Evening star., 1946-09-24
|ParisConferees
Strip Bulgaria
Big Four Ministers
To Confer T Todoy on
ItuIiun Colonies
BY the Assoeioted Press


Conference Military Commits
sion voted today to defortify the
southeastern border of Slav
Europe, adopting a Greek amend
ment to the Bulgarian treaty
which would shear Bulgaria of
frontier Notifications.
The vote was II to 7, with three
abstentions.
1t came as the four power For
eign Ministers Council was arrang-
ing to discuss Italian colonies and
other disputes holding up the prog
ress of the conference.
The proposition is to demilitarize
Bulgaria's 180-mile frontier with
Greece Ito the same extent" as
Italy's frontier with Yugoslavia.
Only Brazil and the Slav delegates
opposed the move.
Area Invaded Three Times.
The Bulgarian frontier issue arose
from Soviet-backed Bulgarian de-
mands for Greece's coastal pan
handle south of the border, which
would give Slav Europe its cen
tury-old dream Of strategic outlet
on the Mediterranean.
The disputed Creek territory has
been invaded by Bulgarian forces
three times since 1912. Bulgaria
herself demanded the territory at
the Peace Conference.
Greece at first made counterde-
mands to shift the border to give
her strategic mountain heights.
Jefferson Caffery, United States
Ambassador to Paris, suggested that
Greece's security could be better
assured by "demilitarizing Bulgaria's
side OF the frontier" without Great
ing new population problems.
Slavs Walk Out.
Greece accordingly proposed the
amendment, resulting in a Slav
walkout from the Bulgarian Political
and Territorial Commission before
the proposal was referred to the
military commission.
In today's discussion, Soviet Gen.
N. v. Slavin broke the news that
the United States, Britain and
France were supporting the Greek
amendment when he protested
against their change Of attitude" !"
Brig. Gen. desmond D. Balmer of
the United States replied that the
three powers had made up their
minds 40 days ago"
The Soviet general persisted in
viewing the Greek amendment as 4
change in an agreed portion of the
draft text, although the Bulgarian
treaty says specifically that this
text should be considered as tenta-
tive"
The Russian even abstained on q
desperate last-minute subamend-
ment by Yugoslavia to limit the
defortified zone to a depth Of S
kilometers (about niles. It lost
by IL to 4, with six abstentions.
Another last-minute move, a Czecho-
slovak motion to adjourn, lost IL to
8, with one abstention.
Criticizes Big Four Ministers.
Col. w. r. Hodgson of Australia
scathingly criticized the foreign
ministers of the Big Four, four
hours before the ministers were to
convene.
Col. Hodgson, always the leader
OF the small powers in international
affairs, attacked the ministers of
Russia, the United States, Great
Britain and France for agreeing
among themselves" that final dis
posal of Libya, Eritrea and Italian
Somaliland would be determined
jointly by the Big Four.
Gladwyn Jebb. British member of
the Italian Political and Territorial
Commission, replying to this criti-
cism, announced that the Foreien
Ministers Council was going to dis
cuss Itaily's colonies this after
noon."
Earlier, informed sources said to-
days Big Four session, intended to
aid the 21-nation parley in meeting
the October S deadline for reopening
plenary sessions, would have on the
agenda only those of the 800 original
treaty amendments on which there
was but slight divergence of views.
Outwardly. the Big Four-Ernest
Bevln OF Great Britain, Georges BIZ
dault OF France, v. M. Molotov of
Russia and James F. Byrnes of the
United States-appeared to be meet
ing In the most amicable atmos-
phere since the conference convened
last July.
No Whole Treaty Completed.
An American spokesman said the
Council was going to draw up a
schedule that would speed things
up."
The conference has been in ses-
sion just five days short of two
months and so far has not COM
pleted one whole treaty with any of
the former enemy nations involved
Italy, Romania, Finland, Hungary
and Bulgaria.
Col. Hodgson berated the ajor
powers for stipulating that the
United Nations would dispose of the
Italian colonies If the Big Four
could not come to decision.
They already had in mind that
they were going to disagree when
they wrote that" Col. Hodgson
stormed.
Previously James Dunn, Ameri-
can Ambassador to Italy, defined
the stand Of the United States
as being for the complete independ-
ence" of Libya. Eritrea and Somah-
land "as soon as possible"
Mr.. Dunn asked the Chinese dele