The governements fears became true, Italy send aid to the fascist forces in Spain. Still, the majority was aginst Yugoslavian interventions but the question was what would happen if the fascists came to power. Would they form an alliance with Italy, in a situation of war, that shoudn’t be immideatly threatening for Yugoslavia but with Franco on their borders, France might choose not to intervent in s conflict. On that question there were many delegates who said that any aid from France wasn’t to wait no matter if Spain was republican or fascist. Tito supported the last statement but personaly he didn’t think that Yugoslavia could change the outcomes of that civilwar. He was more concerned about the industrial situation and was having several discussions with Miljentije Popovi, who was afraid that he couldn’t complete his year-plan. On the 31st of July, Tito met with Milentije once more on his privat office in the parliament building.
Titio sat behind his desk and looked trubbeled as he said to Miljentije:
- ”Popovi I think you have understood by now, that your plan for the national research and industrial development won’t be sucsessfull. And you also know what happens to a minister which has not secceeded with his plans.”
- “Yes I know, I have to be re-elected and the candidates will throw a lot of mud on me in their campaigns. Why do we have that system anyway, it’s human to fail isn’t it!?”
- “Yes my comrade, it is most human to fail and everyone, I hope, will look upon your unsucsessfull work with understanding. The system was made to fight corruption. I don’t say you are corrupt, not at all but as our party is the only party in the parliament, the people must be able to rely on us. If we didn’t have this system, persons wouls be able to make unwise desicions, only in favour for himself or a particular group in the society and still be on his appointment. However, I don’t see you as a corrupted man comrade.” Miljentije now looked a little more pleased.
- “We can’t escape the fact that my plan will not secceed, even if I stay as minister of Armament”
- “Of course, but remember that we have only been in this building for some years and we all have much to learn. As I use to say, you can read “capital” in one day, but to understand it takes many days. What I mean is that we all can rule a nation, but it takes time and experience to make it professionaly.”
- “Yea, you are right comrade. We just have to do the best of the situation and keep on going.”
- “That’s the way to do it comrade Popovi, well lets see you at the meeting in Dubrovnik next weekend.” Tito and Miljentije leaved the room.
October 18th Soviet foreign minister Molotov visited Beograd for a top-meeting with Tito, Ivan Ribar and Peko Dapcevic. The meating took place in a manson south of the city. The room where the meating was supposed to be held had been specially prepared for this day. A map over Spain with the latest reported borders hang on a wall. Another, smaller, map layed on the table with plastic troops to give the leaders a better view of how the situation looked.
The leaders got there toghether in a limousine and arrived at three o’clock. Tito welcomed them and said some short words about the situation.
Nothing of bigger importance had happend, the fascist still had controll over the northern coast and all of the region of Andalucía with surroundings. Francos headquarter, the city of Burgos in northern Spain, was under constant attack by the republican airforce and smaller assaults had been done. These were mostly to keep the troops in Burgos busy and no serious attempts to take the city had been made. To prevent French support from reaching the republicans, the fascists took the border area and left the only way in (through Barcelona region) under heavy bombardment.
- “But we were not here to discuss so much about the situation, no, but to talk about an eventual support of the republicans. As I see it comrades, there is only one way for our aid to get into Spain, and that’s through the Valencia coast region so Soviet aid must, if we want it to be simple, pass through either Yugoslavia and further by ships from our harbours, or directly with ships from Crimea. If we choose the latest oportunity, Turkey must make a stand in the conflict and I am not sure what that will be. But if the aid goes through Yugoslavia, it will take more time especially if you choose to send soldiers as they will have to by flown over Romania by aircrafts. So how do you look at this problem comrade Molotov?”
Molotov smiled and said:
- “My comrade Tito. When you talk about our aid, I see that you miss one thing. The help musn’t be of troops, and if I have been informed correctly, your governement showed that in the war on Ehtiopia. You send technological support. It is funny in these days, when the future of an entier nation can lay on a piece of paper. During the thirty years war in Europe, Sweden gained many victories though it was, and is, a very small country. The reason to these victories, I say, layed in their technological advantage. For example their cannons which in some cases could be manouvered by only a few men. When the imperial cannons needed tens of horses. And of course you have all heard of the trojan horse, if you see what I mean.”
- “So what you mean” Said Dapcevic ”that we will send technological support to the people of a country, fighting a fierce battle against the fascists. In some Spanish communities, the battles are fought with hunting rifles and home-made bombs, and you want us to send technological support. You saw how it went on in Ethiopia, we sent help but did that change anything? No my comrade, it isn’t. When there are no factories left to build tanks why send tank prototypes?” Molotov answeres:
- “Ethiopia was another case, there we had a badly armed and badly organised army facing the entier might of the Italians. I hope none of you comrades exspected the Ethiopians to win. In Spain we see a civilwar, half of the nation fascist and the other half republican. They have almost equal power but the fascists only got two friends, Germany and Italy while the republicans have the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and France. So the war will be won by the side which get most support. And if the republicans manage to become more technologically advanced, they might win the war. That is how I see it, comrade.” He fell quiet and awaieted an answer.
