The Soviet-inspired Conference of European Communist Parties that opens today in Paris under French and Polish sponsorship it intended, in part, to demonstrate broad Communist eupport in Europs for disarmament and East-Vest detente despite the setback of Afghanistan. The success of thr conference is already in doubt, hcjevsr, because several sudor West and East European parties have refused to participate. Although Moscow nay have hoped theuould put pressure on tmm diesident parties to conform, the nesting probably will only underline and intensify the disunity among European Communists. efgaV
The Soviets first broached the idea of such alast Juneeans of stimulating support in West
approval] Xor nalcatf*
Eurocommunist Differences
Moscow's opposition to the Italian Communists' stance had been intensified by party leader' Berlinguer's criticism of the invasion of Afghanistan and by what the Soviets regarded as the Italian party's weak opposition" to TNF. The Italians, in turn, have said that they will not attend the conference because it is "wrong in method, timing, and theme."
applies to
.panish Communist Party, which has joined the Italians in refusing to attend the Paris Conference.
The Communist-parties of the UK, the Netherlands, :'" and San Marino, as'well as the Swedish Left Party, also will boycott.the session. The Belgian Communist Party will attend only as an observer.
East European
If things go as the Soviets plan, the conference will mark the first endorsement by high-level Warsaw Pact countrywithout the. of Moscow's policy in Afghanistan.
Nonetheless, some of the East European parties that are attending probably have reservations about the tWkm '
The Hungarians and the Poles may not be enthusiastic about publicly endorsing Soviet policy on Afghanistan inorum, but they will go along. They will be concerned, however, over any attempt to isolate the
0
av Parties. Polish and Bun-
tablv were happy to
r0bably wil1to tone down any criticism directed at the absent parties. $WJL
The Poles conference
The 'Jugoslav andoycotts stemelief that Moscow will use che gathering not only to obtain an across-the-board endorsement oi its policies but will also attempt to reestablish its domination of the international Corrrnunist movement. Both countries Oppose the invasion of Afghanistan and maintain close ties with the-.Italian and Spanish parties.
nd Bucharest also object to thc abrupt manner in which the agenda and declaration of thewere drawn up by the Soviets without prior Belgrade has even criticized this tacticiolation of the agreements reached at the conference of European Communist parties in. JEast .BerlinV- 4
Romania's decision not to attend wasdifficult because of its Warsaw Pact.membership. If the other independent Communist parties had gone, the -Romanians also would have participated and complained about objectionablethoy didftor waiting for almost all parties to declare whether they would attend, however, Bucharest decided that it iid not want to be thc lone dissenting voice.
The absence of the independent European Communist parties from Paris all but assures Moscownanimous endorsement ol its policies on disarmament, Afghanistan, and the international Communist movement. But the costs ln attaining this bogus "unicy- will be high. Rather than isolating the Italian and Spanish parties and improving the position of the French, the reverse is likely to be the result. Moreover, the failure of the Yugoslav and-Romanian parties to attend will outnew strains on their relationships with Moscow.
Original document.
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