Soviet Union Cutting the Party Line

"The present Communist Party and state leadership will not permit the breakup of the federal state." With that harsh comment on the Lithuanian party's decision to break with Moscow, Mikhail Gorbachev laid down the limit on Soviet political reform. After months of acquiescence while communist parties across Eastern Europe went their own way, Gorbachev made it clear that a similar move by any of the 15 republics of the U.S.S.R. would be considered "illegitimate." No group had yet dared to defy Moscow in this way, and Gorbachev let his anger show. "If we cross this line," he declared in a voice shaking with emotion, "then we can be said to be deliberately aiming at the breaking up of the Soviet Union."

The dilemma for Gorbachev is an excruciating one. He has been spearheading internal democratization while struggling to keep reform, especially in the Baltic States, from spinning out of control. Two weeks ago, the Lithuanian party declared its independence from Moscow and, to save itself, lined up with the republic's strong separatist movement. Earlier last month, the Lithuanian parliament voted to abolish the party's constitutionally guaranteed monopoly on power -- a move Kremlin leaders have been resisting on the national level. Just last week the Latvian parliament followed its neighbor in eliminating the Communist Party's unique leading role. Lithuanian party leader Algirdas Brazauskas organized the breach with Moscow to shore up credibility before local elections on Feb. 24. "Without these changes," he said, "our party will lack the appeal necessary to guarantee its existence."

But the crack in party solidarity so alarmed the Kremlin that it called an emergency session of the Central Committee to address the threat. Party conservatives demanded a tough response to discourage other communist parties from seceding. After two days of bitter but inconclusive debate, the plenum was temporarily suspended until Gorbachev returned from a visit to Lithuania to make a personal appeal to party leaders.

Lithuanian communists seemed relieved that the crisis had been postponed, but showed no signs of changing course. If Gorbachev's personal diplomacy fails to heal the rift, he will be faced with a fierce and potentially explosive test of his promise of political reform. "Moscow doesn't really have any options," said a Western diplomat. "Short of force, there isn't much it can do to stop this."