AFTERMATH OF THE DJILAS AFFAIR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005200140010-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2007
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: October 20, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/08/30: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005200140010-1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
COUNTRY Yugoslavia
SUBJECT Aftermath of the Djilas Affair
This material contains Information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person Is prohibited
by law.
DATE DISTR. 20 Oct. 1954
NO. OF PAGES. 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. Milovan Djilas is said to be working on a new Yugoslav encyclopedia at the
present time, and also translating from the Russian several books which U-
V e
been approved for general distribution by the Yugoslav Communist Party. He is
seen frequently at general public gatherings, such as basketball and football
games, and appears to be no different in attitude or composure. Although he
is cut off from his former Party and public posts, he continues to receive a 25X1
pension of 25,000 dinars monthly as a former official, while his wife earns
about 5,000 dinars monthly from her employment in a bank.
2. Vladimir Dedijer is also working on the Yugoslav encyclopedia. He has begun
appearing at social functions (such as Marshal Tito's reception for Ethiopian
Emperor Haile Selassie and the latter's return reception), accompanied by
his attractive and young wife. Although Dedijer and his wife were left pretty
much alone at both receptions except by some non-Yugoslavs who happened to
know them, and although Djilas and his supporters are not yet back in the good
graces of the Communist inner circle, the presence of Dedijer at these two
official functions is regarded as an indication of a progressive comeback.
3. Stevan Dedijer claims that he was not dismissed as Director of the Boris Kidric
Institute for Nuclear Research, but that he had sent in his resignation last
November because he wanted to devote himself to "study and research". He has
had cards printed in English which state that he is now going to head the
physics laboratory at the Institute and study and teach at the University of
Belgrade. He continues to live in the same house at the Institute. He had
hoped to go to London for a period to study; chances of this temporary assign=ment, however, are regarded as slim by party officials. A rumor is being
circulated on the cell level that he was never a "real scientist" anyhow.
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
STAT EV ARMY 'X( NAVY AIR FBI
AEC
(NOTE: Washington distribution indicated by "X" field distribution by "#".)
Approved For Release 2007/08/30: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005200140010-1
Q- T --- I
/7
 Approved For Release 2007/08/30: CIA-RDP80-00810A005200140010-1
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
4+. As a general observation of the aftermath of Djilas' outburst, Yugoslav Communism
appears to be as monolithic as it was before. The extensive amount of western
sanguine speculation as to the anti-Communist results of the Djilas affair played
right into Yugoslav Communist propaganda: namely, to create the impression that
Yugoslav Copmunism is a liberal framework within which disagreements could arise
without purges and bloodletting, and that, therefore, Yugoslav Communism is the
kind that can coexist with capitalism. Although certain "reactionary" circles
claim that Aleksandar Rankovic is secretly on DJilas' side, Djilas had a very
limited following, which was only too ready to desert him in his difficult hour.
The entire affair served to bring any and all wavering rank and file back into
line to accept the word from above, to follow orders, and to leave the "heavy
thinking" to Marshal Tito, Edvard Kardelj and occasionally Moss Pijade.
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2007/08/30: CIA-RDP80-00810A005200140010-1