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BOX-FOLDER-REPORT: 65-1-437
TITLE:             Belgrade "Komunist" Stepping Up Its Broadsides against Moscow and Satellites
BY:                Slobodan Stankovic
DATE:              1968-9-2
COUNTRY:           Soviet Union
ORIGINAL SUBJECT:  Foreign relations

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RADIO FREE EUROPE Research

COMMUNIST AREA

YUGOSLAVIA/16

Yugoslavia: Foreign
relations
2 September 1968

BELGRADE "KOMUNIST" STEPPING UP ITS BROADSIDES
AGAINST MOSCOW AND SATELLITES

Summary: The latest issue of the Yugoslav Central
Committee weekly Komunist carries a dozen articles
attacking the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the
Soviet Union and its four East European satellites.
The tenor of all these articles is that never in
the history of socialism has such a tremendous
blow been inflicted upon the Communist movement as
by the aggression against Czechoslovakia. The
Soviet leaders are accused of being chiefly
responsible for this pro-Stalinist action against
Czechoslovakia and are said to be people of very bad
character. However, the Yugoslav paper says, no
tanks or bayonets can stop the democratization in
Communist countries.

Soviet leaders in the Kremlin and their Polish, East German,
Hungarian and Bulgarian satellites "will forever bear upon
themselves the shameful stigma of being the first socialist aggressors
and invaders in the whole history of socialism. History and
future generations will remember them only by this fact." This
is only one of many statements published in the latest issue of
the Yugoslav Central Committee theoretical weekly Komunist in
connection with the Warsaw Pact states' invasion of
Czechoslovakia.

Komunist published a series of articles strongly protesting
against "Stalinist disciples," as Kole Casule,[+] a top Macedonian

--------------------
1) Komunist, Belgrade, 29 August 1968.

+ [chá-shu-le].

[page 2]

writer, calls the rulers in Moscow. Casule is also the author of
the statement mentioned above. In attacking Brezhnev and his
colleagues, Casule said that they believe "the world begins and
ends with them," Casule added that "their large-moustached
teacher [Stalin] died believing that, with him, the world had
also died." Said Casule:

By having occupied Czechodlovakia, his disciples
have proven not only their imitative attitude
toward him, but also the crudeness of their
character, as well as the sterility of their illusions.
For they, as descendants, possess neither Stalin's
intellect nor his strength. Nor is this era his
[Stalinist] era. Here lies the greatest proof of
the temporary nature of their action and of their
feebleness.

In Casule's opinion the Soviet leaders and their East
European satellites will one day be compelled to admit what a
horrible deed they have done. For the occupation of a socialist
country by several other socialist countries is both "a reality"
and "history which nobody can erase," Casule added that "it
is quite irrelevant whether this [admission of an error] would
be made by them while still in power or after they had
abdicated power; or even after they had been ousted." Along with the
anti-Communists "on the capitalist and imperialist side," there
are now anti-Communists "on the socialist side." Said Casule:

Just like their large-moustached teacher, they
would like to compel the world not only to be
horrified by their strength, but also to bow before
the altar of their religion. It seems that they
feel most at ease while wearing the vestments of
supreme priests. They would like to make of
Communism a religion and of Communists sad and
sterile believers, people without any intellect,
without heart and without desire to resist. They
would like to create believers who, like the
believers in Bulgaria, for instance, would be
extremely happy and proud of being the invaders!
I believe in Czechoslovakia; I believe in the
Revolution; I believe in Communism. For if one
today accepted the claim that the people who
inspired and who have carried out the crime of
the occupation of Czechoslovakia are the only
true believers of socialism, or if one today fell
prey to desperation and loss of perspective (as
in 1948), then that would mean an acceptance of
the omnipotent power of bureaucrats and etatists.
To break one's own backbone before the hooligans
of socialism would mean today, more than at any
time before, to betray not only oneself, but also
the past, present and future.

