Yugoslav Chaos
The news that the Partisans have set up a new National Committee of Liberation, with the functions of a Provisional Government, in the liberated territories of Yugoslavia throws into sharp relief the chaos in that country today. In fact recent decisions of the meeting of 140 delegates at the small Bosnian town of Jajce have seriously alarmed the Royal Yugoslav Government in Cairo. To describe the Partisans as a movement "of perilous violence," as did the Cairo Government leaders, deceives no one ; neither does Mihailovitch's condemnation along the same lines. For the new Provisional Government is made up of men like Ivan Ribar and Josip Smodlaka, the former Minister to the Vatican, both of whom are good moderates and genuine patriots. The new Partisan action raises the issue as to who are competent to speak for Yugoslavia. Mihailovitch and his guerillas represent a narrow Serb right-wing point of view, while the Partisans are definitely leftish in outlook, many of their leaders Communist and Federalist. Mr. Law's reply to a question on this matter in Parliament on Wednesday indicated that the British Government regarded the whole issue as an internal Yugoslav affair, and that we desire that both the Partisans and Mihailovitch's forces should co-operate for Yugoslav unity. This must be achieved, however difficult it may be. Probably it can only come by joint Anglo-Russian pressure. The present Government of officials is not representative of Yugoslays either at home or in exile, and it must be reconstructed on democratic lines. Unless Yugoslavia is to become a second Spain, firm action is necessary, and that quickly.
