CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
06629857
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
3
Document Creation Date: 
December 28, 2022
Document Release Date: 
September 27, 2017
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
F-2016-01084
Publication Date: 
February 21, 1957
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PDF icon current intelligence week[15313999].pdf118.58 KB
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Approved for Release: 2017/09/22 C06629857 cio/e IDENT1AL CURRENT � INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY COPY NO. 17 OCI NO. 0059/57 21 February 1957 DOCUMENT NO. NO CHANOE IN CLASS. 0 DECLASSISED CLAW CHANGED To:. Aki dP NEM' REvIEW DATE: tT_IT AVM: HR 7 itATE REV1eWER: CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE Approved for Release: 2017/09/22 C06629857 Approved for Release: 2017/09/22 C06629857 "3764.E', CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY 21 February 1957 The USSR is reportedly withholding promised economic credits and threaten-. ing even greater sanctions, such as suspension of Soviet shipments of iron ore, oil, and grain, which, however, are still arriving. It is also hampering the repatriation of Poles now in the USSR. There are indications, too, of stronger Soviet opposition to Gomulka's efforts to improve relations with the West and to seek credits and assistance from that dirpr- tion. SOVIET-YUGOSLAV RELATIONS Recent Kremlin moves ap- � pear calculated to bring the dispute with Tito to a head. The Russian leaders appear willing to read Tito completely out of the Communist world un- less he is willing to make suf- ficient compromises in his position to allow some new form of modus vivendi. The Kremlin presumably has no intention of returning to such Stalin-era types of pressure on Yugoslavia as border incidents, name call- ing, and complete economic blockade. In its present for- eign policy orientation of "coexistence," it will presum- ably find a way of coexisting with Tito, but not as a com- radely Communist. The Kremlin leaders' in- creasing fears over Gomulka's course in Poland may be the cause of the stepped-up pace of their anti-Tito moves, even though they probably had con- cluded by November that Yugo- slavia, with its present atti- tude, could no longer be toler- ated even in a "fringe" position in the Communist world. Soviet bloc propaganda has often con- nected Yu oslav and Polish ideas PART II The strongest official Soviet statement thus far was made by Dmitry Shepilov in his final report as Soviet foreign minister on 12 February when he made future development of all Yugoslav-Soviet relations con- tingent on a change in the Yugoslav ideological attitude. Belgrade has reacted sharply to this, stating that since Yugoslavia bore no responsibil- ity for the past abnormal re- lations, further development of relations would depend on the Soviet attitude, and that the Yugoslav position remains un- changed. Moscow is also reported to have proposed a meeting of all Communist leaders to take place this spring in Prague to settle ideological differences and establish Communist unity. The Yugoslays refused an invitation, however, believing they would NOTES AND COMMENTS Page 3 of 17 Approved for Release: 2017/09/22 C06629857 Approved for Release: 2017/09/22 C06629857 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY 21 February 1957 be placed in the position of a defendant before hostile judges. The Yugoslays report that their recent economic negotia- tions with Moscow have taken place in an "icy" climate. They say they have found the USSR recalcitrant on reaching rea- sonable prices for such items as coking coal, as well as on determining quotas for numerous other goods. They also report that Moscow is now unwilling to start implementing the joint Soviet-East German 700,000,000 ruble ($175,000,000) credit for the development of a large alu- minum complex in Yugoslavia until the present Soviet Five- Year Plan is completed in 1961. The Yugoslays view the Soviet retreat on this project and on the agreement to assist in developing the Yugoslav nuclear energy program as an explicit pressure tactic. During all these moves, commmunications have passed back and forth between Tito and Khrushchev. The Yugoslays pub- licly have shown �a strong de- sire to avoid a deterioration in relations, even though they are not retreating on their basic views. In a New Year's interview, Tito strongly empha- sized the need to separate state relations from the ideological discussions, and in the latter, he called for dignified, com- radely discussion, not "polem- ics." From that date until the Borba blast on 14 February, the leading Yugoslav newspapers largely refrained from answering the numerous Soviet bloc attacks on Yugoslavia, "national Com- munism," "revisionism," and on other sins with which the Yugo- slays have been charted. MOLLET'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON French premier Mollet, who arrives in Washington on 26 February, is hoping to use the visit to buttress his domestic political position. Despite has government's success in the UN debate on Algeria, there are signs that the right-center is ready to launch an all-out at- tack on the government's eco- nomic European integration, and Algerian policies. Mollet is expected to dis- cuss a wide range of topics with American officials which he probably hopes will give him new ammunition with which to fend off critics at home. France's growing inflation and budgetary problems are confront- ing Mollet with increasing par- liamentary difficulties which may come to a head shortly after his return, and reports are again current that the right- center is planning to use an economic issue to bring down the government before it makes too many concessians in Algeria or on EURATOM and the Common Market. Although Paris insists requests for financial aid as such are not on the premier's agenda, discussion of France's economic difficulties is implic- it in such proposed topics as European defense, the Middle East, and underdeveloped areas. The prestige of Mollet's government, particularly that of Foreign Minister Pineau, has soared with France's successful defense of its Algerian policy in the UN. At the same time, however, there is a growing awareness in both the government and its opposition that Monet now is morally committed to the formula of a cease-fire, elections and negotiations con- tained in his declaration of "ThrsREL, PART II NOTES AND COMMENTS Page 4 of 17 Approved for Release: 2017/09/22 006629857