'STRENGTH OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNIST MOVEMENT' REPORT PREPARED BY THE SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON SECURITY AFFAIRS, DATED 15 OCTOBER 1953, PRINTED FOR THE USE OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R001600070008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 25, 2003
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: November 13, 1953
• Content Type: MF

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IIOV1t1953
MEMORANDUM FOR: The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: "Strength of the International Communist
Movement" Report Prepared by the Special
Subcommittee on Security Affairs, dated
15 October 1953, Printed for the use of
the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
1. At the Deputies' Meeting on 6 November 1953 you called
attention to the subject Report by Senator Wiley and directed that
appropriate officers of the Agency study this Report,
2. In this connection there is forwarded herewith for your
information an evaluation of this Report prepared by the Foreign
Intelligence Staff. The Report together with the FI evaluation
will be circulated to all DD/P elements concerned.
ar e
Chief of Operations, DD/P
Attachment
Blind memo of 16 November 1953,
DD/P - 7470-a.
DOCUMENT NO,
NO CIJANGE IN CLASS. ^
^ LIECLASSIFiEC
CLASS: CHA"!!GED TO. TS S
NeXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE;27 AtW _REVIEWER
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&,iil /?72- L
:2'0L1
STAT
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16 November 1953
10 ~ q, a-
25X1
1. The publication "Strength of the International Communist
Movement" by the Special Subcommittee on Security Affairs is a
compilation of two documents prepared by the Office of Intelligence
Research, State Department. Pages 12 to 47 of the publication
contain an edited version of the OIR Report #4489R5, "The World
Strength of the Communist Party Organizations," February 1953.
Pages 48 to 60, entitled Regional Summary, were prepared for
the Subcommittee by the OIR Committee on World Communism,
May 1953.
2. The two OIR documents which form the substance of the
report of the Subcommittee are valid statements on the numerical
and political strength of the Communist Movement in the Free
World. The basic Communist objectives and tactics are presented
in summary fashion.
3. The introduction to the publication points out that the "study. .
does not purport to constitute anything but a limited review of this
vast field." The introduction further emphasizes and counter-
balances the limitations of the report by calling attention to the
fallacies of the statistical approach and by referring properly to
the true factors of Communist strength and growth: a) the ability
to survive all sorts of adversity, and b) the Communist hold on
the labor movement, particularly in industrialized societies. The
introduction further contains the valid reminder that Communism,
although vulnerable, will not "automatically choke" on its own con-
tradictions, and that "only the most relentless exposure of those
contradictions can undermine the Communist Movement.'"
4. The report does not purport to treat with the illegal and
conspiratorial capabilities of the International Communist Move-
ment. However, it throws the spotlight on this crucial problem in
stating correctly: "Everywhere the illegal operation represents
for the Kremlin the highest priority. The effectiveness of the
underground is the ultimate success in that country."
ZZIGUMEET NO,
RRUT NO CHARGE IN ;LASS. 13
F1 CECLASS FVIE
CLASS. CHAEx"V. Tfr: TS 8
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f?ATE 27 REVIEWER
GUS /~.Z`
 Approved For Release 2003/03~C
25X1
5. The report "Strength of the International Communist
Movement" is a useful survey of the political strength of the
Communist Movement in the Free World.
25X1
- z -
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The Honorable Alexander
Chairman, Committee on -Foreign Relations
United States Senate
Washington Z5, D. C.
I recently finished reading the report on the '~ratrength
of the International Communist Movement', which was pre-
pared by the Special Subcommittee on Security Affairs, of
the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. It has also been
read with great interest by several senior officials of this
Agency, who consider it a most useful survey of the politi-
cal strength of the Communist movement in the free world.
I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate you and
your associated on the issuance of this report.
In additon, I wish to express to you my best personal
wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
OGd ac (12 Dec.53)
Orig. & 1 - Addressee
2 - Signer
2 - Legislative Counsel
Allen W. Du
Director
5- r: ')Y A a
STAT
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