Evening star., 1945-05-20
Latest Tito Proposal.
ION Trieste Dispute
Rejected by u. 5.
Rx InSEPH Il. RAIRn.

The Anglo American dispute with
Yugoslayia over It's occupation Of
the Trieste area Of italy assumed !
more serious aspect last night as
Acting Secretary Of State Grew pub
licly rejected Marshal Ttos latest
proposal for q settlement, declaring
1t could not be reconciled with the
American position.
His statement was issued only q
few hours after Field Marshal Sir
Harold Alexander, Allied commander
in chief In the Mediterranean the
ater, charged that Marshal Tito
was attempting to establish Yugo-
slay claims in Italy by the use Of
force. Both the United States and
Great Britain have held that the
Yugoslav-Italian border must be
fixed at the peace table.
Mr.. Grew said that the problem
was being taken up between Wash
ington and other governments con-
cerned-apparently meaning Great
Britain and Russia-so that the
principles Of q just and orderly
peace would not prejudiced.
Situation Complicated.
The whole situation in the Vene-
a-Guilia section of Italy, which
includes Trieste, Mr.. Grew added,
is being further complicated by the
continued infiltration of Yugoslav
Partisan troops. This, he contin-
ued, affects the ability Of the Allied
commander to maintain order and
to establish the control necessary
to the performance of duties as
signed him in the occupation of
Austria. The latter nation Is north
east of Italy. and for the section
occupied by the Americans Trieste
is the main port of supply.
The Acting Secretary did not re-
veal the contents of Marshal Tito's
latest note, but made 1t clear that
his proposal was entirely unaccept-
able.
Statement Recalled.
For a concise exposition of the
American stand, Mr.. Grew referred
correspondents to his statement Of
May IL in which he said:
ut is the firm policy of the United
States, as its Allies have been offi-
cially informed, that territorial
changes should be made only after
thorough study and after full con-
sultation and deliberation between
the various governments concerned.
Only on this basis can adequate
consideration be given to the human,
economic and political elements in
volved and just and stable solu-
ton be found"
The adamant position both Wash
ington and London have taken
against troops of the Moscow
sponsored Yugoslav regime remain
ing on Italian or Austrian soil is
based on two primary consider
ations.
First, 1t Is pointed out, the areas
are Of cardinal military Importance
at this time, as they include the
port of Trieste and lines of COM
munication leading from the Medi-
terranean to Central Europe. Also,
the German-Italian forces in these
areas were defeated by Anglo
American armies and are consid-
cred an integral part of their zone
Of occupation. - -.
Precedent Involved.
Second, the State Department and
British Foreign ONCE realize that
if Marshal Tito is allowed to seize
foreign territory by unilateral ac-
ton. he will set a precedent which
likely will be followed by other
countries having land claims against
their neighbors In this event, the
whole principle OF conference settle
ments on the basis of justice would
60 by the board.
The necessity Of Anglo American
occupation of Trieste and the sur
rounding area pending a final peace
settlement was explained to Mar
shall Tito last February, and he
acquiesced, according to the State
Department. Later. however, he ap-
parently ignored earlier agreement
and announced that his regime was
entitled to occup the Venezia-
Giulia section by virtue of conquest.
"Wishfui thinking won't win the