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3/16/1963 - Kulturkampf -- or Shadow Debate? by Anatole Shub

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Bircaninova AS Belgrade Yugoslavia Kulturkampf Shadow Debate Narch Nr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World iffairs Nadison Avenue New York N Y Dear Nr Nolte The struggle culture Yugoslavia continues wiser origin purpose seriousness outcome Narshal Tito following speech People Youth AS elaborated views still further meeting leading Yugoslav journalists The discussion various forums gathered momentum since there tangible consequences actual cultural policy But discussion itself political context raised questions answered President Tito Executive Committee Yugo Press Association February edited marks released until eight later It officially report interview journalists request rumored quite unofficially partly complain excessive interference their interference which occasion rather foolish One least occasions The first concerned repression Communists Iraqi revoluti onaries which Yugoslav press failed report almost after Western services begun telling story after Soviet press equally inhibited picked Western reports Yugoslav papers permitted The second instance concerned deletion reports recent Soviet statements Khrushchev speech East Berlin Pravda editor February those remarks tending argue Yugo Communists changed their policy since criticism Communist parties Noscow declaration October Wh ether matters discussed edited Tito remarks The first third interview devoted practical problems journalism consisted mainly folksy advice print fewer photos obscure personalities various Tshombes working collectives could serve example spiration develop specialists internal problems report greater socio economic depth foreign countries lomatic criticism But these remarks tirely innocent turned Tito questioned example whether necessary expedient publish large various smaller papers which weekly fortnightly afterward least fortnightly formed would cease publicstion As clear whether consequences similar remarks AS certain persons little connection party League Communists entered I favor purge I favor League Communists having members careerists exploit their membership personal Half interview devoted directly cultural strug worth quoting length Some people shouted loudly against I about culture I heard individuals words found their reproaching asking whence I right criticize negative manifestations cultural field They Tito knows conduct politics enough competent cultural affairs But comrades those things grasp Communist socislism communism I responsible industrialization agriculture I responsible culture itself because I President Republic I Secretary General League Communists And Secretary General party I responsible before history people correct course country development Therefore people should grasp remember cannot otherwise Noreover looks I I cannot grant something The abstract trend occupies dominant position Yugoslav painting Little little realists pushed ground prizes mostly awarded abstract artists Of course artists themselves blamed rather those respon sible leaders Communists power dispose funds awarded prizes those should gotten To realism there works every possible variety A which photograph example But still possible always realism And modernism abstraction It sense compon realism except forward there works I thought necessary speak about culture believing others think No dislikes should think I I I stand Our press should careful start witch construct criticism For those artists oriented toward straction because profitable should helped correct But shall buying their worthless paintings Natters differentiated Nodernism beautiful works abstract painting serve decoration And painting decorate Abstraction purpose cannot painting which realistic creativeness We administrative measures against artists because would against program League Communists Let those individuals their expense If private person wants their But going spend government money millions paintings I shall fight against energetically We reward those people really deserve because snobbery certain Communists pictures sculptures Let maintain their snobbery their pockets funds community Therefore artists should fright going special measures That would nonsense And press should exaggerate matters criticize constructively Tito criticism regretting country become customary people offended criticism He professed himself astonished words considerable sharpness found And continued I think concepts atmosphere quite poisoned negative Western influences Of course should start against West In West should thought aimed against Western culture because culture We always gladly accept everything positive there things there which culture which themselves consider their culture And among penetrates usurps character Western culture For example different kinds literature being translated country But expression Western culture which which sidered negative West It clear break socialist order And should permit This artists writers painters others And The interview trned integration field culture If create socialist culture Tito uniform program This culture Yugoslav Each individual republic individual nation create separate socialist culture because would again separatism which would inevitably serious relapses sooner later We create single socialist culture which being Yugoslav would property nationalities After acknowledging whole series problems which specific individual republic Tito declared When culture question however particularly schools opinion there preserved fundamental thread general Yugoslav education which Yugoslav republic although certain ational features retained Education spirit Narxism Leninism should joint uniform The program changed sense example children should about their people about various prominent figures because becomes aggerated children quite erroneous conceptions about other nationalities Yugoslavia This means these school programs should corrected That which negative which perhaps positive negative today should avoided schools school programs As speech People Youth Tito again linked cultural struggle nationalities problem conflict regions allocation resources And again followed tendency taking eschewed first fifteen years regime namely appease develo northern peoples financing development backward south This impor admission I agree means created