the inhabitants of tliose teiritories to he consulte'd ahout their own futdre. Reuter's correspondent says it is known the British Government, in the last few days, has received a strong appeal froni the Lihyan population not to go back on the pledges. Mr. Bevin made no definite pf'opbsal as to how Lihyan independence shbui'd )ie put into etfect, particularly in view of the fact that United Nations Trust'eeship Council liad not yet heen estahlished. Mr. Bevin, referring to the bolOhies farther east, reminded the Foreign Ministers tliat Ahyssinia claimed Eritrea. The British view was that ari internationai inquiry Should he nidde before a decision was taken regarding the claim. Britain 's proposals for hoth Eritrea and Italian Somaliland werb governed largely hy economic considerations aimed at raising the standard oi \ living of the local inhabitants. L Mr. Bevin outlined a plan for a comW dssion, appointed hy United Nations f jr the Foreign IMinisters' Council; td l examine a proposal for uniting British and Italian Somaliland together with Ogaden, now part of Ahyssinia whicii would he compensated hy territory iil Eritrea. French Somaliland, which was economically and ethnically distinetj would he excluded froni the plan for a greater Somaliland. Mr. Bevin said thd plan was not dictated hy power pblitie^ but coinmonsense. It united intb a singie administration, grazing ground 011 which the livelihood of the inhabitants of the three territories depended. M. Bidauit recalle'd the Frehch jJroposals outlined in Septemhbr for an

Italian tfusteeship for all former cblonies tihder a United Nations trusteefehip cOUncil. Mr. Molotov dfealt only with Tripolitania and CyrbhaiCa without referring td Somaliland and Eritrea. The Ministers, on Mr. Bevin 's initiative, hridfly di'scussed Hhe Dbdecanese. France ahd Aiherica agreed to his proposals that thfe islands should he ffeturned to Greece. . &Ir. Mbiotov also agreed in principle hut said there were.jmpqrtaht considerfttiohs.;:^. in which. they shdaTd be rethrried, ; whibh . nfefedfe'd fiirtfifer e'icahiihation. • \ The Greek delegation arrived at Paris yesterday to inforin the Foreign Ministers df Greecd's demahds. The Foreign Ministers agreed that a preliminary exaimnafioii 6'f tlife tvhole (refinan question — not only Western Germany — fehoiild lfe pl'aiceti oii the agenda for the presfent session. There was also some discussion Ahout Austria in which Russia showed a reluctance to have the question placed on the agenda hut no decision was reached. Mf. Bevin, * reporting to tiie Dominion Ministers on the Paris talks, said thus iar things were going very well, says the Daily Telegraph's diplomatic correspondent. Mr. Bevin added that the Russians were heing more cooperative thhh ht ahy p'rfevious cohferehces hiit it was yet tb'o -feafly td fexprfe'ss any exaggerated hopes.