Evening star., 1946-09-09
England Drops
Claims on Italy
For Reparations
II Billions Involved;
Peace PorIey Resumes
ToIks on Boundary
BY the Assoeio'ed Press

PARIS, Sept. 9.-Great Britain
went before the italian Economic
Commission today to renounce
its claims to some $11,oOO,0 900 900
in reparations from Italy.
1t reserved to itself only the right
to exercise article SO of the italian
treaty allowing it to confiscate
whatever Italian assets may be
found in the United Kingdom and
its colonies to satisfy claims for war
damage. Some British quarters set
the value of the Italian assets at
no more than $10,000,o00.
The British statement expressed
belief 'the decision will show the
Italian people that we are not un-
mindful of the weight OF the task
of reconstruction which lies ahead
of them, or of their services to the
Allied cause"
Claims Total 20 Billion.
Britain's claim against Italy had
brought total reparation claims
against the former Axis partner to
more than $4,000, ,000,0 900. Only
Russia's 100000, 900 claim has been
approved so far.
Meanwhile, the Peace Conference
resumed talks on the Italian -Yugo-
slav boundary and moved to finish
other treaties by October 20.
president Truman talked by
telephone for about five minutes
to Secretary of State Byrnes in
Paris this morning about prob
lens of the Peace Conference,
White House Press Secretary
Charles G. Rose told reporters
in Washington. Mr.. Ross said
he had not heard anything about
reports that Mr.. Byrnes might
make radio report to the Ma
ton from Europe on the diplo-
matte situation)
In the Hungarian Political and
Territorial Commission another Bit
ter situation existing between Hum
gary and Czechoslovakia brought q
United States proposal for compro-
mise, offered by 1t. Gen. Walter
Bedell Smith, Ambassador to Mos.
COW.
Gen. Smith called on the Czecho-
slovaks and the Hungarians to try
to negotiate directly on Czecho-
slovakia's demand that 200 ,000 Hsin-
garians be expelled from Slovakia
as well as that Hungary should yield
an area south OF the Danube River,
below Bratislava, to Hungary.
He said that Czechoslovakias ter
ritorial demand, however desirable
from an economic viewpoint, brings
up the dangerous principle of the
forced transfer of minorities."
In the Italian Political and Ter
ritorial Committee. Chairman Lief
Egeland of South Africa noted that
despite all the talk last week, there
was no question of veering from
the proposal Of the Big Four Fore
ign Ministers to make the Italian
port of Trieste free, international
city.
Mr.. Egeland suggested leaving to
a subcommittee the question of set
tling the size of the free city's limits.
Ales Bebler. Yugoslav spokesman,
said his delegation wanted to di-
vide the boundary problem into four
parts: The Canale region, the Julian
Slovenia, Gorilla and the Isonzo
area.
Urges Another Committee.
He proposed that another subcom-
mittee, composed of Russia, the
United States. Great Britain, France.
China. Yugoslavia, White Russia
and Brazil handle the problem.
Mr.. Bebler said the subcommittee
would tighten the commissions task
by relieving it of a number Of intri-
cate details and expressed the belief
that it might reach decision on
a boundary line more acceptable
than the French line" adopted by
the Foreign Ministers.
The military commission ap-
preached the question of withdraw
ing occupation troops, one Of the
big points of dissension In the
Foreign Ministers Council.
Referred to Secretarlat.
Gen. N. v. Slavine of Russia raised
the question in the discussion of the
Italian treaty. The chairman, Col.
Marion Naszowski, suggested that
the problem should be taken up in
the political and territorial commits
sion.
The Russian asked specific as
surance and the question was re-
ferred to the secretariat general for
a discussion.
Vice Admiral Alfredo Carlos
Soares Dutra of Brazil withdrew q
proposed amendment calling for the
return of Italian war prisoners to
Italy within 30 days of the signing
of the treaty, after Brig. A. Dove
of Great Britain said that war
prisoners were being repatriated as
quickly as transport conditions per-
mitted