venia Croatia partly Serbia which given undeveloped republics regions always invested projects which intended It should permitted various monumental buildings other projects built there currently unnecessary purpose should build rapidly possible industry other projects which built For cannot expect example 1ovenes raise their living standard salaries until living standards raised other regions These highlights Tito interview In month followed since release there tangible consequences cultural field broadening discussion various party forums These broader political context which occurred anxiously watched observers seeking comprehend meaning cultural struggle There almost theories there observers perhaps procedure would simply record tinent facts indicate questions raise Here Belgrade first tangible consequences closing fortnightly newspaper Danas Today cultura review which least minds ditors played unique intellectual community The parer popular could expect literary level roughly L Expres New Republic minus course oppositional political emphasis claimed circulation detractors official circles never copies This believed assurances regime officials recent Wester visitors principle alignment enshrined Constitution which reads document At Danas subsidized years Serbian organization Socialist Alliance closed reason given financial Few doubt however political considerations involved Danas indeed could journal opposi Its contributors socialists broader sense The paper moreover Yugoslav principled printing Belgrade Latin Croatian alphabet opening pages contributors Zagreb Ljubljana Sarajevo Skopje Yet Danas fairly clear position which seemed peible years longer The paper stood liberalization democratization above openness advanced culture West It could Polish Po Prostu editors doubt viewed light S obviously regime Any remaining doubts score dispelled three plainclothes marched periodical counter Economists Club Belgrade copies there Danas issue hulabaloo about What doing Don forbidden In overgrown village Yugoslavia capital incident universally known within Danas disappeared newsstands which display Few other consequences cultural campaign quite dramatic although apparently rathervigorous struggle developed within Studio experimental theater organization whether start rehearsing approved The Centaurs Darko Tati6 The tendency under S title centaur course beast Yet official press participants various discussions enough private drama For example cultural councils Belgrade restaffed fewer intellectuals experts party people Publishers schedules theater repertories being reconsidered A conference journalists informed cadres policy would reviewed Perhaps chilling story published report Borba Zagreb certain showrooms galleries remained empty because painters cancelled already announced exhibitions single artistic these galleries There single member these councils would speak artists possibly express willingness shoulder criticism responsibility This anxiety artistic councils manned large portion Communists underscores element clear discussions namely struggle largely primarily within Communist ruling group When Tito mentioned people shouted loudly against grounds incompe tence judge culture referring street prominent Communist figures Ivo Andri6 The latter stays miles controversies neverthe reassured young writers fearful return Stalinist methods laconic comment History never repeats itself Tito struggle quite plainly other leading Communists favorite indoor pastime attempt identify Careful taken which Communists various party plenums committee meetings stress integration culture necessity greater Communist activity aspects Western influence which direct their attacks penny dreadfuls movie magazines esthetic gnorance sufficient funds education cultural institutions What notaworthy remained silent These include major figures Yugoslav artistic creation leaders Yugoslav Communism It course possible these speak later moment there appear several cnriosities For thing although Jovan Veselinov leader Serbia Blao Jovanovi6 leader ontenegro plumped Lazar Kolievski chief acedonia taken softer approach rominent respected republican leaders Dr Vladimir Bakari Croatia stayed discussion altogether His deputy Nikola Sekuli conducted inevitable plenum Zagreb smothered subject ambivalent phrases while Dr Bakari instead chose publish series articles Borba economic theory The articles saturated rudite arxist reasoning complex equations tables statistics their tendency clearly place state economic policy rational political basis through higher wages skilled workers higher after income productive industries enterprises subsidy inefficiency although implied rather stated greater freedom central control In certain sense Bakari articles taken authori tative rejoinder ecentralizers series articles price formation months ijalko Todorovi Federal Vice President Serb whose conclusions quickly disputed Croat Slovene economists Dr Bakari timing coincidentl appear Tito speeches economic debate nationalities cultural question clear linked The curious silences those putative successors Tito vivors original Partisan command which included Djilas Hebrang ujovi Pijade namely Aleksandar Rankovi Edvard Kardelj Rankovi generally considered taciturn after deliver ideological problems central committee plenum summer His contribution current discussion chair meeting central committee organizational politi secretariat The account meeting Party weekly Komunist strange indeed The paragraph stated meeting discussed certain manifestations cultural publication complete works district commit party cells maritime river traffic other financial current matters The account discuss every these matters great detail except culture about which single additional It possible meeting decisions culture unpublicized there widespread feeling Rankovi anxious judice succession carefully staying The silence Kardelj stranger He after regime chief theoretician domestic interna tional questions author party program adopted congress Ljubljana He implied criticism Russians aring their Yugoslavia reforming revisionist cited As speeches Comrades Tito Rankovi other leaders Al banians point opposite attacking Ljubljana program other speeches Tito Kardelj Since return Far East Kardelj quiet there speculation political career would principal sacrifice ideological accommodation Russians Altho chairman Constitutional Commission mentioned connection meeting adopt final draft Constitution