YUGOSLAV RELATIONS WITH THE EASTERN BLOC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005600150005-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 20, 2007
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: December 16, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/11/20: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005600150005-2
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Yugoslavia
SUBJECT Yugoslav Relations with the
Eastern Bloc
This is UNEVALUATED
Information
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person 1s prohibited
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
DATE DISTR. 16 Dec. 1954
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. At recent press conference held at the Foreign Ministry in Belgrade for Yugoslav
and foreign journalists, Branko Draskovic, spokesman for the State Secretariat 25X1
for Foreign Affairs, stated that it appeared to him natural that an exchange of
views on general political problems between Yugoslavia and Eastern Bloc countries
should accompany the progressive normalization of diplomatic relations between
them. When asked if Yugoslavia might go
back into the orbit of Cominform countries, a ugoslavs openly showed their 25X1
amusement and the Yugoslav speaker declared categorically that a return of Yugo-
slavia into the Eastern Bloc was out of the question.
There can be no doubt that Yugoslavia does
not intend to return to the camp of orthodox communism or to renew her allegiance 25X1
to the USSR. On the other hand, it is generally believed in Belgrade that the
danger threatening from the East has decreased and that an aggression need not
be feared for the time being. It is recognized that the political course steered
by Moscow is more pliant and responsive toward the West. The presence of Soviet
divisions in Hungary, Bulgaria and Rumania is not considered really dangerous.
Belgrade welcomes the Western intention of increasing its trade relations with 25X1
Eastern Bloc countries. The Yugoslav government will probably not display any
initiative of its own in increasing its contacts with the Eastern Camp, but it
will be open to all proposals made in this respect by the USSR and her Satellites.
Similarly, it appears probable that Tito will try to profit by
normal relations between Yugoslavia and the Eastern Bloc without giving up the
advantages offered to his country by the West. Yugoslav observers have also
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Approved For Release 2007/11/20: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005600150005-2
 Approved For Release 2007/11/20: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005600150005-2
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noticed that Tito is no longer vilified in the Eastern press as a "lackey.of the
imperialist West" or as "a traitor of the Communist cause". It appears that the
East hap put up with Tito's defection and is preparing a way for a positive
cooperation between Yugoslavia and the Eastern Bloc.
3. On 10 October 1954) it was learned in Belgrade that the Soviet Ambassador,
Vasily Valkov,had visited Tito in order to discuss the question of normal trade
relations between the USSR and Yugoslavia for the coming year. It is believed
in Belgrade political circles that the Soviets offered Yugoslavia Soviet wheat
shipments'in.1955? By offering a few thousand tons of wheat, Moscow could de-
monstrate,.: to the Yugoslavs that they do no longer depend on American wheat.
As a matter of fact, there are communists in Yugos3wia who prefer bread from
communist wheat to bread made of capitalist wheat.
Approved For Release 2007/11/20: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005600150005-2