Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-21
THE WORLD SCENE

tai and throughout the Communist
world.
Aboard were Soviet Communist
Party Chief Nikita Khrushchev.
First Deputy Premiers Vyacheslav
NJ Molotov, Anastas A. Mikoyan
and Lazar M. Kaganovich; Defense
Minister Marshal Georgi Zhukov
and several high-ranking Soviet
army officers.
Apparently arriving without prior
notification, they came to attend
the session of the Polish Commu-
mist Party's Central Committee at
which Wladyslaw Gomulka. jailed
for the past four years at Stains
orders as a Titoist, had been re-
stored to responsibility and in
fluence.
The world could only speculate
on the true purpose and likely re-
suit of their visit. There could be
agreement. however. on the fact
that this was a ~portentous, prob
ably historic, development in the
relationship between Russia and her
satellites and in the entire cold
war.
At least a partial explanation
came last night. when Mr.. Gomulka,
in a half-hour speech on Radio
Warsaw, voiced what was virtually
a declaration Of independence from
the Soviet Union. Attacking what
he called the misrule of the past
IL years. he demanded that Poland
set its own course toward Socialism.
There was every sign that Mr..
Gomulka had the support of the
nation in his stand. Warsaw was
quiet, the streets completely nor
NAL; earlier talk of a possible
coup by pro-Stalin factions had
subsidized But all Poland waited
tensely for the Russian reaction to
the move
When the Russians arrived Fri
day. they sped directly to the Bel
vedere Palace, once the residence
Of the late President Bolslaw Beirut,
on Stain avenue. The Polish Cen
trail Committee already had started
its meeting; the Politburo had re-
signed in body and the rehabili-
tation of the erstwhile nationalist
deviationist" Gomulka had been
accomplished.
Then for the next six hours, the
Russians and the Poles conferred
In the spacious rooms of the regal
residence. What they talked about
and in what mood was not reported
officially. except. for a brief COM
munique yesterday morning.
The communique said only that
the talks had been conducted in
an atmosphere of friendship and
frankness" and that a delegation
from the Polish party's Politburo
would go to Moscow in the near
future for further talks with the
Presidiuin of the Soviet Commu-
mist Party's Central Committee.
The subject under discussion was
not specified.
Troop Movement Reported
While the Khrushchev party
talked at the Belvedere, Polish
sources reported that troop units
had been posted around the city
The reports could not be con-
f1rmed, nor we're the troops iden-
tilted as to their nationality (both
Polish and Russian units are sta
toned near the capital.
Early yesterday morning the
Russians left Warsaw almost as
quietly as they had come Polish
party leaders saw them off at the
airfield; the entire outgoing Polit-
buro and Mr.. Gomulka, too,
shook hands with the delegation
as they boarded their big plane.
But the outward show of har-
mony failed to dispel persistent
and consistent reports from high
Polish government sources that
the Russians had delivered a fiat
ultimatum to their Polish satel-
lite colleagues.
The Russians, according to the
reports, demanded that pro-Soviet
elements be retained in the Polish
partys leadership; that the press
be curbed in its recently stepped
up campaign for more "democ-
ratization" and greater indepen-
dence for Poland; and that the
headlong rush for separate Po-
lish road to socialism" be slowed.
Evidence has been mounting since
the bloody Poznan riots of last
June that Poland. perhaps more
than any of the Iron Curtain satel-
lites, was growing increasingly res
tive in the Russian iron grip.
The relationship of events in
Warsaw to the recent Yalta talks
between Yugoslav Marshal Tito and
Mr.. Khrushchev. Premier Bulganin
and other Soviet leaders cannot
be pinpointed today IN the almost
total absence of facts and details.
But the existence of a supremely
important crisis in the Communist
world cannot be doubted. The
presence Of almost the entire Mos
COW hierarchy aboard the plane
to Warsaw may indicate a greater
Kremlin unity on the satellite issue
than had been suspected previously.
While the restlessness in the Red
orbit was thus becoming more and
more apparent. the cause of it all.
Marshal Tito. stayed quietly in Bel
grade receiving official delegations
from other satellites The stalwart
Yugoslav hss had little to say since
his return from Yalta. but last week
he let II be known that he con-
sidered the de-Stalinizing process in
Bulgaria was going much too slowly.
on Wednesday. Yugoslavia OBJ
jected sharply to the terms used
by President Eisenhower in author
izing continued foreign aid for
Belgrade. Most irritating, APP
parently. was the Presidents doubt
as TO the continued independence
Of Yugoslavia from Soviet designs.
But by Friday. resentment had
eased bit. I'VE reject the Presi-
dents augmentation, but we have
not rejected aid said one Foreign