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Other West Europeans hope that Andropov's ascendancy will break the pattern of worsening East-West relations. Says Enrico Jacchia, director of Rome's Center of Strategic Studies: "Our colleagues in the Soviet Union who were in close contact with Andropov before Brezhnev's death have often spoken of him as a focal point for more flexible East-West relations." Jacchia, like many Europeans, fears that Washington may pass up an opportunity to exploit openings. "Clearly, there is something new beginning to move in Moscow. Will Reagan and his people react positively to this?"
The first clues to Andropov's relative strength will emerge this week when the Central Committee meets in Moscow. To build his strength, Andropov will probably seek to place his supporters in the key positions that are now vacant on the Politburo (see box). Still, whether Andropov succeeds in getting his allies into the Politburo and the Central Committee Secretariat will not be evident for some time, simply because no one outside a small circle of top party leaders knows precisely who Andropov's supporters are.
Far easier to interpret will be the choice of a new President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, a.government post that Brezhnev held concurrently with that of Party General Secretary for the last five years of his life. Although the presidency is largely a ceremonial position, it does confer an aura of importance on the man who fills it. Speculation in Moscow last week centered on Chernenko or Tikhonov for the presidency if Andropov does not aspire to it himself. Andropov's behind-the-scenes maneuvering should keep him fully occupied as he moves to consolidate his power. Meanwhile, the signals emanating from Moscow are likely to remain ambiguous, if not downright confusing. —By Patricia Blake. Reported by Erik Amfitheatrof/Moscow