EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79B00864A001200020019-7
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
December 20, 2016
Document Release Date: 
March 9, 2006
Sequence Number: 
19
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
November 29, 1972
Content Type: 
STUDY
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP79B00864A001200020019-7.pdf101.26 KB
Body: 
Approved For Ree 20003tT6'C1'A=R6F}79'600864A000020019-7 #221 EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER OCI# 1015/72 29 Nov. 1972 Polish Spending in East Germany Curtailed The Polish government announced a "temporary limitation" on the amount of zloty which a Pole may exchange for East German marks, bringing to an end a ten month period during which Polish tourists could purchase as much in East German stores as they could get their hands on. For the next two months, in effect, Poles may exchange approximately $50 worth of zloty unless they can prove they intend to stay in East Germany over six days; then their limit is increased to about $330. After 1 January 1973, additionally, all Polish tourists will be permitted to exchange only $330 a year, regardless of how many trips he takes or to how many countries. The party paper explained the new measures as being necessary because of "larger then expected purchases of marks" and resulting "excessive deficit in balance of payments." Mass Polish purchases in East German stores has been a source of friction since the first of this year when border crossings became easier. The prospect of a Polish Christmas rush on relatively scarce East German consumer goods undoubtedly brought the matter to a head and convinced the East Germans to bring pressure on Polish officials for the exchange limits. The action is certain to be unpopular with most Poles, but it is not entirely unreasonable. The $330 limit represents an average salary for three months, and only those who are relatively well off would be tempted or financially able to spend a fourth of their yearly income on consumer goods. Poles who live close enough to the border to do much of their grocery shopping in East Germany, of course, will complain Zagreb Trials Wind Down The trials in Zagreb resulting from the political upheaval in Croatia last December are now being quietly wrapped up. Earlier this week,the Zagreb District Court sentenced four officials (Marko Veselica, Jozo Ivicevic-Bakulic, Zvonimir Komarica and Vlatko Pavetic) of the Matica Hrvatska (Mother Croatia) cultural society to jail terms ranging from 18 months to seven years of "rigorous imprisonment." Veselica's Approved For Release 200 63tT kY%P 7?9Bb864A001200020019-7 Approved For Relfefe 20 t66 ,?I fi Pjft0864AOV100020019-7 -2- sentence (7 years) is the harshest dealt any of the more than two dozen Croatian nationalists brought to trial to date. The Zagreb court also sentenced seven members of an alleged terrorist group--"Skupina Zagreb"--to terms of imprisonment ranging from one to six and one half years. In contrast to the trials of students in last summer, these recent proceedings have received only brief and sporadic attention from the press. The lowering of nationalist temperatures plus concern with Tito's drive to strengthen party unity have taken public attention away from the year- old events in Croatia. With these convictions, the regime has now disposed of most of the prominent Croatin nationalists. President Tito also announced that he has granted amnesty to a number of prisoners on the occasion of the state holiday celebrated on 29 November. There are no indications, however, that this affects those Croatians previously sentenced for nationalist activity. Approved For Release 20"6pl_gtfWT0864A001200020019-7