Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-03

In a surprise move apparently
well-timed to emphasize the reborn
friendship between the Soviet Union
and Yugoslavia. vyacheslav M.
Molotov stepped down as Russia's
Foreign Minister Friday and was
replaced by Dmitri T. Shepilov. long
editor Of the Communist Party's
newspaper Pravda and a steadily
rising power in the Kremlin's inner
circles for several years.
Molotov's departure had been long
expected, as was the Shepilov ap-
pointment as his successor. But
the shrewd timing of the switch
impressed Western observers as a
convincing indication of the de-
termination of Moscow to tighten
relations with Tito's Yugoslavia.
The Yugoslav President was on
train en- route to Moscow when the
terse announcement was released
to the world that Molotov's resigna-
ton had been accepted.
No Disgrace
The Soviets were at pains, how
ever. to make plain that the doughty
Old Bolshevik Molotov was not in
disgrace. He retains his rank as
First Deputy Premier Of the Coun-
Gil Of Ministers, and is reported a
likely successor to aging Marshal
Klementi Voroshilov as titular Pres
ident of the Soviet Union (Chair-
man of the Presidium of the SUI
prerne Soviet.
And when Marshal Tito's luxury
train arrived yesterday at Moscow's
gaily decorated station, First Deputy
Premier Molotov was on the plat
form with Premier Bulganin, Mr..
Khrushchev and others to greet the
YugoSlav chief whose prescription
and utter damnation was detailed in
1948 by none other than the same
Molotov. But times have changed,
and the visit Of Tito to Russia is
being given the reddest Of Red car
pet treatments.
Marshal Tito. for his part, re-
sponded to the cheers of the en-
thusiastic Moscow crowds with a
speech hailing the renewal of
friendship and cooperation "in the
spirit of Lenin's collective leader
ship" Never again, said the Yugo-
slav in heavily accented Russian he
learned while training in Moscow as
a revolutionary, would there. be
misunderstanding among the ma
tons of the socialist camp"
The new Foreign Minister, Mr..
Shepilov, has been a rising star in
the Kremlin'S hierarchy since the
days of Stain. He is generally
credited with arranging the deal
by which Czech and Russian arms
were sold to Egypt's Premier Canal
Abdel NaSser. AS q close adviser
to the current collective leader
ship" of Bulganin and Khrushchev.
he has been responsible for much of
the latest strategy in Soviet foreign
policy.
Visited Belgrade
Significantly. it was Shepilov and
~ASS ~s@OA00ON HAAO Dull
ganin and Khrushchev last year on
their history making peace mission
to Belgrade, the first open step by
the Kremlin to heal the breach be-
tween the Soviet bloc and Yugo-
slavia. He also went along with the
two top Red travellers on their state
visit to Communist China. Just so
years old, he is the first of the
second generation" Bolsheviks to
attain top rank in the hierarchy.
Immediate reaction in Western
capitals to the foreign ministry shift
indicated no expectations of any
radical change in present Soviet
policy. since it is generally agreed
that Molotov has had little to do
with recent developments. Shepilov
is looked upon as dedicated Com
munist and clever propaganda
who will seek to squeeze every pos
sible advantage for the Soviet bloc
0iIt 0f evnf-v cifIio tion