THE RED RUPTURE

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1949, Page 5

THE RED RUPTURE

IS RED ARMY ON FRONTIER OF YUGOSLAVIA ? (Rec 10.50) LONDON, Aug 24. Whitehall regards Russia’s press campaign for Marshal Tito’s “execution” as an incitement to Soviet agents, says the “Daily Express.” Evidence of several unsuccessful plots to kill Marshal Tito has already reached London. It is understood Rt. Hon. Ernest Bevln and the United States Ambassador, Mr Lewis Douglas, yesterday discussed the Soviet » threats to Tito. They studied the evidence of organised infiltration into Yugoslavia, and of alleged move; to start a civil war. The British and United States diplomats in Belgrade are reporting frequently. tn Moscow to-day the Soviet News Agency Tass, quoted a Social Christian newspaper “La Metropole” _of Antwerp, as saying, “Tito is realising an Anglo-American plan in the Belkans. The first stage of this plan is the isolation of Albania by land and sea from coutries of the People’s Democracies and from the Soviet Union. Realisation of this plan will be speeded up, after the conclusion of the Peace Treaty with Austria and the withdrawal from Hungary and Rumania of the Soviet troops still (remaining.” RED ARMY

Allied observers in Vienna said tonight that they have seen no evidence of Russian or other troops movements towards Yugoslavia’s borders. They say there are only 10 divisions of Russian troops in Central and South-eastern Europe and these are on essential garrison duty. There has been no evidence of any reinforcement movements, such as would be necessary for military action against Yugoslavia. YUGOSLAViADEMANDS “HANDS OFF” IN NOTE TO MOSCOW BELGRADE, Aug. 23 Yugoslavia in a note to Moscow, demanded to-day that Russia maintain a “hands off” policy in Yugoslavia’s internal affairs. This was laid down in a new Note to the Soviet Union arising out of Russia’s protest against Yugoslavia’s arrest and detention of 31 reputed Russian citizens. Simultaneously, however, Yugoslavia offered to extradite these Russians if that was what Moscow wanted. The Note said this offer held good for the departure of all other Russian citizens who were anxious to leave Yugoslavia. The Yugoslavia Minister of Information released the text of the Note, which called Russia’s previous charges of imprisoning Soviet citizens “unfounded.” Those charges were delivered in an unprecedented diplomatic Note handed to a porter of the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry, before dawn, five days ago. The new Yugoslav Note emphasises that Yugoslavia is an independent sovereign State and its people and Government are under . - Jjtions, willing to allow anyone to ininterfere in their internal affairs. The Note then made its major point in questioning the Russian domination which has grown in importance since 14 months ago when the Soviet Union, with its Communistdominated satellites, denounced the Government of Tito. “The Yugoslav Government underlines that' no pressure from outside has so far had any effect on its internal policy, nor will it have in the future,” the Note adds. The Note continues: “The Yugoslav Government has always declared its preparedness t o solve all disputed questions between the two States by agreement. On this occasion Yugoslavia repeats its resolution and declares its readiness to approach a solution of all disputed questions with the Soviet in accordance with and in the spirit of the international obligations undertaken by both Governments.” Yugoslavia accused Russia of ignoring the facts of the arrest of what Yugoslavia characterised as “traitor- * ous White Guardists.” Russia did this, the Note says, to justify its attitude of hostility towards Yugoslavia. These “White 'Guardists’ ’had seriously violated the laws by their espionage and hostile activity. LONDON, Aug. 23 A United Press correspondent at Belgrade says: Observers in Belgrade regard the Yugoslav Note’s dignified presentation as more evidence that Marshal Tito regards the latest Russian 'attack as more propaganda and is not losing his nerve. For the first time the Press Office summoned foreign correspondents to release today’s Note in advance to the release to the domestic press. A Soviet Leaders’ Attack on Tito LONDON, August 24. The British United Press’ Moscow correspondent says: Marshal Voroshilov, leader of a Russian delegation at the fifth anniversary of Rumania’s liberation ceremonies, in a speech yesterday, spoke of “The pitiful fate of Yugoslavia’s present bosses.” Voroshilov said: “Those traitors to Socialism’s cause are establishing a Fascist regime in Yugoslavia, and have deprived the country of the support of the Soviet Union and People’s Democracies.” Voroshilov declared: ‘Tito’s criminal clique is incapable of deceiving the Yugoslavs, who know the great Stalin alone is capable of, standing up against the instigators of a new war.”

Under the heading “From Socialism to Fascism”, the Soviet paper, “Pravda”, todav caricatured Tito grovelling before the portraits of Mussohm Hitler and Himmler. One of Tito’s hands was raised in the- Nazi salute, and he held an axe marked, “Fascist' terror”, .in the other. His body was drawn in the lo.m of a Swastika. MOSCOW LINE

In Bucharest to-day, the Rumanian National Defence Minister, General Emil Bodnarash .speaking at the fifth anniversary celebrations of Rumania’s liberation from the Germans, said that Marshal Tito had “withdrawn Yugoslavia from among the popular democracies to make her join the imperialist camp.”

A SOVIET SYSTEM FOR HUNGARY NOW LONDON. August 23. The Hungarian Parliament to-day elected M. Arpad Szakasits, a former Social Democrat and until now Hungarian President, as president of the Presidium of the Hungarian People’s Republic. Under the new Constitution, the Presidium replaces the former post of President.