The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-18

trepid merchants had opened their
battered and Quilted shops, today
you can find hundreds of little
businesses. Many stores are we'll
stocked, particularly in such lines
as foodstuffs, bonbons, wine, and
paper-covered book. For some
prices rose steeply, but the gov
eminent acted energetically, i'm
posing ceiling prices to check in
flation. I have heard scattered
complaints that the peasants are
withholding produce fro the
markets in consequence, but have
seen no visual evidence to SUBJ
stantiate them.
The most impressive testimony
to the achievement of the new
government comes from the very
people who were formerly the
most outspoken in criticism. The
of these are old-fashioned
Serb Rightists, who felt either that
the country was going Commun-
ism, or that hencefortn they would
be ruled by Croas and Slovenes
whom dictatorship had once per-
secuted. Beyond doubt Nazi and
Medic propaganda was responsible
for much of this talk, which found
echoes outside Yugoslavia. Then
too, people remembered how Eus-
tachi, following the German divide
and rule policy, had melted Croat-
ians in the early months of the
occupation to slaughter Serbs.
1t is very evident, however, that
the country has not gone Com
that on the contrary the
under the Tito leader
ship, are charting their own
course socially, nationally, and in
the economic sphere. People who
once were anti-partisan will now
assure you that reforms are long
overdue, and that many OF the
aew measures are sound and just.
Mihailovic stock in Belgrade has
fallen to zero. The evidence of his
dealings with the Germans ap-
oears so conclusive that his for
mer supporters have turned away
in disgust. Within the past "a hours
[ have heard men, once Chetnlk
,ympathizers, remark: "Mihallov-
c is finished. Had he won, you
would have seen a persecution OF
democratic elements in Belgrade.
Whether he was personally guilty
,r not, he was a poor leader, in
capable OF controlling his officers
n the field"
Add to this the fact that the
Yugoslav Renaissance has fired
he imaginations of the Serbs, and
you have the secret of this process
If Indignation which is bridging
he old CULTS between the national
ties. 1 think it fair statement
that the moral ascendency in the
Balkan peninsula has passed to
he Yugoslavs, and that this is an
went of European significance.
Undoubtedly the liberal attitude
# Marshal Tito himself has con-
ributed in great measure to this
Weakening of opposition forces.
Tor example, some Serbs under
he influence of Medic propaganda
bought that the new regime would
mean persecution of the Orthodox
church. On the contrary, was
assured by one who is no partisan
hat the acting patriarch has been
reated with great respect, that
he clergy has not been modest
ID in any way, and that the con-
at Sunday services are,
{ anything, larger than in former
ines.
Again consider the matter of the
egency. It was falsely reported
broad that Marshal Tito had OBJ
ected to the name of General
imovic. On the contrary, I was
esterday assured by DR.. Vladi-
Law Ribnikar, minister of infor-
nation, that the Belgrade govern
nent has no objection to the for
ner premier. Suteji, to whom they
10 object. was a member Of the