WORLD REACTION TO THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY 24 NOV 1963 (INFORMATION AS OF 0700 EST)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00429A001400010020-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 17, 2009
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: November 24, 1963
• Content Type: MEMO

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WORLD REACTION TO
THE ASSASSINATION OF
PRESIDENT KENNEDY
24 Nov 1963
(Information as of 0700 EST)
State Department
review completed
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25X1 24 November 1963
WORLD REACTION TO THE ASSASSINATION
OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY
(Information as of 0700 EST)
SUMMARY
Expressions of shock, regret and sympathy over
the assassination of President Kennedy continue to
dominate world reaction, but there are a growing num-
ber of comments looking to the future. There are ex-
pressions of hope or confidence that the new adminis-
tration will maintain Kennedy's policies and programs
without change or weakening. There is also concern
over the reactions that may be set off by the Communist
affiliations of the accused assassin.
Havana and Moscow both reveal concern on the lat-
ter score. Castro centered a two-hour speech last night
on his fear that a new administration may take a more
aggressive line toward Cuba, and complained that Oswald
is being used for ''a campaign of defamation against the
Soviet Union and Cuba."
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SINO-SOVIET ORBIT
There is no indication thus far that Soviet leaders
have any intention of trying to take advantage of the
assassination of President Kennedy to advance their
aims by some kind of assertive pressure on the US.
Soviet interest in maintaining the atmosphere of detente
created by the nuclear test ban treaty is demonstrated
by the appointment of Mikoyan to head the Soviet dele-
gation to President Kennedy's funeral, Mikoyan is
personally acquainted with many high-level US officials
and participated in the settlement of the Cuban missile
crisis last fall. Moscow has consistently presented
the settlement of that crisis as the epitome of peaceful
coexistence in action.
Moscow appears genuinely surprised and irritated
that President Kennedy's accused assassin is a left-
winger. Moscow would have undoubtedly preferred that
the killer had connections with the extreme right wing,
and Soviet propaganda would have capitalized on such
a development. Immediately following the death
Of President Kennedy, Moscow was prepaming the way for
a massive propaganda campaign against US right-wing
elements, and seems to have been caught short by the
announcement of the arrest of Oswald with his left-
wing connections. Pravda today charges that American
right-wingers are trying to use the assassination rof
President Kennedy to stir up anti-Soviet and anti-
Cuban hysteria, Pravda notes that Oswald is a former
Marine, that he has 'Been in the Soviet Union, and "was
allegedly associated with the local organization of
the Fair Play for Cuba Committee."
Moscow has not yet carried any assessment of Pres-
ident Johnson or speculated on his future policies.
Soviet comment, however, conveys the impression that
Soviet leaders hope that the trend toward improving
US-Soviet relations will continue.
Peiping continues to withhold comment on the
assass not on and Mr. Johnson's assumption of the
presidency. Kennedy was one of Peiping's favorite
propaganda targets as an alleged "warmonger," and the
Chinese Communists devoted ebnsiderable effort towards
denouncing Khrushchev for his "naive" association with
the late President,
At Conakry, Guinea, a Chinese Communist delegation
to a conference of Afro-Asian lawyers walked out of the
hall yesterday when the chairman asked members to stand
for one minute in silent tribute to the slain president.
The Chinese returned to the meeting only after the'tribute.
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WESTERN EUROPE
Expressions of grief and sympathy continued to
dominate European reaction. There are reports from
almost all countries that national days or weeks of
mourning have been scheduled. Governmental state-
ments have concentrated on eulogies of President
Kennedy, but there has been some press comment on
President Johnson, generally taking the line that
there is no reason for anxiety or fear.
In Italy the psychological impact of President
Kennedy's death very probably provided the impulse
to help leaders of the four-party "center-left" coa-
lition to compose their remaining differences and
reach agreement on the formation of a government.
While a number of procedural steps must still be
taken and a parliamentary vote of confidence prob-
ably will not come before mid-December, yesterday's
meeting in Rome achieved definitive agreement.
French President De Gaulle's statement of sym-
pathy and his decision to attend the funeral in Wash-
ington are being interpreted by the French press as
evidence of De Gaulle's intention to seek improved
relations with the US. It appears likely that De
Gaulle, who has maintained a dispassionate attitude
toward several nearly successful attempts on his
own life, was profoundly shocked by the assassination.
In Sweden, police announced early today that
two anonymous telephone calls threatening the life of
Premier Tage Erlander had been received since the
assassination, The premier has been put under strong
police protection,
West Berliners lighted thousands of candles in
honor o President ennedy last night as they held
a second evening' of emotional, but orderly demonstra-
tions. Mayor Willy Brandt recalled the encouragement
given to West Berliners by President Johnson's visit
to the city six days after the Berlin Wall went up.
Both the Swiss and British press, noting parallels
between the present and a death of President Roosevelt,
comment that there is no reason why President Johnson
should not be as successful as President Truman in
administering "his rich heritage sensibly and well."
