CHRONOLOGY OF RECENT EVENTS IN THE SOVIET ORBIT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000100060026-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2004
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: July 21, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE :AGENC
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
21 July 1953
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CHRONOLOGY OF RECENT EVENTS IN THE SOVIET ORBIT
Hungarian decree, which cut crop delivery quotas
for collectives but not for individual peasants,
remitted all fines for non-fulfillment of crop
delivery targets of individual peasants and col-
lectives, and cancelled last year's arrears in
grain deliveries,
founded,
13. July The American Embassy in Moscow reported
12 July Soviet newspapers reported reception at Embassy
Mongolian People's Republic attended by Molotov,
Mikoyan, Marshall Zhukov and V. V. Kuznetsov,
Presence of Zhukov indicated rumors his arrest un-
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4 e, DIA reviews
Mpleted
rumors that army officers including
General Sinilov, Chief of the Moscow Garrison, and
General.Artemev, Commanding General of the Moscow
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Military Di Irrest.
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13 July US Legation in Budapest, commenting on a 13 July
Szabad Nep editorial on Rakosi's speech, stated
that the editorial was further confirmation of
Hungarian Party's confusion and increased fear of
the people that new economic policy mostly double
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talk.
13 July Report of this date from US Naval Attache Moscow
stated
that a recent change in Soviet
military laws will reduce by half the term of
service in specialized services, including the
navy and air force but not the ground forces, and
liberalize draft exemptions for only sons. This
report unconfirmed.
14 July Article in Moscow paper regarding a mass meeting
of ministry personnel called to denounce Beria re-
vealed the replacement of the Minister of Transport
and Heavy Industry, V. A. Malyshev, by I. Nosenko.
14 Jul ease
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the USSR Supreme Soviet will meet 28 July.
14 July V. M. Molotov, Marshal Sokolovsky, Lieut. General
Sinilov, Commandant of Moscow, Lieut. General A,
Sarayev, Chief of the Soviet-Army's Diplomatic de-
partment and L. P. Pavlov, recently appointed
Ambassador to France attended reception at the
French Embassy. The appearance of Sinilov dis-
pelled the recent rumors of his arrest.
14 July Hungarian government asked Yugoslavia to agree to
the formation of a mixed frontier commission and
stated willing to have commission start work at
the earliest possible moment,
14 July USSR agreed to appointment of Dobrivoje Vidic as
Yugoslav ambassador to the USSR.
14 July Polish Government acted to improve availability
of consumer goods and criticized wholesalers and
heads of socialized shops for showing "insufficient
care" for the greater satisfaction of the working
people.
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14 July USSR concluded a contract for 10,000 tons of Dutch
butter, at least eight times as much as it bought
from the Netherlands in 1952,
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goods available to the populace,
On 22 June 6,000 tons of Danish butter were pur-
chased. These food purchases from the West show
that there has been no change in the government's
policy of making increased quantities of consumer
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15 July Molotov's letter accepted Israeli Foreign Minister's
6 July proposal to resume Soviet-Israeli diplomatic
relations.
15 July Soviet delegate to UN Economic and Social Council
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$1,000,000 and lend services of Soviet experts to
UN Technical Assistance program.
16 July Ukraine Radio announced replacement of Ukrainian
MVD Minister Meshik, P. Ya. by Strokach, T. A.
Strokach was MVD Minister in Ukraine from 1946 until
its amalgamation with MGB April 1953 at which time
Meshi} appointed Minister.
16 July Pravda reported meeting of Party activ of USSR
Ministry of Defense. Bulganin and Zheltov, chief
of Political Directorate, spoke plus the following:
Zhukov, Admiral Kuznetsov, Sokolovski, Govorov,
Budenny, Communication Marshal Presypkin, Artillery
General Nedelin and Aviation General Zhigarev.
16 July Two more R.us 4re &-o# -A iican citizens received
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exit visas permitting them to leave the Soviet
Union.
16 July USSR-French trade agreement concluded, calling for
$34.0 million annually each way.
16 July US Embassy in.Athens reported that USSR planned
to appoint an ambassador to Greece and has
settled some pending visa cases involving Greek
nationals in the USSR. Soviet-Greek trade agree-
ment calling for annual exchange of goods worth
$10.0 million each way will be concluded shortly.
