TITO BEATING MOSCOW IN THE BALKANS

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1949, Page 5

TITO BEATING MOSCOW IN THE BALKANS

Comiiiform’s Failure (N.Z.P.A.—REUTER CABLE) (Rec. 10.5). LONDON, August 17. “In soite of its curtailment of economic relations and of its high power propaganda campaigns, the Cominform has failed in its declared object of ousting Marshal Tito”, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. “In fact, recent developments indicate that the initiative is passing to Marshal Tito. “Observers in London regard the appointment as a Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister of Anatoli Lavrentiev, former Soviet Ambassador in Belgrade, as an admission that Moscow’s year-old campaign against Marshal Tito has failed, and that an infusion of new blood is needed. “M. Lavrentiev probably has more first-hand knowledge of present day Yugoslavia than any other high Soviet official. With him in a key position in the Kremlin, it would be reasonable to suppose that the Soviet /policy towards Marshal Tito is being recast, in the light of M. Lavrentiev’s experience. Recent developments, which indicate that Marshal Tito’s position is improving, despite the efforts of the Cominform, are: (1) The agreement with Italy, whereby Marshal Tito, who once was surrounded by potential enemies, has secured his rear. (2) The position on his flanks has eased. Yugoslavia has signed an agreement with Hungary to prevent border incidents, which once were numerous. Albania, on the other hand, has been preoccupied with the Greek fighting. (3) Marshal Tito has recently returned from a much-pub-licised visit to Macedonia, which has focussed attention on the idea of a united pro-Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which has a strong emotional appeal to the Slav Macedonians. Marshal Tito has backed up this campaign by stationing crack Croatian troops in the. Yugoslav part of Macedonia, and by fostering reports of thirty thousand refugees being gathered from Bulgaria in Greek Macedonia. The appointment of M. Lavrentiev may have been made, observers think, to formulate Moscow’s answer to this challenge”. Over 4000 Berliners Arrested or Kidnapped In Soviet Sector (Rec. 11.59) BERLIN, Aug. 19 The American licensed newspaper, “Neuezeitung” alleged that at least 4195 people have been arrested or kidnapped since May 1945, by German police in the Soviet sector of Berlin or by Soviet services. The newspaper added that among those kidnapped were two hundred and nine women, forty young girls, and three’ hundred and two youths under twenty.