SOVIET - SPONSORED SOCIETIES OF FRIENDSHIP AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-00915R000800190027-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 37
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 7, 1998
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: October 1, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

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SOVIET-SPONSORED SOCIETIES OF
FRIENDSHIP AND CULTURAL RELATIONS
October 1957
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IMmEM?INImfm,
Soviet-Sponsored Societies of Friendship and Cultural Relations
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WINARIONNI10111,
CONTENTS
I.
Foreword OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ?..??0??????????????????
V
II.
Friendship and Cultural Relations Societies as Soviet
Propaganda Instruments
fl1
1. Soviet Emphasis on the Cultural Relations Program
1
2. Role of the Friendship/Cultural Relations Societies
in the Soviet Cultural Offensive
2
3. Origin and Brief Historical Outline of the Friend-
ship Societies OOOOOO 00004,001000000,60 OOOOOO 6 OOOOO
2
4. Administration of Friendship/Cultural Relations
Societies
4
5. Financing of the Friendship Societies
6
6. Current Programs and Projects of Soviet-Sponsored
Friendship/Cultural Relations Societies
7
III.
Covert Exploitation of Soviet Friendship Societies
9
1, RIS Use of Friendship Societies in the 1930s and
During World War II 9
2. RIS and the Friendship Societies in the Postwar
Period OO 11
3, RIS Use of Friendship/Cultural Delegations 12
4. Current Indications of Possible RIS Use of Friendship
Societies 13
IV. Societies of Friendship or Cultural Relations with East
European Satellite Countries 16
1. Administration and Functions of the Satellite-
Sponsored Societies 16
2. Covert Exploitation of the Societies of Friendship
with East European Satellite Countries 17
Appendix
List of Soviet, East European, Chinese, North Korean and North
Vietnamese sponsored Friendship and Cultural Relations Societies.
(This list includes all societies of this nature which have
been reported through 31 July 1957).
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I. Foreword. This brief paper is concerned with societies
of friendship and societies of cultural relations with the
Soviet Union, their purposes, and the overt and covert Soviet
employment of these societies. Primarily they are propaganda
outlets which reflect Soviet ideas on any given political,
economic or military matter. They are found not only in Free
World countries but also in other Communist countries where
they try to bring about better relations with the Soviet Union.
Currently the societies are agitating for cessation of nuclear
weapons tests, for peace and friendship between nations (on
Communist terms) and for better understanding between the
peoples of the Soviet Union and those of other countries.
There is an effort under way to make the societies appear
independent from the Communist parties in order that they may
reach a larger propaganda audience. Soviet and Communist control
over the societies, however, is never relinquished. The Soviet
All-Union Society for Cultural Relations Abroad, traditionally
known by the abbreviation of its Russian title, VOKS, is the
unit which has been responsible for many years for the support
and guidance of these societies. In addition, there is usually
a local Communist party fraction active within the friendship
society and Carimunists are in some leading positions to assure
Soviet guidance and control.
In the second part of the study there is an outline of the
use Soviet intelligence services have made of Soviet-sponsored
friendship societies. The revelations of Vladimir Petrov, a
Committee for State Security (KGB) officer who defected in
Australia in 1954, concerning the exploitation of the Australia-
Soviet Friendship Society are very helpful to an understanding
of Soviet use of these groups ior espionage. In most cases the
Soviets have a witting agent or collaborator within the leader-
ship of the society; other members who contribute information
or assistance usually are unaware that they are aiding a foreign
intelligence service. Indications that the friendship societies
are still used for espionage are briefly outlined.
A short description of societies of friendship sponsored
by the other Communist countries of East Europe is included in
this paper. Their propaganda functions as well as the services
they provide for the satellite intelligence services are of
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the same nature as those carried out by the Soviet-sponsored
societies. An analysis of propaganda and intelligence functions
of the Chinese Communist-sponsored friendship/cultural relations
societies has not been included here.
The Appendix lists all the friendship and cultural relations
societies sponsored by the Soviet Union, the East European Com-
munist countries, the Chinese Communist, North Korean and North
Vietnam governments which have been reported through 31 July
1957. From the continually increasing number of Chinese-sponsor-
ed friendship and cultural relations societies, it appears that
they will be used to a progressively greater extent to promote
Chinese political, economic and intelligence interests abroad.
