294 The Presidential Years
viewpoints coincide or are very close.”^160 These words were addressed to the
Americans but more importantly to the Chinese, with whom the Soviets were
nearing a final break. It was evident that Khrushchev was sending them a direct
message: the foreign policy of the Soviet bloc was his domain, regardless of
Beijing’s attitude. He would decide with whom he would remain on good
terms. The Chinese answered with pique, naturally in their own way—by once
again haranguing Tito, that “running dog of imperialism.”^161
In February 1961, there was another outburst at the Congress of the Albanian
CP in Tirana. Enver Hoxha, who was unquestionably Mao’s ally, vengefully
accused the Yugoslavs of having a “metaphysical ideology” that led directly to
revisionism and, worse, opportunism, and mentioned the Moscow Declaration
signed by Khrushchev and Tito in 1956 as the source of all evil. Recognizing
the Yugoslav right to build socialism their way, the Declaration had destroyed
the monolithic view of Marxist dogma. An acute tension once more built up
between the two states, accompanied by armed incidents on the border that led
once again to the severance of diplomatic relations.^162
In the West, the reaction to these polemics was different. There, Yugoslavia
was an object of great interest and was encouraged to persist in its courageous
attitude. When Tito’s new ambassador to Washington, Marko Nikezić, visited
the White House in October 1958, President Eisenhower affirmed in his wel-
coming speech that his administration had observed Yugoslavia’s firmness
against the Soviet Union with respect and approval. Since Tito had been suc-
cessful in opposing Soviet influence, he could continue to count on American
aid to ensure the well-being of his country.^163 The following December, in
response to Yugoslavia’s request for a loan, the American authorities discussed
how to implement a new aid program for Tito’s regime. A year later, in confir-
mation of the important role that this Balkan rebel nation had for American
foreign policy, a $15 million loan was granted for the construction of a hydro-
electric plant near Dubrovnik.^164 In exchange, the Belgrade government ordered
its newspaper to stop attacking the West, especially the United States, Great
Britain, and France.^165
The “Peace Journey” to Asia and AfricaAfter 1958, in the name of the “active coexistence” preached by Tito, Yugoslavia
further developed its relations with Africa and Asia, Latin America, and Scan-
dinavia. Given the polemics with the Soviets, Chinese, and with the West be-
cause of Yugoslavia’s recognition of the GDR, the country needed to show that
it was not isolated. To this end, Marshal Tito traveled to Asia and Africa,
but numerous other delegations and politicians also visited friendly countries
in Europe or overseas (Kardelj, for instance, went to Denmark, Norway, and