The author outlines an extensive theoretical and political debate held on the national question in the press
sponsored by the Independent Workers' Party of Yugoslavia, from May to December of 1923. The fact is
stressed that on the basis of the resulting conclusions the CPY abandoned its original unitary and centralist
views developing a new national programme based on the then Yugoslav realities. The programme insisted
on every Yugoslav people's right to self-determination, and advocated a federal principle in matters of state
organization. The programme was officially adopted by the third state Conference of the Communist Party
of Yugoslavia held in Belgrade in January 1924 that also defined practically all issues of the national policy
subsequently followed by the Party.