Evening star., 1951-07-01
Arms for YuqosIovio

Arms for Yugosl0vId
The United States should not hesitate to
meet YugoSavia'S formal request for armaments
aid "as soon as possible" Although the defense
build-up of the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza-
ton must continue to have first priority, every
thing within reason ought to be done to help
Marshal Tito and his country in their struggle
against the Kremlin- directed Comnform.
glance at the map is all that is needed to
demonstrate the high Importance of that struggle
in terms of both military strategy and the inter
national politics of a situation that involves
nothing less than great schism in the Com
munist world-a schism potentially capable of
setting of series of volcanic eruptions in Mos
cows jerry-built empire behind the Iron Curtain.
In the postwar world, up until 1948, Yugo-
slavia was the Kremlin's pride and joy-a rough
and tough satellite addicted to practicing an
ugly, incendiary policy toward the United States
and the rest OF the free Western world. But
then something happened. Marshal Tito and
his dictatorial regime-declaring themselves to
be genuinely Communist and accusing Moscow
of doing violence to pure Marxist doctrine-re-
fused to lick the boots of the Stain government.
They insisted upon being their own masters
They demanded that the Soviet Union respect
the independence of the Yugoslav nation. In
short, they refused to play the role of puppets,
and so the Russian Politburo then turned with
full fury against them, branding them as here
tics and bringing every resource to bear-short
of an outright military attack-to overthrow
them and once again clamp down the Iron
Curtain on their country.
Through the years that have since passed,
this profoundly significant split within the Com
muniSt world has deepened and widened to such
a degree that its bridging-as long as Titoism
prevails in ugoSlavia-SeemS virtually impoS-
Sible. The Kremlin-chief1y through the Comm
form satellite states of Romania, Hungary and
Bugaria-has been exerting constantly increas-
ing presSures against the YugoSlavS. Wholly apart
from hundreds of military incidents in the
frontier areas, TitoS embattled country has been
subjected to all-out economic warfare and
ceaseleSS propaganda barrage whose violence has
grown with each passing day. Beyond that the
most ominous aspect of the situation has been
the fact that the Romanians, HungarianS and
Bulgarians, with close Soviet participation, have
been engaging in an extraordinary build-up Of
their armed forces-a build-up far in excess of
the peace-treaty limitations imposed upon them
after their defeat as Hitlers allies.
AS a result of this build-up according to
Marshal Titos estimates, Hungary now has at
least $4,000 men under arms, Bulgaria 1876 900
and Romania 100000 total of 100000 troops
equipped and trained for aggression at any time.
Against this, YugoSlavia has defense force Of
some 30-odd divisions. AS far as morale and
fighting qualities are concerned, they are good
divisions ready to cope with Soviet-inspired
invader assbravely and as tenaciously as in the
days of the Nazi attack and occupation. In re-
lation to the menacing armies around them, how
ever, they are inadequately armed. That is why
Tito, through a military mission that has been
here for several weeks past, has called upon the
United States not merely for light weapons
which we have already started to supply in
limited quantities-but also for such heavy equip
ment as tanks planes and artillery.
Within the limits of our capabilities within
the limits of what we must do in concert with
our Atlantic Pact allies we should spare no effort
to let the Yugoslavs have what they have asked
for. Tito is no friend of ours. But under Tito,
despite the worst kind of Soviet threats and
preSsures the Yugoslavs have left no room for
doubt that they resolved to fight to the DEATH
If necessary, to maintain their independence and
keep their highly strategic part Of the world on
this side of the Iron Curtain. That very resolve
backed up with adequately armed forces-may
be enough to deter the Cominform from risking
a military attack. Short of that, If an attack
cannot be deferred, Tito's divisions can be
counted upon to give a good account of them
selves if they are properly equipped The United
States and the West as whole should act ac-
cordingly.