[page 3]

Democratization Cannot Be Stopped

In his article protesting against the invasion, Sergej
Kraigher, the Chairman of the Slovenian National Assembly, sees
the chief reason for the Warsaw Pact countries' aggression against
Czechoslovakia in the fact that "the settling of accounts with
the roots of Stalinism has been carried out in the socialist
states and in the international Communist movement only
superficially." This is the reason, Kraigher added, why the Yugoslav
Communists "have carried out their independent policies aimed
at supporting all progressive forces in the world." He called
the invasion of Czechoslovakia "an action by conservative forces
in socialism which do not respect the sovereignty and equality
of nations and parties." These forces are "reactionary forces"
which have undermined the strength of socialism. For this reason
"the resistance and struggle against them is the duty of the
workers' movement and of revolutionaries everywhere, in each
individual country," Said Kraigher:

The aggression against and occupation of
Czechoslovakia has only confirmed how correct the policies
of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia and of our
state and its ideological basis have been. The crude
reality of invasion unmasks daily, to an ever
greater extent, the invaders' aggressive nature; it
unmasks their "ideological reasons," their "concern
for the security and future of the socialist system,"
"the protection of the Soviet's vital interests,"
and similar "justifications" which have nothing; in
common with socialism; they do not differ a bit
from any other greater-state imperialism.

After having said that the invasion of Czechoslovakia "has
inflicted indescribable damage on the Communist movement," Kraigher
added that "the occupation has revealed the real roots of
Stalinism, the roots of inhuman and non-socialist relationships among
nations, states and individuals." It appears now that "the
personality cult has not been the chief cause and source of
deformities and weaknesses in the European socialist states, but
rather the bureaucratic, etatistic character of the relationships
and of the political system as such."

In Kraigher's opinion the occupiers have attempted to stop
the process of democratization in Czechoslovakia, "a process also
on the increase in other socialist states." However, "the
aggression can slow down [this process] but it cannot stop it."
The bureaucrats in Eastern Europe have always believed they can
"identify the socialist system throughout the world with the
system of the socialist states" ruled by the Communists. These
state bureaucrats in the Soviet Union and other East European
countries "have been blind and deaf to the historical processes"
leading to separate roads to socialism. Said Kraigher:

[page 4]

Because of the influence of conservative forces
in socialist countries, there nave always existed
various pressures aimed at subjugating other states,
Communist Parties and progressive movements
throughout the world to one's own views and interests. This
is why the characteristics of a policy of force
have always been present.

Kraigher further said that "the occupation of Czechoslovakia
at the present moment is a turning point for world peace and the
development of socialism as well as for the destiny of humanity
in general." In conclusion he said that the "reactionaries" in
Eastern Europe have always considered "Yugoslavia's self-managing
socialism a thorn in their side." He added that for this reason
"we can now expect that the attacks against Yugoslavia will
become more systematic, manifold, sometimes veiled and more subtle,
but also open and crude."

Soviet Leaders Without Common Sense

The Slovenian writer Misko Kranjec [+] accused the Soviet
leaders as well as the leaders of the four other Warsaw Pact states
which invaded Czechoslovakia "of ignoring both history and common
sense." If this is not the case, said Kranjec, "why have they
repeated the tragic and fateful attack on Czechoslovakia by Hitler
which took place 30 years ago?" What is the difference between
Hitler's and Brezhnev's attack on Czechoslovakia? Here is Kranjec's
answer:

This time the chief role has been played by the
Soviet Union and Germany, but by "democratic"
Eastern Germany, rather than West Germany, which they
have always feared; this "democratic" Germany has
occupied only a section of the Sudeten. The
Hungarians this time have marched into Kosice and even
into- -Bratislava. Even Poland, which in its history
had been torn apart so many times, has joined the
occupiers. In order to have the orchestra complete,
Bulgaria has also come to help; the Bulgarians are
probably firmly convinced that in further conquests
they would be given a rich booty after Yugoslavia,
is invaded, because since the war Bulgaria has
always had an eye on Macedonia.

Kranjec posed the questions "What does the Soviet Union,
with its four allies, look for in Czechoslovakia?" Has it not
been precisely the Soviet Union which hitherto preached and
propagated non-interference, "although one sometimes had to close
both eyes at some of its actions." Small nations, Kranjec said,
"have always believed in [Moscow's] protection" when listening
to the "revolutionary drums" banged in Moscow. By having

[page 5]

occupied Czechoslovakia the Soviet Union "has lightmindedly
gambled away" the confidence set in it by other nations and parties.
This is so harmful for the socialist movement throughout the
world "that it will not be easy to correct." In a very direct
blast at the Soviet leaders, Kranjec said:

