What "famous statement" did Marshal Tito make in 1953? or maybe 1952?

Been doing some sleuthing. Most quotes don’t have dates attributed to them. This looks the most likely, a statement found in a letter to Stalin from Tito. Check out this article and see if it might fit.

My guess is that it’s the Belgrade Document link with which Tito said “We’re Communist, but we’re going to practice Communism a little differently than Russia does”.

^^ I saw that referenced too but that’s a later date than the one @Jeruba is asking about. I found lots of history but the letter was the only statement I found for 1952 – 53

(Interesting that the two librarians were researching this.)

@janbb – what else is there to do on Saturday night?

Nothing better than a busman’s holiday apparently!

Love having the research help! Thank you.

Since the book was published in October of 1954, the events of the story (set in springtime) can’t take place later than early 1954 and probably occur the preceding year; so “last July” is either 1953 or 1952. Stalin died in March of 1953, so if the reference is to the Tito letter, that would have to make it 1952. I don’t see mention of a date on the letter, though.

I thought I would find some prominent reference to Yugoslavia’s “resumed relations with Soviet Russia,” which would date the “famous statement,” but I didn’t. It seems to refer to something that most people up on their current events would have known at the time, and that might not apply to a letter. But resuming relations seems most plausible following the death of Stalin.

It’s not important to the story, but I can’t help wondering about it anyway.