"HANDS OFF" YUGOSLAVIA

Chronicle (Levin), 24 August 1949, Page 5

"HANDS OFF" YUGOSLAVIA

(N.Z.P.A,

—Reuter.

^ — _ Pertinent New Note To Soviet Union

Copyright)

Received Wednesday, li.J a.m. BELGRADE, August 23. Yugoslavia demanded today that Russia maintain a "hand^, off" pj)licy in Yugoslavia's internal affairs. This was laid down in a new Note to the Soviet Upion arismg out of Russia's protest against Yugoslavia's arrest and detention of 31 reputed Russian citizens. Simultaneously, however, Yugoslavia offere'd to extradite these Russians if that was what Moscow wanted. The Note said that this offer held good for the departure of all other Russian citizens who were anxious to leave Yugoslavia. . The text of the Note was released by the Ministry of Information. It called Russia's previous charges of lmprisoning Soviet citizens "unfounded." These charges were delivered in an unprecedented diplomatic Note handed to the porter of the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry before dawn flve days ago. The new Yugoslav Note em~ phasised that Tugoslavia was an independent sovereign State and its people and government under no conditions were willing to allow. anyone to interfere in their internal affairs. Then it made its major point on the question of. Russian domination which has grown in importance since 14 months ago when the Soviet Union with its Communist - dominated satellites denounced the government of Tito. '•The Yugoslav Government underlines that no pressure from outside so far has had any effect on our internal policy nor will it have in future, the Note adds. The note continues: "The Yugoslav Government has always declared its preparedness to solve all disputed questions between the two states by agreement. On this occasion Yugoslav repeats its resolution and declares its readiness to approach a solution of all disputed questions with the Soviet in accordance with, and in the spirit of the international obligations undertaken by both governments." Yugoslavia accused Russia of ignoring the faccS of the arrest of what Yugoslavia characterised as "traitorous white guardists." Russia did this, the note says, to justify its attitude of hostility towards Yugosravia. These white' guardists had seriously violated laws by their espionage and hostile activity. ' Observers in Belgrade regard the Yugcsiav notes as a dignified presentation of more evidence that Tito regards the latest Russian attack as mol'e propagdhda and is not losing his nerve, says the United Press correspondent. For the first time the Press office summoned foreign correspondents to re.ease today's note in advance of the release to the domestic Press.