WHAT OF PEACE CONFERENCE?

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1946, Page 5

WHAT OF PEACE CONFERENCE?

NATIONS ANXIOUS TO CONFER, ~ SAYS MR. BEVlN Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m. LONDON, June 30. The Foreigji Ministers' C.ouncil, after a f.our-)iour nie,eting, dissolvted with no decisiqn rea'ch.ed i\egarding tlie holding of a European Peace Gonferen.ee or on the Trieste question, says the Assoeiated Press eorrespondent pt Paris. The Ministers deferred until tomorrow, the decision on calling a peace conference. The Council also tlecided to discuss tomorrow M. Bidault's pr.opospl for the ■ internationalisation of Trieste. In a heated debate on the fixing pf a date for the peace conference, Mr. Byrnes pointed out that Mr. Molotov had already agreed to refer to the peace conference, the question of the Burgarian border and also Greek reparation claims against Italy. Mr. Byrnes suggested it was only Jssues where a decision might be unfavourable to Russia that Mr. Molotov refused to submit to all the Allies in conference. Mr. Bevin pmphasised tlie diseontent among the 22 nations tliat a date had j not been settled. ' ' Tlie Dominions ' i Govemments can 't understand why this is not already done," Mr. Byrnes said. "1 am not gojng to sit here day after day if each subject is to be deferred or handed over to deputies. " The Ministers reached agreement in principle 011 a new proposal about the freedom of navigatiou on the Danube made by M. Bidault. Mr. IMolotov had 1 previously objected to Mr. Bevin 's proposal 011 the ground that it was unf air to the Danubian countries. Mr. Bevin proposed tliat navigation should be free 011 the basis of coriiplete ( equality for all nations. M. Bidault isj now proposing tliat navigation, so fqr | as traflic and conditions .of commercial • navigation are eoiieerned, sliQpld be ou a footing of equality for all nations. Suggestions for Trieste. "More government per square inch than in any other area of tlie world" — tliis was Mr. Vandpnberg 's eomnient op M. Bidault's proposals for Trieste. The Exchange Telegraph 's correspondent at Paris gives M. Bidault's plan as foll.ows: Firstly, Trieste and neighbouring territorles should be administered by four Powers wjth Italy and Yugoslavia. Secondly, the Govej'nor should be nominated by Italy and Yugoslavia failing agreement by the four Fqwers. Tlii rdly, the territory should have, a . Legisla^v^' .4-j^dw-bly el^kted • by.' secret', , JjalloV'hnii uiffyersk'l f r^nchise'. * Foufthiy, the Four Powers, with Italy and Yugoslavia, appoint a Council Government of six members to perforni adininistration. Fifthly, the rights of the inhabitants to Janguage, schools and admission to the public services, should be assured. Sixthly, representatives of the Four Powers on the Becurity Council should be a supervisory body. Seventhly, the Four Powers before the end of ten years, should review the position. Mr. Bevin declared that, although he was instructed to support the Italian claim to Trieste, he was willing to give the plan the most serious study. Mr. Molotov said he was not satisfied with the temporary charaeter of tlie plan which would lead to instabilily and adversely affeet Yugoslavia 's national sentime'nts. He added that he was willing to take the French proposal as a basis for diseussion.