The Laugh Seems To Be With Tito

Chronicle (Levin), 18 August 1949, Page 5

The Laugh Seems To Be With Tito

Received Wednesdav, 7 p.m. LONDON, August 17. Despite the curtailment of economie relations and of nigh power propaganda campaigns, the Cominform has failed in its declared object of oustiiig Tito, says Reuter 's diplomatic correspondent. In faet, recent dev'elopments indicate tha.t the initiative is passing to Tito. Observers in London l'egard the appointment as a Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister, of Anatoli Lavrentiev, ex-Ambassador in Belgrade, as an admission that Moseow's year old campaign against Tito has failed and that the infusion of new blood is needed. Lavrentiev probably has more first hand knowledge of present day Yugoslavia than any other high Soviet official. With him in a kev position in the Kremlin, it would be reasonable to suppose that Soviet policy towards Tito is being re^ast in the light of Laventiev's experience. Recent developments which indicate that Tito's position is improving despite the efforts of the Cominform, are, firstly, the agreement with Itaiv whereby Tijp, once surrounded by potential enemies, has secured his rear. Secondlv, the position on his flanks has eased. Yugoslavia has signed an agreement with Hungarv to prevent border incideiTts, once nnmerous. Albania, on the other hand," has been preoccupied ^with Greek fighting. Thirdly, Tito has recently returhed from a much publieised visit to Macedonia which has focused attention 011 the idea of a united proYugoslav Republic of Macedonia which has a strong emotional appeal to Slav Macedonians. Tito has backed up this campaign by stationing crack Croatian troops in the Yugoslav part of Macedonia and by fostering reports of 30,000 refugees gatliered from Bulgaria in Greek Macedonia. The appointment of Lavrentiev mav have been made, observers think, to formulate Moseow's answer to this challenge.