SLOVAK REACTION TO VOA BROADCASTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001400310007-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 31, 2001
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: June 17, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002/01/10 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA001400310007-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
COUNTRY Czeehoslov ia. REPORT NO.
Slovak Reaction to VOA Broadcasts DATE DISTR. 25X1 A17 June 1553
25X1A
NO. OF PAGES 3
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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The most popular foreign broadcast in Slovakia is that of the "White Legion",
the clandestine radio station in Austria, followed closely by the Slovak
station in Rome. Those two stations transmit in the Slovak language and for
the Slovak people, Slovak intelligentsia frequently listen to the Czechoslovak
radio from London, although they may object to what is said for political reasons.
Those people in Slovakia who understand German, Hungarian, or Polishe-prs fer to
listen to VOA transmissions in these languages rather than the VOA programs beamed
"to Czechoslovakia". In Slovakia, there is open criticism of VOA's Czechoslovak
programs because they offer no hope of Slovakia ever becoming an independent
state. Slovaks do not recognize any so-called Czechoslovak nation; they consider
themselves a different nationality. VOA broadcasts to Czechoslovakia, in my
opinion, dwell on an ideology with which the majority of Slovaks-do not agree.
Although the broadcasts are in both Czech and Slovak, the Slovak is so poor that
the people make jokes about it, It seems that the broadcasts are meant primarily
for the people of Bohemia and Moravia. Many of the programs are very-unpopular
in Slovakia and result in bitter criticism of VOA. The Slovaks are not interested
in hearing praise of Czech Sokol activities, Czech cultural activities., Dr. Eduard
BENE9, or the other things which are completely Czech. VOA broadcasts to
Czechoslovakia may be compared with Radio Prague broadcasts prior to 1939 and
between 1945 to 1945. As far as Prague is concerned, Slovakia has always been a
peripheral area, and the Slovaks are completely fed up with this attitude.
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STATE #X ARMY NAVY g AIR #x JFBI I JAEC
(Notes Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By
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It .is the opinion of the Slovaks thsit`-rlemb6r6{ cif?; th'oasowcalled
Czechoslovak National, Council in the US control most VOA broad-
casts to Czechoslovakia. These are people who were responsible,
either directly or indirectly$ for the Assumption)of:.power~by_. the
Communists in 1948. The reasoning in Slovakia runs something like
this: "Are these the people we are supposed to listen to? Are
these the people who want to run the country again? With the support
of the.. US, these people will again give the orders on how to. run
the country".. The members of the Czechoslovak National Council in
the US represent a very small minority; they never cared about the
welfare of the Slovak people, and now are interested only in en-
riching.themselves,. Eighty-five percent of the Slovak population
is Roman Catholic. About 700,000 Slovaks, mostly Roman Catholics,
are living in the United. States,'and those people in Slovakia want
to.know why they never hear on VOA about these people, their
organizations, such as the Catholic Union, Slovak League, Brother-
hood of Slovak Catholics, and their various publications in the,
US. I would suggest that this group of -Slovaks develop a separate
program of broadcasts to Slovakia.
3. It. should be remembered that, in 1946, the Czechs voted for the
Commtiinists; Slovakia voted anti-Communist, thanks mostly to the
efforts of the Catholic clergy.. If VOA wants any support in
Slovakia, it must. not forget these facts. If VOA had taken these
facts into account some time ago, resistance to the.Communist
rSgime would be much more stubborn than it is today. Furthermore,
more Slovaks would have defected to the West. Many of those
Slovaks who fled before the Soviets to Austria after World War II
would have never returned to.Slovakia if the US had had a better 25X1X
grasp of the political situation. As the result of US policies,
The US is now following an
entirely different policy from that of the years immediately
following World War II, but this new policy has not been reflected
in VOA broadcasts to Czechoslovakia. Slovakia is small with only
3,500,000 inhabitants, but Slovaks have a right to enjoy freedom
in their own manner, just as any major world power.
Life will be worth living for the Slovaks, when world policy is
aimed primarily toward waging the most effective fight against
Communism, and setting up some sort of European federation, on
the pattern of the proposed United States of Europe? or even the
Danube Federation of States. These federations would..be based on
ethnological and cultural-independence, each state according to
its, own desires. The policy of VOA is to support the old form of
union of Czechs and Slovaks in the modern Czechoslovakia as it
existed before the Munich pact. The majority of Slovaks will
never accede to such a union; they believe in close cooperation with
Bohemia.and Moravia as with all countries, but they do not want''to
be ruled from Prague.
I would like to make the following suggestions with regard to VOA
broadcasts:,
a. Broadcasts should support the most effective battle against
Communism.
b. Further, they should emphasize cooperation among the
European nations.
0. They should not try to force the idea of national union upon
a people such as the Slovaks.
d. A more responsible group should be put in charge of the
programs.
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Jamming of. VOA broadcasts is quite strong, but, most programs can
be'heard`and-understood including the news1which is most important.
Listening to foreign broadcasts is not forbidden, but group
listening or spreading what is heard is punishable by law.
7. Most of the radio sets in Slovakia are pre-World War II and are,
inmost cases, better than sets produced since that time. In
Slovakia, radio sets of.Tesla manufacture, are easily obtainable
at a cost of from 3,400 crowns up. People ine4 uding those in' ismal:l
outlying villages seem to have enough radio reo'eiverm. Most of
the listening is.done at night, after working hours, and afternoon
VOA transmission ';$s virtually no value. -A tax of 75 crowns is
levied against every radio-set owner, payable each quarter year to
the local post office.
SECRET.
Approved For Release 2002/01/10 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001400310007-5