Rakosi Recants

Much of the verbal cyanide which blew around Yugoslav Communist Leader Tito during his famous quarrel with Stalin was manufactured in the propaganda laboratory of Hungarian Communist Leader Matyas Rakosi. Tito never forgot or forgave. With the recent renewal of friendship between Russia and Yugoslavia, it was Tito's turn to poison Rakosi's cup. In a speech at Karlovac, he sharply reminded the Russians that Hungary was being noticeably slow about getting on the new friendship train. Said Tito: "These are people lacking in the Communist courage to admit their past mistakes towards our country. For years they have been scared of Stalin and therefore they imagine they must not speak up even now. They are still jailing people who favor friendship with Yugoslavia."

Last week, jerked to life by Moscow, Rakosi belatedly made his contribution to the new atmosphere. Said he: "Today it is already clear to us all that the frictions, anomalies and accusations which poisoned the good relations between Hungary and Yugoslavia after 1948 helped no one except the enemies of peace and Socialism ..." Like the Russians, who held the dead Beria responsible for the quarrel, Rakosi blamed Hungarian Secret Police Chief Gabor Peter.

But the Yugoslavs, not completely satisfied, pointed out that whereas the Russians had shot Beria, the Hungarians had merely jailed Gabor Peter. They demanded a more abject confession by Rakosi. Comrade Tito is an old hand at inflicting, as well as receiving, humiliation.

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