CURRENT SINO-SOVIET AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000700160002-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 17, 2003
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: October 3, 1961
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2003/05/05 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R000700160002-8
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON
October 3, 1961
TO: Hon. Allen W. Dulles
Director, Central Intelligence Agency
FROM: Orville L. Freeman, Secretary
SUBJECT: Current Sino-Soviet Agricultural Intelligence l/
Current developments in Sino-Soviet domestic agriculture and
their related foreign trade and aid programs; are of critical and
continuing interest to the USDA since they directly concern U.S.
agricultural trade and aid programs abroad. In this connection,
the Department of Agriculture anticipates an extended period of
increased activity by the Communist Bloc to expand their politico-
economic programs in many of the underdeveloped countries with
large agrarian populations. The Department; also expects growing
Bloc competition with U.S. agricultural commodities in some of
our traditional markets in the more industrialized countries of
the world. In both cases, the USDA is concerned that the Bloc
agricultural programs have as their ultimate goal the limiting of
foreign market outlets for our highly productive agriculture.
Precise and timely intelligence on Sino-Soviet agricultural affairs
is a necessary prerequisite for sound and effective policy de-
cisions by USDA officials concerned with foreign agricultural
developments. The continued assistance of CIA in supplementing
our traditional State and agricultural attache sources of in-
formation is of utmost importance. The USDA is particularly
interested in:
a. Statements or estimates on current Sino-Soviet
national output of major agricultural commodities.
b. Information on Sino-Soviet foreign trade in agri-
cultural commodities, including the policy,
quantity, and direction of this trade.
IV
c. Information on Sino-Soviet foreign aid activities,
especially in the underdeveloped agrarian countries,
including the nature, objectives, and results of
agricultural aid programs.
1 Mainland China, USSR, Poland, East; Germany, Czechoslovakia,
AAoroved FoV 96 A 1'0 BtifR "80l1bb60 '6 ~'R000700160002-8
Gcowth Through Agricul r I Progress
ADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL
 Approved For Release 2003/05/05 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000700160002-8
In order to facilitate contact with the Central Intelligence Agency
for the purposes described, the Secretary has appointed
Mr. Eugene T. Olson of the Foreign Agricultural Service to serve as
liaison for the Secretary's Office with CIA. It is also requested
that Mr. Olson continue to serve as a USDA representative on the
Economic Intelligence Committee (EIC), the Agricultural Subcommittee
of EIC, and to be appointed to such other committees which CIA
considers appropriate to accomplish the objective of this memorandum.
Mr. Olson will meet with CIA representatives to discuss any questions
occasioned by this memorandum.
The intent of this memorandum is to intensify rather than change our
existing relationships with CIA. I understand that Mr. Olson has
already presented our requirements to the Agency liaison personnel.
I would like to take this opportunity to commend the excellent work-
ing relationship which exists between CIA and the USDA. I feel
sure that this continued cooperation is going to make an effective
contribution to the foreign agricultural programs of the USDA.
Approved For Release 2003/05/05 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000700160002-8