Evening star., 1946-10-09
MoIotov Warns
West toAvoid
SIay Dictation
Charges U. S.-British
Plot to Keep Hold
On Adriutic Area

By kewboId Noyes, J
Stor Stoff correspcndens

PARIS, Oct. 9.-Russian For
eign Minister Molotov warned
the western powers against at
tempting to dictate to the "new
Slav democracies" in a speech
preceding the start of voting by
the Peace Conference plenary
session on the Italian draft
treaty.
Mr.. Molotov said that the plan
embodied in the draft treaty for the
free state of Trieste adopted by the
Italian Political and Territorial
Commission was an 'undemocratic"
method of keeping the strategic
Adriatic area under British-Ameri-
can control.
1t seemed probable that Mr.. Molo-
tov was serving notice that Russia
would continue to press for adop-
tion of her views by the Council of
Foreign Ministers-where she has a
veto-regardless of Peace Conference
recommendations.
Urged Democratic" Peace
In MIR. Molotov's first pronounce
ment since his return from Moscow,
he said compromise on outstanding
unagreed portions of the various
treaties can be achieved, provided
the nations seek a genuinely demo-
cratic" peace, and provided no group
of powers seeks to impose its wilf'
on others.
At the same time he served notice
that Russia considers certain COM
mission recommendations on which
the conference viii act today as
Unacceptable" He urged the
plenary session to overthrow these
commission decisions. He indicated
they do not conform to the Soviet
view Of what constitutes a demo-
cratic peace.
IF our common wish is to achieve
the best democratic peace possible"
Mr.. Molotov said, I'VE do not doubt
we shall be able to find solutions
and we need not doubt but that these
solutions will meet the desires of
all democratic nations
On specific points, >however, the
speech was not SO encouraging as
it was when Mr.. Molotov dealt with
matters of principle.
Wants Locally Elected Assembly.
The Russian Foreign Minister told
delegates his government insists, des-
4lite compromise recommendations OF
The Italian Commission. that power
over the proposed free territory of
Trieste be vested in a 1ocaliy-elected
assembly rather than in governor
appointed by the u. N. Security
Council, and that the treaty set a
specific date by which all foreign
!rcops British and Americam shall
be withdrawn from the critical area
at the head of the Adriatic Sea.
1t Is not safe to leave timing of
the withdrawal of these troops up
o the Security Council, MIR. Molotov
aid, pointing out that Britain and
america have veto power over
Council decisions.
But the conference also heard
il its morning session that Norway,
one of the middle ground countries
whose collective vote will determine
whether or not proposed treaty
recommendations get approval Of
two-tllirds of the conference, will
cast its ballot with the majority in
favor of these commission recon-
mendations.
Norway, Russia'S close Scandi-
navian neighbor, is in delicate po-
sition on ouch a vote. But her for
eign minister, Halvard M. Lange.
told delegates his government be-
lieves the situation in Trieste is such
hat only the Security Council can
e entrusted with administration of
he free territory.
Decision Held Untenable.
Mr.. Moaotov said the Soviet dele
,ation regards as "untenable" the
commission decision, which would
impose On Trieste what reminds us
of a colonial regime"
Mr.. Molotov, who at present is pre-
siding over plenary sessions, turned
the chair over to the conferences
Secretary General Jacques Fouques
Duparc of France before taking the
rostrum. Several times in his ad-
dress, he was interrupted by ap-
plause from the ranks of Slavic
delegations.
Mr.. Molotov said the Soviet dele
cation has beer, as anxious as any
group here to avoid splitting the
conference, into a Slavic and a
Western bloc. He called on other
delegations to cooperate in avoid
ing such split. 1t smacked, he said,
of something backward"
TT goes without saying that the
young Slav democracies are in need