JAPAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A001300010005-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 2, 2008
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 13, 1960
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2008/07/02 : CIA-RDP79R00890A001300010005-7
C Vwa 1. a/-. . a .. .-
aftermath of assassination 25X1
of Japanese Socialist party chairman Inejiro Asanuma on 12 October show
wide variety of reactions. Assassination at least will provide impetus
for more violent Socialist attacks on the Ikeda government in the Diet
session beginning on 17 October.
A. Leftists will use incident as pretext for demonstrations that will
probably continue into the campaign for the national election,
tentatively scheduled for some time in November; popular emotional
sympathy will aid the Socialists in generating support.
II. The selection of a successor to Asanuma will undoubtedly lead to fierce
infighting within the Socialist party between extreme leftist
moderate elements. This will also result in review and reassessment
of party's anti-American position.
A. Too early to assess probable ultimate outcome of party maneuvering.
Party is likely to choose interim leader for election campaign.
Election results will strongly influence subsequent position.
B. Asanuma was the symbol of the Socialists' anti-American, pro-
Communist position.
III. Peiping and Moscow have moved quickly to exploit the assassination;
Moscow attributed the attack to Fascist thugs while Peiping said
Asanuma was killed by a hired assassin; no further elaboration.
A. Peiping already had decided on a hostile attitude toward Prime
Minister Ikeda and to support leftist agitation for his ouster.
C?t;Ci)P:` :. i P.'7.
Approved For Release 2008/07/02 : CIA-RDP79R00890A001300010005-7
 Approved For Release 2008/07/02 : CIA-RDP79ROO89OA001300010005-7
to Communist Chin
se charged Ikeda is as subservient to the US
previous Kishi government,
B, Assassination will provide additional pretext for Peiping assist-
ance to the leftists in the November election campaign,
Approved For Release 2008/07/02 : CIA-RDP79ROO89OA001300010005-7