The Greek Civil War

Tito Against the Peoples of Greece and Albania


Date: August 27, 1949
Source: World News and Views, Vol. 29, No. 10
Author: Unknown
Transcribed/HTML: Mike B. for MIA, 2005
Proofread by: H. Antonn and Hari Kumar
Public Domain: Marxists Internet Archive (2005). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” as your source.


 

DURING THE last weeks, the Tito clique have increased their world campaign of slander against the Soviet Union and the Popular Democracies. New repressive measures have been taken against Yugoslav Communists who have a real internationalist outlook. New measures, too, have been carried out against Soviet citizens living in Yugoslavia. Moreover, the Tito Government has integrated still more closely with Western imperialism its aggressive policy and actions against the peoples of Greece and Albania.

At first, the Greek monarcho-fascist press treated the Tito descent into the imperialist camp with some reserve. They were jealous that the Titoites would replace them in the hearts, and on the pay roll of the imperialists. Lately, however, a close co-operation has developed between the Titoites and Greek fascists. Tito's decision with regard to Greece, writes the right-wing Greek paper Vema (13.7.49):

"irrespective of the pretexts he gives for this act, represents the fulfilment of an old and persistent aim of Britain and the other Western Powers…No one doubts the honesty of Tito's attitude and his real intention to carry out the announced decision."

In Washington, the Yugoslav Ambassador, Sava Kosanovic, was in conference with Dean Acheson, U.S. Secretary of State, on August 16. The next day the Yugoslav Chargé d'Affaires in Athens had an official meeting with the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Greek Government. The Greek right- wing press referred to this meeting as an "official step towards establishment of friendly relations between the Athens and Belgrade Governments". On August 16, Free Greece Radio reported that Yugoslav troops had shelled the Greek Democratic Army in the rear and flank when re-grouping in the St. Stephanos area, south of the Yugoslav border.

The News Chronicle correspondent in Northern Greece reports (22.8.49) that:

"Although nothing can yet be cabled of the collaboration between Athens and Belgrade, there have been instances of co-operation on a local scale along the border."

One of the main roles that Western imperialism has assigned to the Titoites is pressure and aggression against Albania. Tito is reviving the old Serb chauvinist anti-Albanian policy and, jointly with the Greek fascists, plotting aggression against Albania. New Greek aggressions have taken place on Albanian territory during the last few weeks. Greek troops and planes (obtained from Britain) have violated Albanian territory. The Greek right-wing press calls for full- scale invasion. According to a United Press dispatch of August 17, the Greek press of that date was loudly calling for the "march on Tirana ". The right-wing Akropolis wrote:

"The glorious army only awaits the signal to take the situation in its own hands by marching on Tirana." The equally right-wing Ethnos proclaims that: "The Albanian cancer must no longer poison peace in the Balkans."

Well synchronised, the Yugoslav Titoites join in the campaign of threatening anti-Albanian slanders and provocations on the Albanian frontier. The Athens correspondent of the British Daily Dispatch wrote (11.8.49):

On-the-spot observers believe the time is ripe for action against Albania, cut off from the East by a hostile Yugoslavia."

And at the expense of the achievements and independence of the Yugoslav people, Tito reaps the fruit of treachery. President Truman himself announced that permission has been given, after full review by the U.S. National Security Council, to import from the U.S.A. materials for a 3 million-dollar steel mill, and the delegation of the International Bank is now scrutinising Yugoslav economy to make sure, before its loan is granted, that its use will fully accord with the interests of American "free enterprise ".