Evening star., 1948-09-15
u. N. 10 Get Problem
OF |taIy's Colonies
As Big -Four Disagree
sv the Assoeioied Press


PARIS, Sept. 15.-The problem
of what to do about Italy'S pre-
war empire in Africa went to the
United Nations today for de-
cision.
Representatives of the Big -Four
powers-Russia, the United States,
Britain and France-wrangle over
the question until o'clock this
morning, but agreed on only one
thirg-that they could not agree.
Representatives of the four coun-
trie7. formally turning over the
que~.on to the U. N. drafted this
letter to Secretary General Trygve
Lie:
On the instructions of the gov
ernmontS of the United States,
France. the United Kingdom and
the Soviet Union. we have the
honor to inform you that the ques-
ticn of the fate of the Ic!mer Ital-
ian colonies is transmitted to the
General Assembly of the United
Nations under Article %, Paragraph
3 Of Annex II of the treaty of peace
with Italy. This is done so that III
accordance with the rules OF its
procedure the Assembly may ex-
anime the question at the session
opening September 81"
Conferred Two Days.
Bv the terms of the Italian peace
treaty. signed a year ago today, the
problem now passes to the united
Nations Assembly. The veto does
no apply there.
In two days OF conferences the
Big Four delegates-summOne to
consider the future of Erltrea
LiDva and Somaliland-spent most
OF their time arguing about whether
they had the necessary authority TO
DO anything. Russia said they
hadn't because only France had a
foreign minister present.
When they did get down to the
question at hand. Russia demanded
that all three colonies be placed
under international trusteeship. The
Western powers said no. The West
ern powers got together on a pro-
posal TO put Somaliland under Ital-
Ian trusteeship. Russia blocked that.
L. s. Backs British Proposal.
In Washington. the State Depart
ment announced that the United
Safes is backing a British pro-
poSal to turn over CirenaiCa, one
OF Lbya's three provinces, to Brit
ain. under U. N. trusteeShip. until
independence can be achieved.
Secretary of State Marshall re-
fused today to bind the United
States to follow in the United
Nations Assembly exactly the
same proposals for disposition of
Italy's preWar colonies as it SpOn-
sored in Big Four discussions.
He told a news conference that
this Government is giving care
ful consideration to each proposal
put forward by other govern
ments i'll an enort to find SCme
workable plan)
Andrei Y. ViShinskv. the Soviet
deputy Foreign Minister, said the
meetings here were not session of
the Foreign Minister'S Council. s.nca
only france had a man of that
rank present.
II Russia Shifts Attitude.
The Russian proposal for inter-
national trusteeship for the three
colonies constituted an abrupt shift
Earlier, the Soviet Union had come
out for putting them under Italian
trIsteeship. Mr.. Vishinsky shifted
course in the middle Of an argu-
ment yesterday.
Lewis w. Douglas. Ambassador to
London, representing the United
States, expressed amazement First
he said Russia wanted to give Italy
everything: then, she wanted to
give Italy nothing
Until the question Is decided, the
colonies will remain under British
and French administration as they
have since they were taken from
italy during the war. France con-
trolls the Fezzan Province in Libya,
Britain all the rest. The colonies
have an area of more than 100000
square miles and population OF