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LATIN AMERICA
The first official comments from Latin America on
possible political implications of President Kennedy's
assassination have appeared in Cuba, Brazil, and Bolivia.
Fidel Castro devoted a two-hour special speech yesterday
to the President's death and the dangers to Cuba inher-
ent in the changeover of executive power in the United
States.
In what he termed an objective analysis of events,
Fidel Castro declared that Cuba may face "an even worse
policy" from the US as a result of President Kennedy?s
death, and that Cuba may be confronted. with a new US-
backed invasion under President Johnson. Speaking to
all of Latin America in a special radio and television
speech yesterday, Castro called the assassination "grave
and bad news" for the Cuban people, and said that it pre-
sents" every prospect of a drift from a bad to a worse
situation."
Castro devoted a considerable portion of his talk
to the:.theme that "reactionary factions" in the US--
those who favor an invasion of Cuba-=benefit most from
the assassination. He implied that without the "strong
authority of President Kennedy the danger of a resurgence
of "reactionary trends" has increased.
The Communist newspaper El
Popular h on eviTlames the assassination on "raid
and racist circled"who want the US to adopt a more "ag-
gressive orientation"'.in foreign policy.
Culaa?s Ambassador to the UN, Carlos Lechuga, issued
a statement in which he said that the people and the
government of Cuba "received with deep displeasure the
news of President Kennedy's tragic death."
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Amid rumors of possible plans to mob the Cuban Em-
bassy in La Paz, Bolivia, the Bolivian Foreign Minister
several times expressed concern over the consequences
of the, political affiliation of the; assassin. The US
Charge reports that the Foreign Minister was extremely
agitated by reports the assassin may be Communist-trained
and allied with the Castro movement. The Charge comments
that the Foreign Minister may be worried about the effect
on his own position and on his policy of continued con-
tacts with Cuba.
In Brazil the leading newspaper Jornal do Brasil
comments a unidentified aides of President oul-a"r -
fear "a profound change in political understanding" which
the US Government under Kennedy maintained with the West.
Some Brazilian newspapers, however, express the editorial
judgement that President Johnson perhaps is capable of
"keeping a balance between the two poles of US opinion
on world problems and the development of Latin American
nations."
The Meeting of Ministers of Interior of Central
America, Panama,: and the US, originally scheduled,to
be held in El Salvador on 25 November, has been post-
poned.
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ASIA AND AFRICA
The countries of Asia and Africa are concentrating
on eulogies pointing to the late President Kennedy's
efforts to improve relations between the United States
and the USSR and to achieve a nuclear test ban.
In one of the relatively few reactions looking to
the future, the Syrian Foreign Minister has set the tone
by stating in a ca-bile-to the US Secretary of State that
"I...hope that in future the same spirit of interest and
concern will be shown toward the question of peace which
was demonstrated by the late, great President." The
King of Jordan also hopes that President Johnson will
"follow in- the steps" of the late President. President
Nasser of Egypt wishes the new American President "suc-
cess in carry ni g the banner o..to new and broad horizons
to realize progress and peace," Israel, supporting Pres-
ident Johnson, recalls his frequent displays of friendship
toward that country.
Indian Prime Minister Nehru, stating that "all of
us had great hopes that his (President Kennedy's) policy
would lead to a lowering of tension in the world and
thus bring an end to the cold war," says "I earnestly
trust that the liberal policies he pursued will be con-
tinued and will find fruits."
In Southeast Asia, Indonesian President Sukarno
eulogizes President Kennedy understanding of Indonesia
and its motives, but takes the occasion simultaneously
to criticize the Malaysian Government for failing to do
so.
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Only the Pathet Lao clandestine
radio in Laos con nues to accuse the United States of
a "two-faced policy resulting in occupation of foreign
countries and "sanguinary repression of the American
workers and Negroes." It says the recent deaths of Ngo
Dinh Diem and Ngo Dinh Nhu in Saigon, together with that
of President Kennedy, "are signs of the total collapse
'of imperialism. The Laotian people are overjoyed at
hearing ...of the death of another of their sworn enemies."
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Now 1 1, _0
In
UNCODED'eaders
at ion in
the Far East, Japanese political and economic
are reacting caut ous y, seeing no major Alter-
American policies
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The nations;-of Africa continue to emphasize
President Kennedy's efforts On,behalf of the American
Negro and the equality of all peoples. Algerian radio
commentary says "the peaceful character o Pres- iden
Kenrie j's policy...will not disappear with its,:author
from the leadership of US policy." The assassination
of the former President "will make the supporters of
peace in the world and the supporters of equality among
mankind stand as one man against any attempt to disrupt
the battle against racial discrimination and against the
sparking off of a devastating nuclear war." President
Tubman states Liberia will remain "closely aligned with
the United States ties of friendship."
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