Evening star., 1949-05-04
Acheson Denies Claim
OF u. 5. Interference .
In Balkan Affairs

Secretary Of State Acheson to-
day rejected as clearly not valid"
Hungarian. Bulgarian and Ro-
naanian charges that American
interest In human rights In those
countries Is an attempt to inter-
fere In their internal affairs.
Mr.. Acheson told a news con-
ference that this Government is
consulting with other Western
nations with q view to proceeding
under provisions of the peace
treaties with the three Soviet
satellite governments against their
violation Of treaty pledges to pre-
serve political. religious and press
freedoms.
The United States. Great
Britain. Canada. Australia and
New Zealand joined in formally
accusing the Communist govern
ments OF the three Balkan coun-
tries on Aprii 2 of deliberately
and Systematically" denying to
their peoples the fundamental
freedoms and human rights guar
anteed under the treaties.
Remedial Measures Asked.
The April 2 notes called on the
three governments to adopt
prompt remedial measures In re-
spect of the violations" set out in
detail. II
Imprisonment OF Cardinal.
Mindszenty In Hungary and
prosecution Of group Of Prot
estant church leaders In Bulgaria
were among the actions which the
Western powers charged violated
the human rights pledges.
Mr.. Acheson indicated that the
Western nations would move
promptly to invoke the peace
treaty machinery.
Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania
rejected the April 2 protest,
charging the United States with
attempting TO interfere in their
affairs.
Argument Rejected.
This argument is clearly not
valid" Mr.. Acheson said. "since
the protection of human rights is
an international obligation as
sumed by these governments when
they signed the. peace treaties and
not q. matter of purely domestic
Jurisdiction"
He said the three Balkan coun-
tries. In their replies to the April 2
protests, made other accusations
against the United States which
are both false and not germane to
the issue of violation of human
rights" sone of the charges was
that the United States is support
ing Fascist elements in the three
countries.
The replies. he added, confirmed
the existence OF disputes" con-
cerning execution and interpreta-
ton OF the peace treaties. The
treaties provide specific procedures
for settling such disputes.
Calls for Big Three Talk.
The procedure calls for con-
sideration Of the dispute In the
first place by the heads OF the
American, British and Soviet dip
lomatic missions in each of the
three countries involved. If the
big three do not reach agreement
within two months, each dispute
then shall be referred to a COM
mission.
This commission would be COM
posed Of one representative of each
party to the dispute and a third
member selected by mutual agree
ment. II they should fail to agree
within month on the third mem
'ber. either party could ask the
secretary general Of the United
Nations to appoint the third men,
Der. These commissions could
make decisions by majority vote.
State Department officials ex-
planned that under this procedure
two commissions would be set up
In each country-one to consider
the United States dispute with
the country involved and the 9TH
er TO consider the British dispute.
Canada. Australia and New Zea-
land are not considered parties
to the disputes under the peace
treaty machinery. although they
associated themselves with the
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