Report on Conversation with Yugoslav Leader Josef Broz Tito on Cuba, November 1962, Bucharest

Bucharest [22 December 1962]

The report of Academician Ştefan S. Nicolau referring to the visit carried out to Yugoslavia by a delegation of the National High Assembly (12-22 November 1962)

Participants: Ştefan S. Nicolau, Nicolae Armencoiu, Petre Blajovici, Ştefan Boboş, Geo Bogza, Teodor Marinescu, Nicolae Petre, Zoe Rigani, Stoian Stanciu, Gheorghe Timariu, Ştefan Tripşa, Viorel Uibaru.

During the meeting with Iosip Broz Tito, Ştefan S. Nicolau learned the opinion of the Yugoslav leader regarding the crisis of the Soviet missiles from Cuba and the war between India and China: “Tito said «the war danger is very high. It could start from nothing, from a weapon fire or a challenge. The fight for peace is hard also because it is believed that only the weak want peace. The wise step of the Soviet Union, of comrade Khrushchev that made for solving the Cuban problem was interpreted as a weakness. This kind of interpreting is done by mean, irresponsible people, who never experienced war in their country. We hope we will succeed in saving peace. The Chinese-Indian conflict is a sad situation». Then, Tito continued: «We have to do something about this too. It is winter and the fights still continue. The problem is extremely delicate. India has 400 million inhabitants and China 650 million. In India the reaction is very powerful, and the progressive forces, who want to go with the socialist way, regardless of which socialist way, and we must keep them away from the reaction. To me – said Tito – India is the key to this area of the world (Asia). We must not lose it. Many people do not see this constellation; nobody should be humiliated; they need to sit down and solve the problems. I don’t believe anything can be grown in the Himalayas – no corn, no grape vine. If they consider the old friendship between India and China, the strategy is gone, the border must be adjusted. If we want to build socialism and we want to abolish the borders, the gravity of the issues loses its intensity».

On the observation made during the conversation, meaning that the imperialist circles get in the middle of the Chinese-Indian conflict, Tito said that the imperialist circles will continue to do so unless the other party (meaning China) won’t take any measures, it’s lack of action being the trigger. «We have enough problems – said Tito – and for solving them we need wisdom and patience»”.