On the Flanks

Germany was the main point of attack in Russia's peace offensive, but there were also a couple of smart flanking movements southward:

Yugoslavia. Marshal Tito announced that the Soviet Union has requested an exchange of ambassadors. "Russia smiled on us," said Communist Tito, "but they will not blind us with the smiles. I personally can never believe 100% in the Soviet Union. I wait for them to show their intentions in practice. I do not believe in their words."

The fine words were largely for the West's benefit. Yugoslavia wants normal relations with Russia, and will accept the offer, Tito went on to say. Since his 1948 break with Russia, the air has been filled with angry Communist lingo over which Communist has the true faith, but Western observers in Yugoslavia generally agree that 1) Tito is and will stay a Communist, 2) his principal quarrel was with Stalin personally, 3) he would be happy to live in peace with his fellow Communists if they will let him. In fact, Tito complained sadly last week, frontier incidents have actually increased since Stalin's death, and he accused the Russians of "directing their satellites on us while they smile at us." Tito's interpretation of the Soviet move: a desire to correct policy, but not aims. Having once taken the path of imperialism, the Russians cannot change without difficulty, he said.

Austria. High Commissioner V. P. Sviridov, a soldier, was replaced by Ambassador I. I. Ilyichev, a civilian. Russian zone check points were abolished, and it was announced that goods could be freely shipped in and out of the zone. Control of the uncompleted Ybbs-Persenbeug power plant, held as a frozen German asset, was returned to Austria. The Russians promised swift release of Austrian prisoners of war and an amnesty for kidnaped civilians, and agreed to withdraw a couple of Communist cops who had been fired by the Austrian government but kept on by the Russians.

After seven years of fruitless negotiation, the Austrians were delighted, and in one town there was dancing in the streets as they tore up their interzonal passes. But there was still no hint that the Russians were prepared to turn over the administration of former German property, relax their severe censorship or pay their own occupation costs as the U.S. is doing. There was no suggestion that they were ready to sign an Austrian peace treaty, for that would involve withdrawing 50,000 Red army troops, but they apparently hoped to get credit for generosity with out treaty. With a tactical finesse, they had kept their month-long negotiations with the Austrians a close secret; last week's developments came as a complete surprise to U.S. occupation authorities in Austria.

Turkey. The Soviet Union offered to recognize Turkish sovereignty over border territories of Kars. Ardahan and Artvin in return for a pledge by Turkey to ask for a revision of the 1936 Montreux Convention. Kars, Ardahan and Artvin, part of the old Ottoman Empire, were ceded to Russia after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, returned to Turkey after World War I, but have been the subject of ceaseless Soviet agitation ever since. The Montreux Convention is an international agreement (signed by Turkey, Britain, France, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria. Greece, Japan, Rumania and Yugoslavia) which regulates the Dardanelles and the Bosporus, the straits linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Under this agreement. Turkey may fortify the straits and regulate the passage of warships, but must allow all merchant ships to pass. In World War II, the Soviet Union charged that neutral Turkey had permitted German war vessels to pass through the straits.

At Yalta and Potsdam, Stalin suggested that the Montreux Convention should be modified to allow Soviet bases to be built in the area in order to protect the Black Sea mouth. The result of Stalinist bluntness has been seven years of Russo-Turkish hostility and Turkey's growing friendship for the West, culminating in full membership in NATO and a military alliance with Greece and Yugoslavia. In last week's note, Russia renounced its desire for bases on the Dardanelles, spoke only of a friendly solution to the Dardanelles problem. The Turkish government was reported ready to participate in a conference for revision of the Montreux Convention, provided all signatories and the United States were invited. Meanwhile, Turkish and Russian governments reached accord for joint irrigation of the Igdir valley on the Russo-Turkish border. As in Austria, the Russians had carried on their negotiations in secret after a special delegation of top Turkish military and political figures attended Stalin's funeral.

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