16 July SED Politburo announced a wage increase in publicly-
owned enterprises to become effective on 1 August,
with any wage cuts since 1 January 1953 to be
restored and higher rates for Sunday work to be
paid.
16 July East German Justice Minister Fechner replaced by
rabid, ruthless Communist Hite Benjamin.
16 July East German government issued call for all-German
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West German leaders quickly rejected the bid.
17 July USSR Supreme Soviet Presidium announced the appoint-
ment of V. A. Malyshev as USSR Minister of newly-
created Ministry of Medium Machine Building.
17 July Presidium USSR Supreme Soviet appointed A. I. Lavrentiev
A>mbassador to Iran replacing I. V. Sadchikov.
17 July USSR-Danish trade agreement concluded, calling for
annual exchange of $20.0 million worth each way.
17 July USSR plan fulfillment announcement for first half
of 1953 indicated continued decline in rate of
economic expansion.
17 July Following Soviet announcement of 15 July, Polish
delegate to UN Economic and Social Council offered
to contribute $75,000 to UN Technical Assistance
Program.
17 July USSR and Austria signed agreement for turning over
Ybbs-Persenberg dam to Austrians, under Article 35
of draft state treaty, despite Western warnings
that this would weaken future bargaining position
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on a treaty.
17 July Soviet tanks and troops were returning to Berlin
in substantial numbers, according to well-founded
reports,
18 July Soviet High Commissioner Semeonov sent a letter
to US High Commissioner Conant charging that
American planes had been dropping leaflets over
Soviet airfields almost daily for the past two
weeks. He warned that this could not be tolerated
by Soviet authorities,
18 July M. D. Bagirov, alternate member of the Presidium,
was removed from the Buro of the Azerbaijan Central
Committee and from his post as Chairman of the
Azerbaijan Council of Ministers on charges of
gross bureaucratism" and violation of the principle
of collective leadership.
18 July The unofficial Soviet mission in Japan contributed
$10,000 to Japanese flood relief.
19 July Soviet press and radio published texts of 30 May
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Soviet note to Turkey and 18 July Turkish reply
regarding Soviet withdrawal of claims to Turkish
territory bordering Soviet Armenia and Georgia
and reconsideration of Straits question,
19 July Communists at Panmunjom stated that the UN
Command's assurances on all major points except
one were adequate and that they were prepared to
discuss preparations for signing the armistice.
19 July Peiping radio's commentary on General Nam Ills
statement (above) said that "undet heated
questioning, the American delegate Harrison was
compelled to give the necessary assurances and
clarifications to 9 of the 10 questions put by
General Nam Il," and warned thatje'a policy of
connivance of the UN Command towards the South
Korean government and forces continues, it is
possible that the implementation of the terms of
the armistice agreement will continue to be
o~hstruct c ,,,4re or after the armistice,"
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20 July USSR and Israel publicly announced resumption of
Soviet-Israeli diplomatic relations.
14-20 July Soviet propaganda related to the Beria case dominated
internal output during the week. The increasing
propaganda charges against the US -- that the US
controlled Rhee and was trying to prolong the
Korean war, that the US instigated and still sup-
ports the disaffection in East Germany, and, by
implication, that Beria was a US agent -- all
appeared to have been tailored to specific situations
for which the Kremlin needed an outside scapegoat
or a standard explanation. They did not to date
appear to affect the over-all conciliatory policy
which began after Stalin's death. "Peace by
negotiations" was still represented as the goal of
Soviet policy,
20 July Soviet note to Turkey warned that the scheduled
visits to Istanbul of American and British warships
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and asked for more information on the matter.
20 July USSR agreed to send more than $57 million worth of
food to East Germany, but expected payment in
manufactured goods.
21 July South Korean Foreign Minister said his government
"may reconsider" its promise not to obstruct an
armistice, and asked Washington for "clarification"
of General Harrison's assurances to the Commu-
nists of South Korean willingness to observe the
truce terms. The Communist radio (presumably
North Korean) warned that unless the US "takes
effective steps" to foil Rhee's "plot" to wreck
the armistice, Harrison's assurances "will be
nothing but empty talk,"
Possibility that Beria was purged before the
German riots.
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knew of his purge as early as 15 June. Beria's
power may have been challenged weeks before the
announcement of his arrest with the postponement
of the Georgian Party Congress, caiied for 25 May.
Western observers generally consider that Beria
was arrested on 27 June.
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