With such politicians the Soviet Union could not,
in the near future, regain the reputation it has
thus far enjoyed in the international workers' and
progressive movement. [By having occupied
Czechoslovakia] the Soviet Union has definitely started
marching along the road of a world power which,
within its "territory," can irresponsibly do what
it likes. The leaders of the Soviet Union have
exchanged the power of ideas for the power of
weapons, the power of spirit for the power of crude
force. In certain periods of world history there
were little men who had lightmindedly and in
an extremely irresponsible way gambled away the
precious spiritual capital created by their great
ancestors, sometimes through blood and with many
human sacrifices. we are now witnessing such a
process where Ulbricht, Gomulka, Zhivkov, and even
Kadar, directed by the Soviet leaders, have brutally
trampled down the principles of Marx, Engels, Lenin,
Dimitrov and the others.

Why have they done so, asked Kranjec? Because they have
feared democratization. "It is sterile to refer to the alleged
danger of counterrevolution within the country and to the danger
from abroad," said Kranjec. Like Kraigher, he also insists that
the process of democratization cannot be completely stopped.
"Sooner or later even the Soviet Union will face all these
problems [of democratization] in its own country." Kranjec is
disgusted with the hard-liners in the Kremlin. He finds them
unworthy of Lenin and his ideas. Said Kranjec:

What sort of socialism could be constructed by
people who no longer trust people but rather try
to carry out this great task by employing force
and terror and by subjugating the free will of
the people; [how can they construct socialism]
when they have made a scheme according to which
socialism must be developed, a scheme which has
nothing in common with life?

As for the accusations that everything which is not in
accordance with Moscow's views is "counterrevolution," Kranjec
said that "not every idea born in man's head is reactionary
simply because we do not agree with it; neither is each of our
actions with which somebody disagrees -- blindly convinced that
only he is right - counterrevolutionary." Then Kranjec
continued:

[page 6]

Only power-thirsty and blind people could
today call the Cezchs and Slovaks
counterrevolutionaries, because these people were
until yesterday considered loyal and brotherly
people; this can be done only by extremely
callous and conceited people, people who no
longer understand the process of the human
mind and of life in general

Kranjec, on the other hand, defends the people of the
Soviet Union, "this fatherland of Lenin," because in that .
country "not even today do people know anything about what has
been going on in Czechoslovakia; they are as poorly informed
as they were" in 1948. Kranjec's conclusion is rather
pessimistic:

It is true today that the leaders of this country
[the Soviet Union], aware of their power and
under the disguise of defending socialism and
destroying the counterrevolution, may, tomorrow
or the day after tomorrow, invent something
similar and invade any other country. This is
not only a dangerous thin but it has nothing
in common with socialism. Such an action borders
on imperialism.... Such a way is the wrong ways
socialism must be defended by people who believe
in it, who believe in the strength of honest
people.

Soviet Aggression A Political Defeat

In its two editorials, Komunist strongly attacked the invasion
of Czechoslovakia, saying that the forces behind it have "suffered
a great ideological and political defeat." The first editorial
promised full-fledged support for Dubcek and his colleagues also
in the future. In addition it stressed again that the Yugoslavs
would defend their country with all available means against
anybody who would dare to attack it, In the second editorial it
is said that "no tanks and bayonets" can stop "a creative
implementation of Marxism and Leninism."

A member of the 500,000-strong Hungarian minority in
Yugoslavia, Dr. Gyula Ujhazi of Senta, said the following in his letter
to the editorial board of Komunist:

Finally, as a Hungarian, I personally think
that the Hungarian people (I mean the
population of Hungary) mostly condemn such an action
of their government and Party leaders. Another
detail: neither I nor my friends here listen any
longer to the news broadcast by Radio Budapest.
They either keep silent concerning the events, or
wrongly inform the public.

[page 7]

In an article entitled "Nobody Has the Right to Force
Other People to Enter Paradise by Using a Stick," Professor
Pero Damjanovic of Zagreb said that the working class would
never forget what the invaders of Czechoslovakia have done.
He quoted many of Lenin's thoughts in which things similar
to what is presently transpiring in Czechoslovakia are
condemned, e.g., the subjugation of an independent nation
(for instance, the Ukrainians) by the Communists. "The
most tragic thing," Professor Damjanovic said, "is that
this sad role is now being played by the sons and grandsons
of the famous fighters of Lenin's October." For this reason
"the guilt the Soviet leaders and the leaders of other
countries must bear is ever greater."

Slobodan Stankovic 17

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