The Key West citizen., 1954-10-05

10 ms Cabinet today that agree.
ment finally had been reached
with Yugoslavia on a division Of
the Trieste free territory.
Initiating of the long-awaited ac.
cord was scheduled in London la.
ter today.
Scelba called it ga great day
for Italy"
Il am very happy" he said
FINALLY we are going back into
Trieste"
Settlement of the bitter nine.
year dispute between the two
Adriatic Sea neighbors is expected
to ease the task of welding the de.
tense line across southeastern Eu-
rope against possible Communist
aggression.
Immediately after signing of the
agreement by the British and Yu-
goslav ambassadors in London,
Scelba planned to present it to the
Italian Parliament and demand a
vote of confidence on it.
Under the agreement, virtually
all Zone A of the strategic terri
tory at the head of the Adriatic
Sea goes to Italy. This zone, which
includes the port city of Trieste,
has been occupied jointly by US.
and British troops since World
War II.
Yugoslavia gets Zone B, the hin
terland area which Yugoslav
forces have held since they
marched into Trieste in 1945, as
well as several pockets in Zone A
along the southern boundary which
are populated mostly by
Yugoslavs.
The 1000 American and 5000
British troops garrisoning Zone A
are expected to pull out shortly,
making way for Italian troops.
Both Italy and Yugoslavia had
long demanded all the territory.
The dispute led to numerous bor.
der incidents, and relations be.
tween the two countries deteri.
Grated seriously.
The settlement was reached in
London after lengthy negotiations
among Italy, Yugoslavia, the Unit.
ed States and Britain. London and
Washington have been proddine
Rome and Belgrade for some time
to end the dispute, which has
blocked Western efforts to close
their defense chain across south
Europe.
The agreement is expected tc
smooth the way for Italy's partici
patton in the Balkans antiaggres
sion alliance signed in August BY
Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey.
Officially, the agreement i.
classed as provisional set
tlement. This is to help Scelba Sc
cure the Italian Parliament's ap
pr0val. The United States and Bri
tain, however, consider the divi
sion of the territory in reality )
permanent one.
Most of the 100000 inhabitant.
In the 86-square- mile Zone A tool
the advance news of the settlement
calmly.
Some tension was reported in
the small areas slated to 20 te
Yugoslavia. About 5000 persons
live in those sections. Some 81
Italian descent already are selline
their holdings and moving into the
Italian zone.
Yug0slavia received the bigges,
hunk Of territory - 1893 square
miles Of sparse hillsides, sheer
grazing land and vineyards. Its
$4,000 inhabitants are largely peas.
ants Of Yugoslav origin. Belgrade
also gained special port rights in
Trieste city and protection for its
minority living there.
The area given to Italy contains
the bulk of the territory's popula.
ton - 100000 persons. The city Of
Trieste, major port since the 18th
century when it was part of the
Austro Hungarian Empire, has
about 100000 residents.
Italy won the whole of the Istriar
Peninsula, including the Trieste
territory, from Austria at the
close Of World War l and lost i,
during World War II. For 40 tense
DAYS In 1945, it was occupied BY
Yugoslav partisans. Then an Alice
military government was set up.
The free territory was formal,
set up by the Italian Peace Treaty
OF ls47, which formalized the di
vision of the area into two occu
patton zones. Under the arrange
ment, a governor was to be an
pointed by the United Nations, bu
the Russians and the West coult
not agree on a candidate.
In l94S, before Yugoslayia' ,,
Communist government brok,
with the Kremlin, the Allies an
nounced that both zones of Triest,
should be returned to Italy. Thi.
Idea was dropped after Yugo
slavia left the Cominform.
In 1852, Italy was given a hanC
II local administration of the AL
lied zone.