Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Paris Peace Conference: Proceedings, Volume III

740.00119 Council/7–1946: Telegram

The Assistant Secretary of State (Dunn) to the Secretary of State

secret
urgent

Paris, July 19, 1946—noon.
[Received July 20—12:34 p.m.]

3554. From Dunn Delsec 727. Fourth meeting of Trieste Commission July 18⁴ devoted mainly to hearing the views of Yugoslavia represented by Bebler, and Italy, represented by Giuseppe Bettiol. Bebler read a 19 page exposition of Yugoslav views. He devoted 14 pages to proving that Trieste should become integral part of Yugoslavia but ended by offering to make “a last effort to avoid a failure of the Peace Conference” through presenting Yugoslav proposal for an internationalized Trieste. Yugoslav proposal summarized in separate telegram.⁵

In response to a Soviet question Bebler proposed that the provisional government for the Free Territory be formed from the liberation committees and certain other political groups, naming all the Yugoslav and pro-Yugoslav organizations in Zone A. Italian view was that institutions created in Zone A under AMG provide satisfactory basis for transitional regime. This gave Bebler opening for violent attacks on Italian liberation movement in Venezia Giulia and on AMG administration. US Delegate,⁸ as chairman, reminded Bebler that his remarks went far beyond the subjects within Commission’s competence. Italians complained of lack of time for preparation and devoted effort to refuting Yugoslav claims. They stated that Yugoslav project did not offer real autonomy for Trieste, but only autonomy within Yugoslavia. They urged that Italy represent the Free Territory and that Trieste should be in customs and monetary unions with Italy. They asked for guarantees against “artificial modification of ethnic character” of Free Territory and for guarantees for freedom of transit to countries normally served by Trieste.

Bebler raised question of further discussion between the Commission and Yugoslav representatives, claiming that yesterday’s hearing did not constitute a genuine consultation as provided in CFM decision of July 3. During later discussion of this question by Commission alone, Soviet Delegate,⁹ who had criticized Italians during hearing for failure to present positive proposals, urged that Italians and Yugoslavs be given until Saturday as a deadline for further consultation and then be told that consultation was over. This proposal was rejected by the Commission and the question of any further hearings was left open to be decided by the Commission either on basis of new request by Italy or Yugoslavia or in light of its own requirement for further information.

At close of meeting Soviet Delegate circulated drafts (1) for statute of Free Territory and (2) for free port convention. Summaries follow.¹⁰ Commission meets Saturday¹¹ at eleven.

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Dunn

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4. A special commission consisting of representatives of the U.S., U.K., U.S.S.R., and France to examine the entire subject of the Free Territory of Trieste and to make preliminary suggestions to the Peace Conference was established in accordance with the decision of the Council of Foreign Ministers on July 3, 1946 (see the Record of Decisions of this meeting, vol. ii, p. 751). The Council’s decision on this matter was set forth in paragraph 3 of article 16 of the Draft Peace Treaty with Italy, vol. iv, p. 9.

   The first meeting of the Special Commission on the Statute of the Free Territory of Trieste was held on July 15, 1946. The meetings of July 16 and 17 were devoted to a discussion of a British draft paper setting forth the decisions already taken by the Council of Foreign Ministers relative to Trieste and listing the main points for investigation by the Commission. At the insistence of the United States delegation, it was agreed that the list of decisions already taken should include the Council’s decisions of July 3, 1946, and the Council’s decision of September 19, 1945, concerning an international regime assuring equal use of port and transit facilities (see the Record of the 12th Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, September 19, 1945, item 1, Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. ii, p. 254).

5. Telegram 3575 (Delsec 731), July 19, from Paris, not printed.
8. Philip E. Mosely.
9. V. S. Gerashchenko.
10. The Soviet proposals for the Draft Statute and the Draft Regulations for the Free Port were set forth in documents C.F.M. (46) 233 and C.F.M. (46) 234, July 18, 1946, neither printed. Summaries of these proposals were transmitted to the Department in telegrams 3574 (Delsec 730), and 3573 (Delsec 729), July 19, from Paris, neither printed. For text of the revised Soviet proposal for the Draft Statute for Trieste, see vol. iv, p. 592.
11. July 27.