NATIONALITIES PROBLEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A008201080010-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 14, 2008
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: September 20, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/11/14: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA008201080010-4
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains Information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
4.U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which In any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
-S-9-C-R $-T
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
DATE ACQUIRED
Yugoslavia
N ati?nalities Proble^I-
1.
2.
REFERENCES
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
20 September 1955
2
RD
Cn11RCF FVALUATIONS ARE DEFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
The Yugoslav ?overrmment has had substantial success in'eliminating
Serb-Croat rivalry on both aides. The regime is geverply opposed
to all excessive national feelings ad an vaVresai.cn against ary
one nationality is quickly punished and repressed. However, in
the economic sphere on the republic lovr3,resentment is often
felt because of the favorable treataeat the federal Ooverswent
has shown towaad the Republics of Slovenia and Eoanite This, bow.
ever, say be ascribed to a competitive spirit among the leaders of
the republics rather than to my nationality feelings6 Each
republic a9trn2`al]7 wants to amours as mush ftnaaoig support from
the Federal loveromeot as possible, and tams a feeling of jealousy
and rivalry occurs vhon smother republic has more snosess in this
respect. This to not necessarily indicative of nationality
onto moaisa.
The success achieved by the Yugoslav Ooveroneat in dealing with
the nationality problem will probably outlive the present regime,
Under the present
will win both Party and wat:rton-candidatop rt supportElev'eer-
natio nali lity,
t l the jovwment does see to it that where over possible the
canditiPbe has as snob in ooamon with the local national character
as possible. Tito, however, would be elected anywhere in Yugoslavia
S-E-C-R-3-T
25X1,.
STATI ARMY NAVY AIR F'I I I AIC I I1xT lmv_r~1__.._
(No$ei Washington distribution Indleet.d y "X", Field diitrlbution by
Approved For Release 2008/11/14: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA008201080010-4
 Approved For Release 2008/11/14: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA008201080010-4
without competition. As regards other candidates to public
offices, their success depends upon Party backing, which is
always afforded. If the Party did not interfere, the Montenegrins
would, not , ru fling? "be more likely to elect a
Montenegrin rather than a mar or different nationality to the
Presidency. Likewise, the Slovenes would be more likely to
support a Slovene rather than a Croat or Serb, at cetera. The
party machinery, however is the determining factor. The popula-
tion of Serbia does not resent Kardelj because he is a Slovene,
nor do they resent Tito because he is a Croat. At the top
level there is definitely no problem regarding nationalities;
at the middle level the problem is better specified in terms of
geography and economics; and the lower level shows practically no
interest in the nationality problem.
3. Among the various republics9 Serbia is the most difficult for
the regime to control because of events which happened during
the war. Bosnia-Hercegovina is the easiest to handle because
increased indua alisation has created more jobs and has raised
the standard %ving., thereby reducing much of the pre-wrar
misery in this republic. Montenegro must still fall under
strict control because here Canunian is identified with Russia,
while Slovenia and Croatia still need and receive'!' moderate
amount of control because of the trouble the regiis has had
with the Catholic Church. More federal control is not needed
in Macedonia because, now that this republic has obtained its
independence from Serbia and has been given its owes language,
much of its pride has been assuaged. However, it should be
noted that among the top Communist leaders, Lazar Kol
Macedonia has the least voice in the affairs of the country.
Cc ent: Your attention is calledI w ch
expresses an oppos view of the nationalities problem in
Yugoslavia.
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/11/14: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA008201080010-4