Evening star., 1946-08-12
Reds Challenge
/
Byrnes Ruling
As Chairman
Insist on Discussing
Italian PIeo;; a Small
Nations to Be Heard
BY the Assoeio.ed Pres.

PARIS, Aug. 12.-Secretary of
State Byrnes took over today as
chairman of the Peace Confer
ence. and the Soviet delegation
quickly challenged one of his
rulings on procedure.
Mr.. Byrnes said he would recog
nize Yugoslavia today to answer
the Italian plea for softened treaty
terms-and only Yugoslavia in view
OF a previous conference decision
that general debate on the cases
OF the former enemy countries would
be reserved to a later date.
The right to speak had been
granted to Yugoslavia Saturday
during the chairmanship of Frances
Georges Bidault.
Mr.. Byrnes' ruling immediately
drew fire from Soviet Delegate A. Y.
Vishinsky. He said the Soviet
wanted debate to open Immediately
on the Italian declaration, and that
each delegation had the right to
speak.
The Soviet delegation insists that
no obstacles be allowed Mr.. Vishin-
sky said. ANY country has the
right to answer any charges and
to repudiate such charges"
Alexander Sees Endless Talk.
British Delegate A. v. Alexander
said, nobody wishes to prevent any
one here from speaking on any
statement" but insisted that If
every one wanted to make a re-
mark about every statement here
these proceedings would be no fur
ther advanced by September IS,
when this conference is supposed to
adjourn, than they are now
Mr.. Byrnes was occupying the
Craftsmanship under a rotation sys-
tenn which will give the chair In
turn to representatives of China,
Britain, France and Russia. He as
sured the conference it could CON
troll its own business and its own
time" but said he would recognize
only Edward Kardelj of Yugoslavia
on the italian treaty today unless
the conference reversed his ruling.
Earlier the conference voted
unanimously to invite Albania
Mexico, Cuba and Egypt to appear
for hearings on the Italian treaty
1t also agreed on the method of
handling each days conference
agenda. This will be prepared by
the conference secretariat. approved
by the conference president and pre-
sented In plenary session for minor
changes.
Vishynsky Insists on Discussion.
When Mr.. Byrnes for a second
time called on the Yugoslav dele
gate to take the floor, Mr.. Vishyn-
sky gained it instead on a point of
order. declaring:
We cannot accept the course of
action you tMr. Byrnes) have sug-
gested. We must discuss right now
the important declaration made by
Mr.. de Gasperi 1talian Premier) on
Saturday. II We do not examine
the Italian declaration Immediately
it will impede the future progress
OF the conference. If these issues
are not settled Immediately they will
create confusion in the future work
OF the Italian commission"
Finally, an hour after afternoon
session opened. Mr.. Kardelj spoke,
on the assurance from Mr.. Byrnes
that he would entertain motion
for full debate at the conclusion.
Voices of the remnants of the
forces of aggression" Mr. KardeIj
declared, were calling for "all pos
sible assistance to be given Italy in
order to make her into bulwark
against Slav pressure"
Sees Aggression Yet Living.
Official statements of similar
nature have been made in certain
Allied countries to the effect that
is was necessary to defend Italy
from the demands raised by Yugo-
slavia.' he continued. TT is wrong
because it encourages those forces
Of aggression in Italy and other
countries which have not renounced
their aggressive aims"
AS the conference entered it's third
week, meanwhile, gloomy delegates
were betting privately that they
would still be here at Christmas.
Some Of them commented that since
the first two weeks produced nothing
more favorable than a set of rules
by which the Russians even now
hint they do not feel bound-it would
take long, long time to resolve the
conflicting views on the five peace
treaties, on which many diplomats
have even stronger views than with
regard to the rules.
There seemed to be little hope now
that the conference could adjourn
by mid-September--in time for the
United Nations Assembly meeting in
New York September 23-and even
some of the most optimistic dele
gates predicted the peace confer
ence would continue we'll into Sep