COMMENTS ON THE CURRENT SOVIET SITUATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80S01540R003100120009-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 21, 2012
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: January 13, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/21 : CIA-RDP80SO154OR003100120009-1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18. Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
50X1-HUM
SEG T/CONTF30i:m s-US 'OFFICIALS ONLY
COUNTRY 'USSR
Comments on the Current Soviet
Situation
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 13 January 1954
NO. OF PAGES 2
5UX1-HUM
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS. IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
50X1-HUM
Cult,,of,.,Stalin
1. It is evident everywhere, not alone in the theses of the new history-,of the,
Communist Parttj, that the cult of Stalin is being: eliminated. Although this
is an attempt to retreat from the visible evils of despotism, the struggle to
establish a new , dictator will continue..
.Geri
2,.' There have been rumors that Beriya tried to bring troops into Moscow in-order
to make.a coup, but to bring . troops. into Moscow is impossible. It is extremely
.doubtful that Beriya is abroad, since he was being held in. the army prison, where
his supporters would not have been. able to help him organize an escape.
Attitude of the Army
3. The army is oriented against the MVD.. Incidentally, it is said that. Zhukov;
after the death of Stalin, did not want. to accept the post of Deputy_ War
Minister under Vasilevskiy, whom he. considered to be lower ranking than him-
self and to be a Stalin appointee. Zhukov accepted the post only after Bulgy
ganin, It'a figurehead marshal", was named War Minister. "Tlaukbror. is;;a)rbitious:: ,
He considers himself'the saviourof the Soviet Union, on a level w3rth Kutusov
and other great military-leaders;, and he hated Stalin because the latter shared
the credit for victory.. Stalin also hated Zhukov but could not risk harming
him and merely sent, him away from Moscow.
Econo
I+. Industry has been fully restored to prewar;-levels., but the distribution system.
is still inadequate. The fact that the only slippers to be found in a ertain
locality, were: sizes 35 and 45. does not mean that other sizes did. not exist; bit
that. distribution of size ranges was. faulty. There is much new building, in
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5.
fact,, too. much. It merely encourages the movement from village. to. City which
the government is now trying to correct,. The government, can fulfill the. promises
of Malenkov''s speech because it is necessary to fulfill them.
Soviet,.InternalF.0 L
Stalin was a fanatic, an al14-powerful dictator with.a persecution complex and
a mania for greatness.. He-wanted to see his goals accomplished during his life.-
time,. If he were. still alive,, the Soviet . Union. would be either on the brink of
or in the. midst of a catastrophe.. It is hoped that the present. authorities will
permit their pursuit of their. ,alms to be tempered by reason, and a recognition of
the realities, of life. They are,- normal people, not sick, and see that resistance
to change must be considered. As Bukharin and Rykov proposed, many 'of `the changes
made by the Soviets can be retained; the others can be abandoned gradually,. It
is important to make.?conces.sions to the peasantry, and the authorities appear to,
have chosen that road.. Malenkovts speech of 8 August 1953 is regarded as a change
from an unreasonable to a reasonable policy.. .Freedom, of course, is the most
important thing and the regime can scarcely grant that and retain power.:t The
disappointment to those who regard Malenkov's, speech as the beginning of a new
era will be terrifying and may have consequences.
The Americans talk constantly about Communist espionage-but this may be propa,-
ganda. With the present level of scientific. knowledge and techniques, it is
impossible to hide anything and espionage, is unnecessary. If persevering people.
are given the means, they will sooner or later attain what others have, attained.
Technical data and formulae obtained through espionage hastened the Soviet, level-,
opment of'the.atomic or hydrogen bomb by some period of time, but whether or not
that, will be decisive remains to be seen. One side has a few more and the. other
a few less bombs., The war' will in''any event be a war -of 'destruction.
d
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/21 : CIA-RDP80SO154OR003100120009-1