860h.9111 R. R./6–2245: Telegram
No. 567
The Chargé in Yugoslavia
(Shantz) to the Acting Secretary of State
188. …
. . . . . . .
Speaking yesterday to a delegation from Trieste who were here to attend anti-Fascist Women’s Congress Marshal Tito said in part “tell the people of Istria and the Slovene Littoral that we have done everything in our power and that there was nothing else that we could do. We were forced to submit to this great sacrifice with heavy heart. The problem of civil government is still open, but we will fight for the rights of the people of Trieste, the Slovene Littoral, and other places. There exists a tendency to reinstate the former Italian Government, Fascist courts which existed up to the capitulation of Italy. It is evident that Slovene and Italian anti-Fascists have a full moral right to resist whether by protests, petitions, or any other lawful means.”