Page 96 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 11(2) (2023)

the Allies after surrendering in 1943). As in oth- issue was partially solved by the 1947 Treaty of
er European countries, the disputed territory Paris (signed on 10 February, entered into force
was ethnically inhomogeneous. It was a region on 15 September). The Treaty was signed by the
where both the Slavic (Slovenes and Croats) and Allied powers and their associates on one side
the Roman (Italians) ethnic communities were and Italy on the other (Treaty of Peace with Italy
living. 1950). The Paris Peace Treaty delineated the bor-
In 1945 the demarcation line, named after der between Yugoslavia and Italy in the north-
the British general and negotiator Sir William ern part of the area, while at the same time estab-
Duthie Morgan, divided the disputed territory lishing the ‘Free Territory of Trieste’ (FTT) in
of the region called the Julian March / Julijska Article 21. It also delineated the border between
Krajina / Venezia Giulia (Sporazum o Julijskoj Italy and the FTT, and between Yugoslavia and
8
krajini 1945, 19). After the demarcation line was the FTT. Article 5 specified that the exact bor-
96 drawn, the Anglo-American forces abandoned der line was to be determined ‘on the spot’ by the
their plans to occupy the whole region and Boundary Commission, which was to be com-
studia universitatis hereditati, letnik 11 (2023), številka 2 / volume 11 (2023), number 2
agreed to divide it into two areas. However, they posed of members of the governments of the two ti
insisted that Trieste remained in their zone. The parties concerned, and which was to complete its
compromise solution that resulted from the ne- work in no later than six months. It was impor-
gotiations was also formalised. General Jovano- tant that the members of the Boundary Com-
vić and General Morgan signed an agreement – mission set the boundary in accordance with ta
the ‘Belgrade Agreement’ – on 9 June 1945. The local geographical and economic conditions,
Julian March was divided into two occupation meaning that no village or town with more than
zones, Zone A under Allied military adminis- 500 inhabitants, or important transport (rail or
tration and Zone B under Yugoslav military ad- road) links and water pipelines were outside the
ministration (Sporazum o Julijskoj krajini 1945, already established boundary line or subject to di
9
19). The second agreement between the two change (Treaty of Peace with Italy 1950). How-
sides was signed in Duino (Italy) on 20 June ever, the reality turned out to be different. As
1945, and included ‘military concessions on the two interlocutors said, the members of the com-
part of the Belgrade Agreement’ (Milkić 2014). mission came and placed the stakes ‘Se veni una
The agreements on the division of the zones of mattina e mola i picchetti…’ [translation from di-
interest were signed after long and difficult ne- alect, meaning ‘They came one morning and left here
gotiations between the powers involved (the for- the stakes], without talking to the local popula-
10
mer Allies) (Nećak 1998; Cunja 2004). tion (Interlocutors 12 and 13).
The demarcation line between the two mil- The Treaty was a solution for only part of
itary administrations was perceived as tempo- the disputed border between Yugoslavia and It-
rary by both sides. The area – the subject of the aly, while the still ‘problematic’ southern territo-
dispute between Yugoslavia and Italy – was also ry resulted in the formation of the FTT as a new
problematic due to the possibility of new mili- independent, sovereign State. This territory was
tary confrontations breaking out. The border divided, similarly to the Julian March, into two

8 The division of the Julian March: the area west of the administration zones (Zone A, under an Allied
demarcation line included Trst/Trieste with rail and Military Government and Zone B under a Yugo-
road links to Gorica/Gorizia, Kobarid/Caporetto, Trbiž/ slav Military Government). In 1954, the signing
Tarvisio, and the region of Pulj/Pola as well as the ports on
the west coast of Istria. of the London Memorandum or Memorandum
9 The signatories of the Belgrade Agreement were the of Understanding meant both military govern- studiauniversitatis
Yugoslav Foreign Minister, Dr Ivan Šubašić, the British ments handed over their mandates to the Gov-
Ambassador, R.C. Skrine Stevenson, and the US
Ambassador, Richard C. Petterson. ernments of Italy and Yugoslavia (Memoran-
10 See also note 6. dum of Understanding 1956, 100):