Tito's Revolution Joins Democracy, Socialism: Vilfan

"You will never understand Yugoslavia if you look at us as merely a part of the U. S. Soviet rift," Joze Vilfan, Yugoslavian delegate to the United Nations told a Harvard Liberal Union forum in Emerson D last night.

Sharing the platform with Robert L. Wolff, visiting history lecturer from Wisconsin, and Merle Fainsod, professor of Government, who moderated, Vilfan said that Yugoslavia "has nothing to hide." He went on to emphasize the role of his country as an example of a successful "democratic revolution" which combines "economic socialism and political democracy."

Wolff stated that the U.S. should "assist the development of the rift" between Tito and Moscow by aiding Yugoslavia. He agreed with Vilfan that the Tito government permits freedom of speech.

Only Tito cannot be criticized in Yugoslavia, Vilfan stated, explaining his country's "reverence" for its leader. "We put Tito quite apart," he said.

The diplomat admitted that the Yugoslav press "is not free, in your sense," but then asked: "Is your press free?"

At the close of Vilfan's discussion a regular HLU membership meeting approved a resolution made by President Donald H. Dowd '51 on Tuesday, asking the Student Council to write an anti discrimination clause into the Council's proposed Rules for Student Organizations.