Evening star., 1948-03-21
Possibility Is Seen
That Tito May Try 10
Force Trieste Issue
By Constantine Brown

sea forces around Trieste and in
the Adriatic have been alerted to
forestall any surprise move by the
Yugoslavs who may attempt to force
the issue by arms before Russia
has had q chance to answer the
American, British and French in
vitation to revise the peace. treaty
with italy by returning that Adri-
attic port to italian sovereignty.
The request of the western pow
ers is based on their promise to the
italian government that after rati-
flcation such provisions of the
treaty as proved unavoidable would
be reconsidered and changed by
common consent.
The case of Trieste Is typical.
The signatories of the treaty have
endeavored by every means, such
as discussions among themselves
and bilateral discussions between
Rome and Belgrade, to reach an
agreement on appointment Of
governor. Names of citizens of
Norway, Sweden, Switzerland: and
other countries which are ,consid-
cred strictly neutral in this matter
and would have provided an ad-
ministrator mindful only of the
treaty provisions have been rejected
by the Soviet bloc.
Communists Inf1ltrating.
Ma tary
Yugoslavia were turned down be-
cause from past experience it was
obvious that such individuals would
obey the Kremlins orders rather
than those of the Security Council
The deadlock has continued for
more than year. In the mean
time, the Yugoslavs have been mus
cling into the free territory, first
by Incorporating, In fact If not in
form, that area under control of
Yugoslav troops; then by bringing
!. into Trieste well-known Communist
operators" of italian nationality
but owing allegiance to Moscow to
create disturbances and organize
popular moves" which were to take
place at a given time when Belgrade
ordered. According to information
available to our occupation forces
In Trieste the zero hour has been
, bet to synchronize with the Italian
elections on April 18. -<
4 The move of the Western allies
the shrewdest diplomatic coup they
have made in many .years-has
placed Russia in definitely diff
, cult position. She either agrees
II only in form-to discuss the pro-
posal with the Western powers or
she rejects the proposal outright.
: If she accepts our invitation she
Is in serious danger of losing her
hold on Yugoslavia whose position
In the Adriatic and in the Balkans
is of vital importance.
If she rejects our proposals out
right-which is considered at this
time as highly probable-she may
lose her chances OF placing italy
behind the iron curtain by legal
proceedings-that is to say by an
election.
sssr sr~-ssrsAkay WiniE a&sTito. essas,
"a, some rntts,
tary men here fear that she may
adopt, is to wink at Tito and let
him rush the solution of Trieste by
q military coup d'etat. This, of
course, would mean a direct clash
between the Yugoslavs and the TO-
900 American and British soldiers
in Trieste supported by their naval
and air units In the sArriatic. ~
!. In .,Su19 all @sfentuAlity, which
Inustssse brought hefpre the ssSea
EdntYL council, the Spsaet and satA Z
lite Representatives unquestionaby
would plead that the Yugoslavs act
ed under severe provocation on the
part of the ist-imperialisttc"
Western powers which are backing
their "lackeys the Italian govern
ment) in Rome
Whether Moscow is ready to throw
the gauntlet at the western powers
and unleash a war with the United
States, which our experts MAINTAIN
she is still trying to avoid in the
immediate future, is the key ques-
ton to the whole problem. This mat
ter was discussed. at length In wash
ington, London and Paris before 1t
was decided to launch the diplo-
matte atom bomb yesterday. AND
the consensus of the diplomats from
the three capitals is said to have
been that Russia may not decide
to take this fatal step.
Tito Might Act on Own.
But at the same time 1t Is ad-
mitted that Tito himself might act,
as he has done on rare occasions
in the past, on his own and place
an accomplished fact before the
U. S. S. R. He feels certain that
he will not be disavowed by his
masters regardless Of consequences.
Tito always has been the fair
haired boy Of the war now" party
in the Politburo-a party which
according to Secretary OF State
Marshall now definitely has the up
per hand in the Kremlin.
The Yogoslav Army Is the spear
head of the Red Army. A large
force estimated at 10000 men with
headquarters at Ljublana Is con-
centrated for action in Italy. An
other army estimated at some 20o,-
900 men with headquarters In Bitolj
is poised to assist the Greek guer-
rillas in their planned final attack
against the royal forces. The rest
of the forces are spread at strategic
centers ready to enforce either OF
these two striking forces.
But this force on which the Rus
sian high command is counting as
an advance guard in the Mediter-
ranean might 60 entirely out Of
hand should Moscow give any indi-
cations that it is ready to give
even lip service to western pro-
posal to deprive Yuroslayia of