PROBABLE SATELLITE REACTION TO US OFFER OF FOOD ASSISTANCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01065A000600040077-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 17, 2007
• Sequence Number: 77
• Publication Date: May 13, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP80-01065A000600040077-4
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SECURITY INFORMATION
EYES ONL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
13 May 1953
PROBABLE SATELLITE REACTION TO
US OFFER OF FOOD ASSISTANCE
NSC review completed - may be declassified in
States Government to provide
gifts of food to be distributed by an agency such as the
International Red Cross in Hungary, Poland, and Rumania
would hardly result in an unqualified and decisive propa-
ganda victory for this country. It is believed that consid-
erable unfavorable reaction would be engendered among the
non-Communist majority of the population in these Satellites.
Moreover, following their certain rejection of the offer,
the'Communist regimes would have been provided with an ex-
celent propaganda theme to be exploited to the disadvantage
of the US.
Except possibly in Hungary, food supplies are believed
to be adequate at the present time to supply basic needs
for a low level of subsistence and to prevent any starvation.
Depending on the weather, the situation will probably begin
to improve about mid-June and continue to do so*through the
summer.
American officials in Warsaw and Bucharest, in contrast
to those in Budapest, do not believe that the offer would
force the leaders of these Satellites to take steps to im-
prove the food supply currently available to the people.
The much more likely reaction would be outright rejection of
the offer and a propaganda attack asserting that the US is
attempting economic imperialism in order to dispose of its
food surpluses. The Satellites would claim that living
standards are rising, that current food supplies are ade-
quate, and that, if help is needed, the USSR will supply it.
State Dept. review
completed
SECRET
Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP80-01065A000600040077-4
 Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP80-01065A000600040077-4
SECURITY INFORMATION
Supervision of the distribution of the food by an im-
partial agency such as the International Red Cross would not
be permitted by the Satellites. All agencies such as the
IRC were forced to suspend operations in the Satellites
some years ago and there is no reason to believe that they
would now be permitted to operate in these countries for
the purpose of distributing gift food. Equally important,
for reasons of internal security the Satellites would not
desire representatives of an international agency traveling.
about their countries while supervising the.distribution
of the food gifts. Finally, Satellite officials undoubtedly
would not agree either with representatives of the United
States or of the international agency as to what individuals
should receive the food.
With few exceptions the non-Communist majority of the
Satellite populations can be expected to react unfavorably
to such an offer by the United States. They would consider
such assistance from the US, which is their bastion of
hope for liberation from Communist rule, tc be in effect
support for the present unpopular regimes.
EYES ONLY
SECRET
Approved For Release 2007/12/17: CIA-RDP80-01065A000600040077-4