The friendship societies have sponsored hundreds of dele-
gations of visitors to and from the Soviet Union, Since 1954
VOKS has spent tremendously large sums of money for travel ex-
penses of these delegations. Persons traveling to the Soviet
Union as members of the delegations have been carefully chosen
by the local VOKS representative (attached to the Soviet diplo-
matic installation) and by Communist leaders of the friendship
society; they have been instructed concerning what aspects of
Soviet life they should observe and report about upon their
return, Full propaganda exploitation of these projects in
which the Soviets have heavily invested has thus been assured.
Documents from the Soviet Embassy in Canberra provided
by Vladimir Petrov show that the Soviets have other uses for
delegations visiting Moscow besides acquiring new friends.
Soviet intelligence services observe the delegations closely
during their stay in Moscow and send reports to their field
representatives about visitors who appear to be potential
recruits for intelligence work. The field representatives are
instructed to check further into the backgrounds and potentiali-
ties of these people in their home countries.
Thus friendship and cultural relations societies have further-
ed the propaganda and intelligence work of the Soviet government
since the 19208s. Because of the natural overt contact Embassy
personnel can have with such groups in places where there are
Soviet diplomatic missions, it is probably that the Soviets will
continue to exploit them to the greatest extent possible,
Ti
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II. The and
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1. The
desire to promote pro-Soviet attitudes and ideas among intellectual,
business, industrial and other groups in Free World countries
which are not usually reached by Communist party or front organi-
zation propaganda has led to a greatly expanded cultural offensive.
This is currently manifested in Free World countries by the found-
ing of new friendship or cultural relations societies and the
reactivation of others which had become inactive; and by a greatly
increased number of friendship and cultural delegation exchanges
between the Soviet Union and other countries, exchamges which
ostensibly are sponsored by the friendship or cultural relations
societies but are partly or wholly subsidized by VOKS.
Soviet-sponsored cultural delegations have increased in
number each year since 1954. In that year, for example, 84
exchanges with West European countries were arranged under the
categories of culture, peace and friendship. In 1955 the number
of Soviet cultural delegation exchanges with West European
countries increased to 114.
In 1956 a total of 475 delegations went to the Soviet Union
from West European countries; this figure included groups described
as cultural, tourist, professional, technical, scientific, economic,
governmental'.9 labor, sports, Communist Party and Communist front
groups. A total of 469 Soviet delegations of all kinds traveled
to West European countries in 1956. Of a total number of 1327
delegations going to East European Communist countries in 1956,
225 were ucultural" delegations. The exact number of these which
went to the Soviet Union is not available, but it is probable
that the 1955 figure of 114 was surpassed.
The establishment of a Soviet State Committee for Cultural
Ties with Foreign Countries is another indication of the present
importance of the cultural relations program. The formation
of this Soviet agency was announced on 27 May 1957. Although
its exact responsibilities have not yet been determined, the
new agency probably will coordinate propaganda pertinent to
the cultural relations program and administer some parts of
the exchange program?particularly that portion which concerns
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foreign official personalities. Much of its work will probably.
relate to the improvement of Soviet relations with the East
European satellite countries. Another task of the new State
Committee will undoubtedly be to reactivate and intensify the
exchange program to the basis it achieved in 1955 and early
1956 prior to the wholesale cancellations of exchanges by
Western travellers following the Soviet intervention in Hungary.
It may undertake the preparation of Soviet "cultural" publications
intended for foreign distribution.
2. EgjeLzt_thejaIgaisjaipLgaIura.,llielationsSogleties
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the Soviet,CIAlturaljamalme. In many Free World countries
these groups are conspicuously active elements in the over-
all Soviet cultural offensive. This has been especiallytrue
in certain Latin American, Far Eastern and other areas where
such groups have been influential among non-Communists in bring-
ing about more favorable attitudes towards the Soviet Union and
In bringing about action denired by the Soviets?such as in-
creased trade, establishment or re-establishment of diplomatic
relations with the Soviet Union, adoption of a neutralist stand
on certain international issues, etc.
The friendship societies have been responsible to a large
degree for effective support mustered in Western countries for
the Soviet Union in a moment of need. During World War 11
after the attack of Nazi Germany on the Soviet Union, the
societies in Great Britain and the United States were particularly
successful in drawing to their folds prominent British and
American citizene, in achieving mass strength and in developing
sympathy and aid for the Soviet war effort. The lesson to be
drawn from past overt use of these societies by the USSR is
that wherever a Soviet propaganda need cannot be mat adequately
through the work of the foreign Columunist parties or their front
groups in a given area, the Soviets utilize the friendship
organizations,
3. QzlairLzgLiari,
laalegjiaa. Thome amsociations, formed to promote good will toward
the USSR, were originally organized as front groups of the Com-
munist particw their propaganda, like that of the partiem, Was
first directed at labor groups. In 1927 undfJr the leadership
eget 0, 1,
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of an organizing committee headed by British and Russian Com-
munists, an International Association of Friendship Societies
with the Soviet Union was founded. This functioned as an in-
ternational front of the Comintern and its propaganda work
apparently was controlled by the Agitprop Department of the
Executive Committee of the Comintern.
