Evening star., 1945-09-12
France Insists
On Reparations
From Italians
Seeks Token, at Least,
Backs U. S., Britain
In Colonial Plans
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, Sept. 12-France
today presented to the confer
ence of the Big Five Foreign
Ministers her views on a pro-
posed peace treaty for Italy, in
sisting at least on the principle
of reparat tionS.
American and British views have
opposed reparations from Italy be-
cause of desire to get the italian
economy back on sound basis.
The French views, it was learned
were these:
=. France wants a small rectification
: of her border with Italy, mainly or
the Alpine frontier around the towns
of Labrigue and Tante and would
like complete control over the Roya
Valley, on the frontier just north
of the Mediterranean.
France disclaims any desire to
annex the valley of Aosta in North
ern Italy, but wants guarantees
either in the treaty or by joint in
ternational pledge that the French
population in the area will be given
home rule by Rome.
The French are inclined to side
with the British and Americans on
Trieste-to leave the city in Italian
hands, but establish an international
authority to assure Austria, Czecho-
slovakia and Yugoslavia free use of
the port.
View on Colonies Accepted.
The French are prepared to accept
the British and American plan to
place the bulk of the Italian col
onies under Italian truSteeship
This would remove Romes sover-
eighty, but retain Rome's rule. The
French view is that Italy must have
an outlet for emigrants.
The French demand all the East
African area known as Fezzan. II
is a strategic link between Lake
Chad and North Africa which be-
longed half to France and half tt
Italy before 1885. At that time il
was turned over to Italy, French
diplomats say, by Pierre Laval.
The French desire border rectifl.
cations on Tunisian's inland from.
tier with Italian colonies, seeking
certain oases which are important
on the desert routes.
France wants restitution for good!
stolen by the Italians during the
war, such as locomotives and ma.
chine tools.
France is insistent on at least the
principle of Italian reparations. The
French say they are not seeking any
large sum for general war damage
but that they are anxious to get g
small sum as a matter of principle
Debate Seen on Libya, Eritrea.
1t appeared likely that France
would be satisfied on most of her
territorial demands, although there
probably will be some debate over
Eastern Libya and Italian Eritrea
which the British are reluctant tc
turn back to italian control.
The British wish to give part OF
Libya to Egypt and Eritrea tt
Ethiopia and the Anglo-Egyptiar
Sudan.
The big question mark on the
Italian treaty is Russia. So fal
there has been no indication thai
the Soviet has any particular de-
mands on Italy, although Moscow is
expected to support Yugoslavia':
claim to Trieste at least as a bar.
gaining lever to pry out compro.
misses on other points, especially ir
the Balkans.
Balkans Overshadow Talks.
The Italian peace problem is LACED
with a compleXity of European
problems which hold the key to tn,
future of the continent.
Overshadowing the discussion viii
be the problem of the Communist.
controlled Balkan governments
The Soviet Union seeks Western
recognition of the existing govern.
ments in the former Axis satellite
states of Romania, Bulgaria ane
Hungary. Some British and Amer
leans appear to interpret the Rus.
sian stand as indicating that Mos.
cow seeks a free rein in those coun.
tries and therein may lie one of the
conferences principal stumbling
blocks.
The task of the Foreign Ministers
as outlined in last nights first com.
munique is: ITO continue necessary
preparatory work for peace settle.
ments and to consider any Other
matters which may from time tt
time be referred to it the confer.
ence) by agreement of the govern.
Sec RIG RINE POGO 40