Berlin meeting vindicates Tito

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 20

Berlin meeting vindicates Tito

President Tito, of Yugoslavia, has won a 30-year battle against the Russian dictatorship over Western Communist parties at the European Communist summit in Berlin. It was the first international Communist conference since Stalin founded the Comintern in 1919 to fostei world revolution, at which delegates were able to say what they wished, especially on the subject of their relations with Moscow. The Italian party leader (Mr Enrico Berlinguer) was perhaps the most outspoken, even referring to Moscow’s crushing of the Prague uprising. The Russian leader (Mr Brezhnev), in a sombre speech on the first day of •' the conference of 29 parties, confirmed what was expected: a proclamation on behalf of the Russian partv on a new style of relationship between Communist parties based on equality and complete independence for each nartv. With this assurance, the conference got into its stride and develoned into a free exchange of views and discussion. As Mr Berlinguer and the French leader (Mr Georges Marchais) referred to Moscow’s brutal suppression of the Prague uprising, Mr Brezhnev turned his back on them, but he staved in the conference hall and listened

to a translation of their speeches. President Tito’s role in achieving the Kremlin surrender was a major topic of private conversation among the independent party leaders. and he was frequently referred to as "the hero” of the conference. Bttt none of the delegates paid him public tribute, or made reference to his stand against Stalin in 1948. Omission to mention Tito’s role was apparently agreed bv the Yugoslav delegation so as not to rub salt into Moscow’s wounds. Tito himself was surprisingly modest in his presentation of the Yugoslav position. If any party leader at the conference had a claim to have foreseen the damage Stalin caused to the Communist parties of the world in compromising them in demanding their blind loyalty, it was Tito. The question now is—how long will this accommodation by the Kremlin last? Ironically, the “new deal’’ . omes at a time when a developing economic crisis in the Communist bloc has made some Eastern European countries more dependent on Russia. As one East German source said: “This is not the time to follow an independent course. Look what happened to the Poles when thev chose a special road of their own to resolve their economic problems. O.F.JJ.S., copyright.