Jubilee & Jitters

In Belgrade last week, Marshal Tito's government jubilantly announced that it had accepted a "proposal to establish diplomatic relations" with the Communist regime of IndoChina's Red Leader Ho Chi Minh. Yugoslav authorities regarded the exchange of recognition a matter of "worldwide moment" and a "most sensational victory over the Cominform."

The U.S. and Great Britain had recognized the government of Ho Chi Minh's French-sponsored rival, former Emperor Bao Dai. By refusing to follow the lead of the Western democracies. Tito had given his answer to the Cominform's charge that he is an agent of Western imperialism. Fortnight ago the Yugoslav dictator publicly proclaimed: "We did not bow to the Soviet . . . How could we, then, bow to the West? . . . [Rather than] separate our foreign policy from our socialist principles ... we should prefer to go naked."

In Bangkok last week, Marshal Phibun Songgram's cabinet fretted and worried over Ho Chi Minh. Strongman Songgram urged immediate recognition of Bao Dai, thereby putting Siam firmly in the anti-Communist camp. Foreign Minister Phot Sarasin objected. The time, he said, was not yet ripe to line up openly against Ho Chi Minh. Some 30,000 Indo-Chinese Red guerrillas had taken refuge from the French army just inside the Siamese border. The unwarlike Bangkok government had no defense against a force so potentially dangerous. The cabinet finally agreed not to recognize Bao Dai.

"It comes to this," explained one minister: "If the U.S. believes we should recognize Bao Dai's government, the U.S. should back us up with a mutual assistance pact to guarantee our frontiers. Only with such assurance could we gamble on Bao Dai's uncertain chances."

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