'The Balkan Balance
The progress of the dispute between the Cominform and Marshal Tito has fully demonstrated the truth that in Communist quarrels there are no half-measures. The Yugoslav protest, personally delivered by Tito to the Hungarian Ambassador in Belgrade, against the political trials in Hungary used the term " servile satellite " lo make quite clear the relationship demanded by Russia, accepted by Hungary, and refused by Yugoslavia. And as if the breach were not wide enough, the Yugoslav Foreign Minister, Mr. Kardelj, openly accused the Russians at Lake Success of warlike demonstrations against his country. There may be other bouts of vituperation to come, but they can hardly make the situation in the Balkans clearer than it is already. The Iron Curtain now divides Yugoslavia from the Russian satellites. The Hungarian Government has demonstrated its orthodoxy both of doctrine and method, by finding guilty all the accused in the recent treason trials, and sentencing three of them, including the ex-Foreign Minister, Laszlo Rajk, to death. By such demonstrations the link with Russia, which has already been forged in the cases of Rumania and Bulgaria, is consolidated. In the light of such acts the chronic weakness of Albania, now uneasily divided from the Soviet Union by a hostile Yugoslavia, and the recovering strength of Greece, may be properly assessed. Albania is now nearing the point at which it will be of no use whatever to the Cominform even as a trouble centre. The Greek Government, with the com- mendations and the friendly advice of both Mr. Acheson and Mr. Bevin to support it, is unlikely to take any rash action on the Albanian frontier which would mar the victories recently won. Here again, the Russians must see that the possibilities of further trouble arc dying out. But it is unlikely that the Cominform will ever retreat except to prepared positions.
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