There rumors major leaders huddling Brioni Kardelj position among matters clarified The meeting Constitutional Commission clarified Kardelj disappeared altogether He chair delivered report merely deepened mystery He indicated Preliminary Draft sented after nearly years preparation considerably changed devoted report scribing scope nationwide discussion suggestions could reason another included draft All rather vague Kardelj himself detailed explanations would given later They public Ther nothing vague however about conclusion Finally there remain pletely proposals which Constitutional Commission First there proposal change Yugoslavia Socialist Federative Republic Yugoslavia order emphasize socialist character Second there proposal change instead white AS state emblem Third practical reasons proposed introduce office Vice President Republic would replace President Republic absence deputize speci matters which empowered President Re public And fourth proposed principle workweek It embarrassingly clear these sugges tions result discussions which Yugoslavs attended which spoken single Tito himself Kardelj noting twice speech certain questions principle discussed Executive Committee party It seemed Kardelj personally enthusiastic about changes formulations there proposal proposed surely noncommital brief On proposals themselves generally agreed workweek sweetener pecially since Kardelj indicated would implemented gradually It designed sweeten course taste which indubitably first proposals Socia Federative Republic These charitably interpreted evidences Tito Communist spirit least charitably considered token offerings Khrushchev Nao In neither popular either general public stratum Communist lawmakers ologists theoreticians jurists which labored framing Preliminary Draft The third proposal creation Vice President offers eplanation going In present Constitution Tito combines person roles chief state chief government holding offices President Republic President Federal Exe cutive Council Kardelj Rankovi among Vice Presi dents Federal Executive Council there Vice President Republic practice usually Kardelj deputized Tito those occasions mostly ceremonial where presence impossible It should noted Tito holds ecretary General League Communists while Rankovic replaced Kardelj several years ocialist lliance organization created People Front This division authority Preliminary Draft seemed aiming perpetuate The draft chief vation power terms separation Presidency Republic Presidency Federal Executive Council latter conceived similar manner Premiership Gaullist France This would Tito extent legal economic administrative necessarily occupies Council basis It Tito offered Dr Bakaric however preferred reasons health remain Zagreb eanwhile Preliminary Draft conferred President Federal National Assembly hitherto powerless figure right deputize President Republic event protracted absence inability discharge functions When Preliminary Draft unveiled eptember officials privatelypassed would Kar while Rankovic would relieve Tito ecretary General Communist League Now scheme upset There believe Vice President Republic powers deputize specific matters other Rankovi6 Quite apart possible political differences Kardelj enthusiasm presenting proposal Rankovi reputation capable administrator while Kardelj change simply provide Rankovc suitable government apparatus Tito loath yield ership League Communists without holding party congress which reasons seems inopportune Others Kardelj claim President Federal Executive Council since Slovene Tito Croat necessary redress national balance Rankovic should noted current favorite speculation coming Pre Jovan Veselinov Serb Sti others maintain herein definitive regulation succession Rankovic bolstered Veselinov Kardelj stuck ceremonial designed himself shorn potential power And those argue Kardelj reasons foreign policy chief architect ideology alignment which proved failure revisionist excellenc Russians Chinese Albanians These speculations taken literally officially created alone distributed Draft Constitution public Yet appear struggle culture taking place context larger struggle within Communist command struggle which issues succession nationalities question especially relations oviet One intelligent observer uggests entire cussion culture shadow debate foggy substitute discussion which cannot publicly Yugoslavia should toward alignment oscow means taking party measure tricky issues Western influence socialist realism One guess connections party playing matters extremely close Yet there least evidence small rather large obvious gesting cultural debate foreign policy question The substantial evidence newspaper repont plenums culture first Bosnia Hercegovina rapporteur Nontenegrin Veljko Vlahovi ranks second Kardelj party ideologist Yugoslav delegation East German Communist congress January The brief report stated Vlahovic discussed scene members request clarified aspects international situation The obvious connection course Tito launched kulturkampf immediately return Russia pursued clear Khrushchev doing battle grand scale revisionists liberalizers modernizers abstract painters intellectuals probe Stalinist somewhat deeply But Tito closing ranks Khrushchev struggle against Chinese compromise Or simply making noises about intellectuals provide Khrushchev tactical ammunition These questions convincing explanation moment Even complex relation cultural inter national questions nationalities struggle Shortly after Tito speech People Youth Yugoslav friend remarked I understand I reading Tito speeches eighteen years first appeasing Slo veneso Why He their support something Perhaps jointly mused neutralize their discontent while clamping intellectuals Perhaps neutralize potentially greatest source resistance Slovenes Croats Roman Catholic firmer Noscow A weeks later separately startling perhaps AS IO I0 prepare political eclipse Kardelj rightly wrongly symbol decentralization anointing Rankovi All wildest demonology The Slovenes deserve appeased purely economic grounds Tito minded enough changed stance light evidence recession On cultural front actually modifying sterner demands being pressed mountain party On succession there still evidence thing changed Tito remains unmistakeably bearingly Number Number matter Yet there denying rumored shakeups reorganizations changes Belgrade tense uneasy The common feeling something first oscow afterward Cordially natole Shub Received New York March