NATIONALITIES PROBLEM

Document Type: 
Collection: 
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
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 20, 1955
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00810A008201080010-4.pdf104.4 KB
Body: 
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