Some E. Europeans Troubled By Kremlin Reshuffle

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30576, 20 October 1964, Page 13

Some E. Europeans Troubled By Kremlin Reshuffle

(X.Z.PA.-Reuttr—Copyright) MOSCOW, Oct. 18.

Soviet Bloc leaders are expected to arrange a meeting soon to co-ordinate policy after Mr Khrushchev’s removal and to plan new moves on bloc unity. There were signs that at least three top East European leaders were taken by surprise and were deeply troubled by the abrupt Kremlin power shuffle. Informed sources said Mr Leonid Brezhnev, the new Soviet Communist Party chief, was likely to call early talks to calm Communist world anxieties. The talks would probably involve not only Soviet Bloc leaders but also heads of Communist parties In Western Europe, such as the key French and Italian leaders.

They would be able to meet conveniently in Moscow just before or just after Russia's forty-seventh Revolution anniversary celebration on November 7, the sources said. Future tactics on the China question have still to be worked out—there are signs that Mr Khrushchev was replaced at least partly because of his insistence on a showdown with Peking. Mr Wladyslaw Gomulka and Mr Janos Kadar, the Polish and Hungarian leaden, praised Mr Khrushchev’s “merits” in week-end statements, and both called for new efforts to ease Communist world tensions. Mr Kadar said in Budapest today that Communist differences should be settled “in a comradely atmosphere.” In East Germany. Mr Walter Ulbricht’s Socialist Unity (Communist) Party also praised the former Premier’s “merits,” and said news of his replacement caused “deep emotion.”

Mr Khrushchev’s departure 1 appeared to have been wel- * corned in China, and the s speculation here was that Ru- > mania may also have ap- < proved. Both are countries • whose relations with Russia • reached a low point during : the former Premier’s last two : years in office. Moscow observers believed ■ Mr Khrushchev’s abrupt re- ■ moval would be harder to ex- : plain in Eastern Europe than : in Russia itself, and that the : Kremlin would be anxious to ■ guard against troublesome : repercussions.

Bloc Solidarity Many observers believed the Russian leaders would act to ensure Communist Bloc solidarity even before they tackle the wider problem of relations with the West Mr Brezhnev and the new Kremlin hierarchy are anxious to show they want their East-West policy of co-exist-ence to continue. Even if they plan a tougher line, Moscow diplomats believe the Russians will do nothing to show their hand until after the American Presidential elections in November. Cuba Supported Continued support for peaceful coexistence was given in a joint Soviet-Cuban communique issued after a visit to Moscow by the Cuban President Osvaldo Dorticos, who was here at the time of Mr Khrushchev’s replacement and left yesterday. Mr Luigi Longo, the Italian Communist Party secretary, said in Milan today that the way in which Mr Khrushchev was ousted left the Italian Communists “concerned and critical.”

Speaking at a political rally, Mr Longo said the method used to change Soviet leadership showed “resistance to a return to the Leninist norms of party organisation, to wide freedom of expression and of debate spoken of in Togliatti’s testament” The general political line

followed by Mr Khrushchev “is not in debate,” Mr Longo said. “It is more than ever necessary today to go ahead on that road.”