HC Deb 23 April 1947 vol 436 cc1009-10
15. Professor Savory

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give instructions to His Majesty's Ambassador in Belgrade to support the protest of the U.S. Government against the seizure by the Yugoslav authorities of Italian ships in the harbour of Trieste and insist that these ships be restored forthwith to Italy.

Mr. McNeil

His Majesty's Ambassador in Belgrade protested to the Yugoslav Government on 17th February against the condemnation as prizes by the Yugoslav courts of nine Italian ships contrary to the terms of the Armistice. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply now received from the Yugoslav Government, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to address a further note to them in the near future.

Professor Savory

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, in addition to those nine ships, Marshal Tito has seized the wreck of the "Rex" and is reported to have sold it, and that ship, as the right hon. Gentleman is aware, was the very best of all the Italian liners?

Mr. Gallacher

Is it not the case that the Minister and his associates are prepared to use any and every means of trying to get introduced into Yugoslavia the conditions that exist in Greece?