THE INTERNAL SITUATION IN SLOVENIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R008300480011-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 16, 1999
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: August 10, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

? Approved For Release 1999/09/24: CIA-RDP82-00457R008300480011-0
"
CLASSIFICATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY- -Yugoslavia
SUBJECT The Internal Situation in Slovenia
DATE OF
INFO. Prior to 24 july 1951
t
REPORT NO.
CD NO.
6 9PirCe4g?44.12,
DATE DISTR. 10 August 1951
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO. 25X1X
1. Yugoslavia's differences with the Soviet Union are a profound reality.
Yugoslavia cannot and will not return to the fold of the Soviet Union.
Dven.though the Cominform break was responsible for paralyzing a major
part of Yugoslav industry., the great majority of the people are happy that
it occurred. It becomes clearer each day to the people that the "wind
mhieh blows across the country comes from the Nest." The econoric
situation in Slovenia has improved progressively since 1948 despite the
failure of the Five Year Plan, but it still is generally bad.
2. Political trials are becoming more and More of A rarity in Slovenia. Co
the other hand trials involving thefts, espeeleTly in cooperatives, and
usually implicating the management, are frequent. The temptation to
thievery can be attributed to the low salaries which Makes it almost
impossible for employees to live without an additional source of income.
3. Yugoslav election results as published in the Yugoslav press are usually
correct. ? If the anti-regime "black box" receives an insignificant per-
centage of the votes east in localities which are almost totally opposed
to the Tito regime, it is due to the effect of widespread propaganda just
,prior to the elections involving a timely issue of grave concern to the_::
people. For example, during the recent elections in Slovenia, Liberation:
Front (OF) propagandists warned the people that whosoever cast a Vote in
the "black box" would in fact be voting for the Soviets and would prefer to
have the Cominformists in power. This simple device was largely responsible
in inducing the people to refrain from casting votes in the "black box",
much to the surprise of everyone.
CLASSIFICATION
CONFIDENTIAL
? I):
Te: TS
EN 70-2
Las
11!
-/-
r .r- ?:
o o
_ot
STATE Ev
x
NAVY
NSR EI
DISTRIBUTION
4.--
_
ARMY
x
AIR
p id 47
-
'f IiitS E77,`"1---12cra,10,?'
Approved For Release 1999/09/24: CIA-RDP82-00457R008300480011-0
SECRET/CONTROL:U.S. CFFICIALS ONLY
CENTRAL INTF.RTGENCE AGENCY
=2
40 At least 90 or 95 percent of the Yugoslav peOple are members of the Liberation
Front (OF), but the majority of them are opposed to the regime. Most of them
are dissatisfied ,with the present regime and would be ham* if the country
eduId be occupied by forme of the United States. In case of war, the people
will most certainly fight agatest the nssa and, although most Of them are
against the Tito regime, they prefer hit to the Soviet Union and Stalin.. A
feeling of friendship towards the United States IS due more than anything to
the presence of relatives or friends in that country and the letters and
packages Which they mail to Yugoslavia; the packages are considered better
proof of the high standard, of living in. the UniteriStates'than all words to
the contrary.:- ?
59 The fear of the people and their subservience to.the.Tito regime and its
eecurity organs, has amost disappeared. The peasants in'perticular? no
longer have any fear or respect for the authorities. When the taxes fall
due, the peopleno longer hestitate publicly to denounce and berate Titni;
Frequently one hears, "Tito je koloradski brow" (Tito is a Colorado beetle).
6.
During a tweet Liberation Front celebration near Ptuj.Maribor? a portrait
of Tito was placed on dftniA7A1000 A worker from Volika Nedelja shouted as
he passed on a bicycle, "Take that devil dowel." The people Who heard:this
remark laughed but a few children present denounced the individual to the ?
Militia which placed him under arrest for two months. Ats punishment, he was
init to work in'the Militia barracks slept in prison at night and was paid-
a. token salary during his incarceration*
7* Recently the Archbishop of Maribor visited the Ptuj area to bestow sonfirmation
on the local children. The people went to greet him onlhOrsebaOk and dressed
in their native costumes as was the custom at one time'. At the head of the
Proeessions n Yugoslav flag without the red star was carried. Once the child.
rem had been confirmed thellilitia intervened and accused the ArchbishOp of
having organized the precession and of being responsible for the display of an
improper flag, The Archbishop 440d-tin and declared that he had not noticed
the absence of the red star onthe neg. Re was released immedietely by the
authorities, but -Wap not permitted to continue his propesedvisits-t? other
. .
parishes? _
On an average, only about 5 percent of the people in the Ptuj.Maribor area
Of Yugoslavia are members of the Yugoslav Communist Party, In the town of
%like Nedelja, which has a population of 1,500 people, there are only 8
Party members, Most of the Communists in Yugoslavia support Tito and Gamin.
formists are to be found rieinly? among the leaders of the Party. The orenary
soldier actively supports Tito also, but only as long as he is in the military
service. Many soldiers are Party meagre during their toute of duty, but as
? won as they return home they stop attending meetings and .are automaticailt
expelled framthe Party. Returning soldiers have learned from erreerience tat
petty annoyances woolly follow their dismissal from the Partv but the expelled
member is not seriously molested by the Party or security organs. If, however,
the expelled person happens to be a Government employee or q 6011?01 teacher,
it is almost certain that he will be overlooked When promotions are made,
SEUIET/CONTROL.U.S. CFFIC1AL5 ONLY
Approved For Release 1999/09/24: CIA-RDP82-00457R008300480011-0