Evening star., 1946-02-10

BY C0tSfaf
The squabbles in London over Iran.
Greece and Indonesia were nothing but
curtain raisers intended to test the
position Of the two principal antagon-
lists in the world arena-Soviet Russia
and Great Britain.
Most of the American and other OBJ
servers who attended the first meetings
of the United Nations realize, however,
that far more turbulent sessions are in
store after the four-power committee
completes the draft of the peace treaty
between Italy and the United Nations,
and the whole matter comes before the
United Nations.
For the present little is known about
London made to the Badoglio govern
ment to persuade it to surrender in
September, 1914. The terms of the
armistice have been made public, but
behind these terms are reported to be
unrevealed commitments which might
create serious friction between the
U. S. s. r. and the British Empire.
For instance, according to usually
well-informed sources, the fate of Tri-
este, the vital port on the Adriatic and
its hinterland, was decided at Teheran
in December, 1945, in favor of Yugo-
slavia. 1t was one of those light-heart-
ed operations in which political expedi-
ency took precedence over the principles
of the Atlantic Charter, which provided
that mo territorial changes Twill take
place. which do not accord with the
freely expressed wishes of the peoples
concerned"
Promises Made Badoglio
1t appears that nine months later
when the Italians became willing to
abandon the Nazis and become CO.
belligerent of the Allies, Marshal Pietro
Badoglio was assured that Italy would
not be called to make too heavy q
sacrifice in that area" This is inter-
preted to mean that while the port of
Trieste might be lost to Italy, the him
terland which is now being vociferously
claimed by Marshal Tito, would remain
Italian territory.
What other secret agreements, con-
flicting with previous commitments Of
the Big Three, were made in all like
lihood will be disclosed when the great
scramble for share in the spoil of war
begins, at the open discussion of the
peace treaty with Italy. 1t is recalled,
however, that soon after King Victor
Emmanuels acceptance of the Allied
terms, the Russians demanded one
third of the Italian Navy. Then came
to light something that nobody but the
top policy trainers had known, namely
that Britain and America had promised
the U. S. S. r. such spoils of war.
Premature Russian insistence on OBJ
tanning her share caused embarrassment
in Washington and Ia London, The
Italians, who understood that their feet
would remain intact if they became AL
| lied belligerents, complained; so did
Americans of Italian origin. In order
| to satisfy all parties concerned, the
British and American governments Of
fered to give their own men-of-war to
make up the share of the tonnage which
had been promised to Russia.
Colonies an Issue.
After accepting an American cruiser
the Milwaukee, and couple of obsolete
British ships, Moscow thanked us land
said these ships were no good to her 1t
decided to present its claims when the
final peace treaty with Italy was signed
But far more important than the third
of the italian Navy is, of course, the
territorial possessions of Italy in North
Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The American and British govern
ments. after playing with the idea of
giving the trusteeship of the former
colonies to Italy, are now proposing to
place these areas under the protection
I of the United Nations on the basis that
they are inhabited overwhelmingly by
| Arabs who will deserve independence
after some years of education in gov
ernment under the guidance of the bic
| powers.
There is no reason, say the American
British and French governments, why
the Arabs in Cirenaica, Libya and Tri-
| politania should not eventually become
independent just like their brethren ir
Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
! So far the Russians have not indorsee
that idea. The Moscow leaders claim
the u. S. S. r. must have naval, ano
especially air, bases in at least one of the
former Italian colonies, because Russia
intends to become in the very neal
future Mediterranean power.
British Look to Life Line.
The British offered no objection to {
trusteeship given to either Italy or tn,
UNO. They are not worried about tn,
eventual complete independence of tn,
Arabs in North Africa. They will no
constitute threat to the life line
which links the British Isles to the In.
dian Ocean by way of the Mediterran.
can and the Suez Canal. But the Brit.
ish government, and particularly tn,
imperial staff, are dead opposed to any
major power having important air ane
naval bases on the southern shores o.
the Mediterranean.
The discussion of this subject is ex.
pected by experienced diplomats to b,
heated and bitter. The United States
and for the time being France, suppor
the British contention of United Ma.
tions trusteeship over the Italian col
onies in North Africa Russia peggee
her claims at the London conference il
September, 1915, and has shown no in.
clination to recede from her initial po.
sition.
The question of the Dodecanese anc
other islands in the Aegean Sea- Il