WORLD REACTON TO EAST GERMAN RIOTS (PART NO. 3)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T01172R000200310042-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 17, 2005
• Sequence Number: 42
• Publication Date: June 22, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CONFIDENTIAL
OCI No. 4 499 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Copy No. OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
22 JUNE 1953
WORLD REACTION TO EAST GERMAN R
(Part No. 3)
25X
0alA;.
By:
The East German press and radio have cbmttlaued--t? m '
tensive attacks on "Western agents" accused of causing the
riots and added new specific charges. A letter from the Soviet
commandant to the US commander in Berlin accused Western repre-
sentatives in Berlin of responsibility for the "crimes of the
hirelings-provocateurs of war." It stated that communications
within Berlin would be restored when the Western powers took
measures to control the criminals guilty of the provocations
in East Berlin. The letter included the text of the interroga-
tion of a prisoner from the US sector of Berlin who "admitted"
taking part in a plan directed by an American two-star general
which was aimed at turning the peaceful demonstrations into
riots.
The Communist party announced that foreign planes had para-
chuted saboteurs into the Soviet zone of Germany to keep the
flames of rebellion going. While claiming that a great number
of them had been arrested, the party admitted that quiet had not
yet been entirely secured. Official announcements that strikes
and demonstrations have ended in specific cities have confirmed
the widespread nature of the disturbances..
The Soviet press and radio continued on 21 June, although
with less intensity, to charge the Western powers, especially
the US, with the responsibility for the riots. Soviet propa-
ganda organs have continued to repeat the East German interpre-
tation of the riots but have made no authoritative original
comment. Commentaries have included eye-witness accounts of
"arson and assault" committed by "hooligans in American checked
shirts" belonging to some 30 US-sponsored terrorist organiza-
tions. These "diversionary activities" are said to be financed
by MSA, the-Ford Foundation and the AF of L, and aided by such
persons as a former top aide of Himmler.
The reports from Germany were accompanied on 21 June by a
broadcast to Soviet troops in East Germany warning that the cur-
rent situation there heightens the need for "vigilance" on the
ARMY review(s) completed.
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part of Soviet soldiers against the machinations of "imperialist
intelligence services" which seek to undermine the USSR and its
armed services. Pravda used a similar theme in its lead editorial
on 21 June which called for "vigilance" inside the USSR against
the agents of American intelligence.
After maintaining complete silence on the Berlin disturbances
for almost 48 hours, all Satellites except Rumania reported the
East German version of the riots. The uniformity of the Satel-
lite propaganda reactions, both in timing and content, is a clear
indication they were issued on the basis of instructions from
Moscow.` News of the riots was accompanied by no known instances
of popular demonstrations or increased security measures in the
Satellites.
Western Europe
In West Germany, the Bonn defense commissioner has said that
the Eastern threat to the German people compels the Federal Re-
public to pursue an active defense policy. A mourning ceremony
for the victims of the East German rebellion was held on 21 June
at the Federal Parliament building in Bonn. Representatives of
the diplomatic corps and many organizations heard the principal
address delivered by President Heuss, who declared the rising to
be "an incalculable plebiscite of the German people under Soviet
mastery for the right of freedom." The demonstrations, he said,
showed above all the need for free, all-German elections.
The executive secretary of the German trade union league ap-
pealed to all workers and civil servants to observe five minutes
of silence on 22 June as an expression of sorrow for the East
German victims.
Southeast Asia
In Indonesia, the East German riots are receiving prominent
press attention, although editorial comment thus far has been
limited. One Moslem daily sees strong evidence that the lot of
the common man behind the Iron Curtain differs greatly from that
pictured by communist propaganda. A communist paper reiterates
the East German interpretation of the disturbances.
Far East
In the Philippines, Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Neri was quoted as stating that the East German riots would car-
ry immense consequences, as serious as the armistice in Korea.
In the only reported press comment, the American-owned Manila
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Bulletin viewed the riots as the "spontaneous outbursts of an
oppressed people9" which revealed the internal weaknesses of the
Communist Party in East Germany,
The Peiping Home Service commented three times on 20 June
about the East German s ur ances, and each time reflected the
TASS report blaming the riots on "secret agents" of the US and
West Germany. The commentary also reported that Otto Nuschke
has been "kidnapped" by "western agents" but was later returned,
No new comment.
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