Evening star., 1948-03-20
Action Poses Dilemma for Stain:
Palestine Shift Stirs World Storm
U. S. Submits Plan
To Russian, Italian
Ambassadors
By the Associoted Press

The United States, Britain and
France today proposed the re-
turn of the Territory of Trieste
to Italy through a major revision
of the Italian peace treaty.
The proposal was made on behalf
of the American Government to the
Russian and Italian embassies here
at 10 am. Trieste is an important
port city and shipbuilding center
on the Adriatic Sea between Italy
and Yugoslavia.
Under the italian peace treaty,
Trieste was established as a free
territory under the protection of the
United Nations.
Today's joint announcement of
the western powers said this plan
for an Independent Trieste is not
working out very well.
Virtually Taken by Yugoslavs.
It said Yugaslavia already has
virtually incorporated that area of
the territory occupied by Yugoslav
troops.
The proposal to place the free
territory of Trieste once more under
italian sovereignty" apparently is a
major move by the Western powers
in Italian political strategy. The
Italians are to hold national elec-
ton April Is with communist bid
for power the big issue.
The Western powers decision to
propose return of Trieste to Italy
was attributed to two main causes:
/. discussions in the Security
Council have already shown that
agreements on the selection of a
governor for Trieste) is impossible. "
The peace treaty provides that
governor for the new free territory
should be chosen by the u. N. Sc
curity Council.
2. The three powers "have re-
ceived abundant evidence to show
that the Yugoslav zone has been
completely transformed in character
and has been virtually incorporated
into Yugoslavia by procedures which
do not respect the desire expressed
by the powers to give an Independent
and democratic status to the terri
tory"
Bidault Urges Acceptance.
French Foreign Minister Georges
Bidault, in announcing the three
power decision in Turin, Italy, ex-
pressed hope for a prompt and
favorable reply from the Soviet gov
ment."
At Lake Success, United Nations
Secretary General Trygve Lie re-
fused comment, saying, Il must
think it over"
Andrei A. Gromyko, Soviet deputy
foreign minister. was not immedi-
ately available for comment.
Mr.. Bidault said the Western
powers feel the restoration of Tri-
este is necessary to preserve peace
between Italy and Yugoslavia.
Declaring France agreed to make
Trieste free territory only because
certain of our partners refused alb
solutely to give Trieste to Italy,"
Mr.. Bidault said:
The French government has
come to the conclusion that this
regime is no longer tenable (the
French word viable) and in interest
of peace between Italy and Yugo-
slavia it is important to find another
solution.
This solution, 1t believes, cannot
but be the return purely and simply
of Trieste to Italy"
Agreement Reviewed.
The joint statement reviewed the
compromise agreement between the
Western powers and Russia more
than a year ago by which the free
territory of Trieste was created and
then concluded:
THE governments of the United
States, United Kingdom and France
have therefore decided to recon-
mend the return of the free terri
tory of Trieste to Italian sover-
eighty as the best solution to meet
the democratic aspirations of the
people and make possible the re-es-
tablishment of peace and stability
IN the area.
"Inasmuch as the Security Coun-
ell has assumed the responsibility
for the independence and territorial
integrity of the free territory Of
Trieste, the governments Of the
(see TRIESTE, Page A-40