DECISION ON TRIESTE

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1946, Page 5

DECISION ON TRIESTE

Press Assn.-

Tfeofiit Pra'Milii Settled

OPPOSITION FROM'RUSSIA

By Telegraph

•Copyright

Received Th'ursday, 7 p.m. PARIS, Oct. 2. The dominant factor in Trieste today was a sense of fear, said Air. Sterndale Bennett (Britain), wlien opening the tiual debate ou the Trieste issue before the Italian Political aiid Territorial X'onimittee. Mr Bennett said the sense of fear had been produced by illegal strikes, iiitiinidatioii and terrorist activities on botli sides. •MVhilc we at this conference have been talking, scarcely a night has passed witliout a bomb 'outrage in Trieste," he said. "lteports from the torritory sliow a melancholy list of political niurders, abductions and assaults. lt is this knowledge that unikes the British delegation so insistent in urging that everytliing be done to establish a new regime to proinote peace, stability, public order and securitv. Air. Bennett added that the lawless acts to which he referred were not the result of mere sporadie unorganised bands whose object was to frustrate or counteract the activities of the other side. lt was these organisations which hoped to seize power in the new free territory. Air. Bennett said Britain was not interested in establishing . a regime which would facilitate the taslc of anyone wishing to seir.e power in the free territory for seetional interests. ALr. Bennett, replving to the Yugoslav allegation that the British proposals would establish an iron curtain between Yugoslavia and the free territory, said Britain did not favour iron curfains of any kind anywliere and no such curtain would be establislied unless Yugoslavia did so. Air. Bennett supported the new French draft proposal ilelining the liroad principles of the l'uture statnte for the free territory as f'ollows: — Firstly, the Securitv Council gimrant.ee the free territory 's integrity and independence. Hecondly, the territory should be demilitarised and no armed forces allowed on it unless authorised by the Secuiilv Council. Tliirdly, ihe formalion of n popular Assembly with a Council of Government appointed by and responsible to the Assembly. Fourthly, certain limitations on the powers of the Assembly Council resulting from riglits conferred on Ihe Governor. Fifthlv, the Securitv Council, after consulting Ttalv and Yugoslavia, to apfioint a Governor who would be empowered to propose laws and also veto laws threatening the Securitv Council 's responsibilities. Russian Attack Afr. Vyshinsky strongly attacked Ihe British, French and American proposals and urged the committee to adopt. the. lu'oad principles on which the Big Four lutd agreed and leave details to the Foreign Alinisters' Council " where discussions were easier and more auspicious Air. Vyshinsky said Britain, France and America wanted a more limited statute for Trieste than existed in ordinarv countries. They apparently wanted to see some sort of extraordinary government but such ex traordinary goveriiinents had been thrown in the ash can and their leaders would soon be hanging from the end of a rope. Mr. Vyshinsky, replyiug to Air. Bennett 'S deseription of coiulitions in Trieste, said: "If there is something ainiss it is no fault of the people oi racial feeling. It is the fault of the present regime." Senutor Connally (I'nited Statesi said liis delegation would support the French proposals, adding that the Securitv Council ninst have an ann reaching to Triest to see that law and order were preserved. The Governor must be empowered to do that. Air. Yilfan (Yugoslavia) attacked the French proposals, saying the provision for Securitv Council forces to enter the territory was unnecessary. It would put the territory 's provisional government uncler the foree of foreign powers. "This is what we want to avoid, " he said. AL Alurville (France) stressed that uuder the French proposals no armed forces would be allowed permanently in the free territory. The Polish proposal that the Trieste statute should be reconsidered by the Big Four who should allow Yugoslavia to restate lier views before reaching a decisiou, was rejecting 14 to 6 votes. A Soviet ameudment to the French proposals, namely that all foreign troops should be witlulrawn from the free territory within 30 days of the ratifieation of the peace treaty, was rejected by 13 votes to 0. The French proposals were then voted on section by section. the eontroversial parts in each case being adopted by 14 votes to 0.