EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00864A000800010045-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 17, 2010
• Sequence Number: 45
• Publication Date: May 3, 1968
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/18: CIA-RDP79B00864A000800010045-4
99 EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER OCI #07168
3 May 1968
The Polish Foreign Ministry--Very Interesting but Confusing
Confusion, tension, and uncertainty, born of the current
purges, are especia lly rampant in the "leaderless" Polish
Foreign Ministry.
According to a former Polish Press Agency correspondent
in New York, Foreign Minister Rapacki's rumored 3 April
resignation has not yet been accepted, but he has been "on
strike" since that date, when he refused an "order" to
fire Deputy Minister Naszkowski. Rumors of Naszkowski's
dismissal continue, although he was still present on May
Day rostrum and identified by title. Moreover, veteran
Director General Maria Wierna has been purged, and another
Director, Ogrodzinski, is gravely ill. Rumors have it that
at least seven Ambassadors will soon be replaced. Finally,
hard'Liner Kazimierz Sidor, a former ambassador to the
UAR, is now a strong contender to succeed Rapacki.
Rapacki has long been genuinely i.IL and his temporal
and political demise are probably not far off. Wierna and
Naszkowski, both tough, pro-Soviet Jews, probably have been
fired, but the latter may be kept on until Rapacki's successor
is found. Sidor's name has been mentioned before
Czechoslovaks Press US on Gold Question
A formal Czechoslovak note handed to the US on 2 May
reportedly terms the US attitude on the question of the
return of Czechoslovakia's confiscated gold "irresponsible
and unacceptable."
The note reiterates Prague's demand that the US return
the gold and aLso compensate Czechoslovakia for the forced
sale of a stee:L rolling mill. The note pointed out that the
US and Czechoslovakia had reached an agreement on the gold
question in 1964, but Washington subsequently refused to
sign it. It also renewed the Czechoslovak government's
offer to discuss on a separate basis US claims and other
outstanding financial and economic questions.
GROUP I
EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC DOWN-
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The note., which probably was written some time ago,
may have been released on 2 May to serve as a partial reply
to the State Department's 1 May statement. A Foreign
Office spokesman apparently attempted to assauge US fears
that displaying a sympathetic attitude would be disadvan-
tageous to Prague by pointing out that returning the gold
"could in no way be interpreted as interference into
Czechoslovakia's internal affairs either in Czechoslovakia
or anywhere else."
Ulbricht Calls for a "New Inititative" in European Security
In a 2 May speech before the SED Central Committee,
Walter Ulbricht said that "the SED considers urgent, a new
initiative with the object of cooperation between the
communist parties, the social democrat parties, the trade
unions and other social organizations of the European
countries for the bringing about of European Security."
Ulbricht's approach includes proposed discussions of the
situation in general and of the possibilities of attaining
"partial demands" in the European Security movement.
Although Ulbricht's New Year's address included a call
for official discussions with various government and
functional. bodies of the Federal Republic, this is the
first time he has expanded the formula to include other
European countries.
Czechoslovak Airport Workers Plan Strike
The staff of the high-voltage electrical engineering
workshops at Ruzyne airport in Prague announced on 24 April
that a five-hour protest strike will take place on 6 May.
According to the Czech trade union daily, Prace,
if the strike takes place all Czechoslovak and foreign
aircraft will be prevented from taking off or landing.
The workers have planned the strike to force the transport
ministry to provide adequate working and hygenic facilities
for the electrical engineers at Ruzyne. Representatives
of a strike committee were to meet with a deputy transport
minister on 26 April, but there have been no reports that
the strike has been cancelled.
The planned strike illustrates again that Czechoslovak
workers are taking advantage of the "democratization"
process to press their demands, which had long been either
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unheeded or denied by the Novotny regime. The airport workers
were probably quite gratified when the newly-elected chairman
cf the Czechoslovak Council of Trade Unions, Karel Polacek,
declared on 24 April that the unions could not give up their
right to strike "as an extreme means against gross violation
of the rights of the working people."
New York Times to Open Office in Prague
Times correspondent Richard Eder informed the Embassy
in Pragueon 11 April that the Czechoslovaks had welcomed
the paper's decision to open a one-man office in Prague.
On the basis of his preliminary discussions with Ministry
of Foreign Affairs officials, Eder said he foresees no
difficulties other than those expected problems connected
with acquiring adequate housing and office facilities.
Earlier the Times planned a three-way personnel switch
involving Tad Szu c moving from Madrid to Warsaw, Jonathan
Randal moving from Warsaw to Prague, and Eder going from
Belgrade to Madrid. Because Szul.c was refused a Polish
visa, he apparently will go to Prague and Randal may remain.
in Warsaw.
Senior UPI official Wellington Long, who has been
covering the Prague scene for some weeks, has stated that
he is strongly recommending opening a UPI office a ue
Long expects this recommendation to be accepted.
NOTE: THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ABOVE REPRESENT
ONLY THE ANALYSIS OF THE EE DIVISION
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