Angling

Two years ago Tito of Yugoslavia was just about the West's most testy and truculent neighbor. His air force shot down unarmed U.S. planes. His polemicists snarled at capitalist imperialism. He abetted Greece's Red rebels. He waved a figurative Tommy gun at Austria (over Carinthia) and Italy (over Trieste).

Last week the Communist dictator in Belgrade was all soothing reasonableness; history and heresy had turned him round. In a major address before his new Parliament, Tito spoke "with sorrow" of his continued excommunication by former comrades in the Kremlin and the Cominform. Then, urging "good neighbor relations and closer cooperation," he made a tactical overture to the West:

P: Yugoslavia and Greece would "substantially improve relations" and thereby "contribute remarkably to the strengthening of peace in the Balkans." This meant a re-establishment of full diplomatic missions. It also meant reopening of communications for Yugoslavia through Greek railways and ports.

P: Yugoslavia and Austria were developing "unusual" economic ties--"our relations are becoming more & more normal."

P: Yugoslavia and Italy had no reason to quarrel over Trieste. Tito blandly glossed over the rough stuff displayed by his supporters a fortnight ago in the Yugoslav-occupied zone of Trieste (TIME, May i).

More important, he said, "Improvement of economic relations and other types of cooperation [which] can . . . contribute to the easier solution of disputed problems." Next day, in his first press conference since his break with the Cominform, Tito amicably hinted that he was ready for the cession of Trieste to Italy if Italy would give up the border town of Gorizia to Yugoslavia.

Did Tito anticipate an armed Russian attack? "I do not see any immediate danger," he replied to newsmen. "In no case do I think the Soviet Union would risk becoming the aggressor." Then he added that he is against blocs and spheres of influence and that the best way to settle international disputes is through the U.N. Like a clever angler, Totalitarian Tito hoped to hook more Western support with his new tactical line.

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