At the founding congress a lengthy resolution was passed
announcing the purposes of the Association. In brief these were:
support for the policies of the Soviet government, for the struggle
against imperialism and for the world labor movement. The Soviets
regarded the International Association as "an international
organization expressing the sympathy and solidarity of the broad
masses of the international proletariat with the first proletarian
state."*
From approximately 1933 when the Fascist threat to the
Soviet Union became progressively greater, attempts were made
in varying degrees, depending upon the specific friendship
society involved, to dissociate these groups from the Communist
parties. National sections of the International Association of
Friends of the Soviet Union were criticized for appealing only
to Communists or Communist sympathizers. Failure to appeal to
non-Communist groups (accompanied no doubt by lack of Soviet
support as a result of this failure) led to the disintegration
of many national sections by 1941 and the disappearance of the
Secretariat of the International Association.
After the Nazi attack on the Soviet Union the friendship
societies began to organize support for the Soviet war effort.
Appeals were issued calling for the strengthening of friend-
ship with the Soviet Union and for aid in the fight against
Fascist aggression. Propaganda issued by the societies avoid-
ed controversial subjects and stressed the need for close co-
operation between the Soviet Union and its Western Allies.
With the end of the war and the growth of East-West tensions,
the propaganda of the friendship societies changed tone and
direction. Strong criticism was made of all Free World
* Vaksov, V., "Druz'ya Sovetskogo Soyuza" (Friends of the Soviet
Union), Borshava Sovetskaya Entsiklooediva, vol. 23, p. 526.
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government policies which were in opposition to those of the
Soviet Union. The societies exposed themselves as unrelenting
mouthpieces of the Soviet Union, fiercely counterattacking all
its opponents.
4. Administration of Friendship/Cultural Relations Societies.
Until approximately 1941, direct responsibility for the adminis-
tration of these organizations was assigned to the Secretariat
of the International Association of Friendship Societies with
the Soviet Union, (IAFS). The Secretariat was first located in
Germany, but in 1933 with the Nazi assumption of power and the
prohibition of its activity, it was moved to The Netherlands,
The Secretariat drew up work plans and projects for the national
societies (or sections) and prepared reports analyzing their
4chievements and weaknesses. As in the case of some of the other
Comintern international fronts the Swiet affiliate of the inter-
national organization appears to have gradually assumed direction
over the foreign sections (in this case, societies), replacing ,
the International Secretariat.
The All-Union Society for Cultural Relations Abroad (VOKS)
was created by a decree of the Soviet Council of Peoplels Commis-
sars on 8 August 1925 as a "public society". Actually it function-
ed as a state organization with its work, like that of all Soviet
State institutions, closely checked by a Communist Party unit
within its staff. Ostensibly VOKS appeared to be the Soviet
equivalent of the other national friendship societies which were
affiliated with the IAFS. A stated reason for the founding of
VOKS was to facilitate Soviet access to Western cultural and
scientific literature. A second reason was to assure that
favorable information about the Soviet Union was disseminated
abroad.
As early as 1927 VOKS was assigned specifically to assist
the friendship societies in Germany and the United States
because they distributed favorable information about the
Soviet Union. It is probable that VOKS assumed direct
leadership over all the societies when the Secretariat of
the IAFS was dissolved; details of this transfer of re-
sponsibility and the dissolution of the IAFS are not
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known. The reactivation of several of the friendship societies
in 1942 and the successful propaganda work they carried out for
the Soviet Union during World War II indicates that there was
active VOKS direction during this period.
Abroad, wherever they have had diplomatic missions, the
Soviets have maintained dual systems of guidance and control
over the friendship societies. One of these is executed by
the VOKS officers or Cultural relations officers who are attached
to Soviet diplomatic establishments. The other is maintained
by the local Communist party. Communists hold key offices in
a friendship society even though prominent non-Communists may
be in other leading positions. Also, there is frequently a
Communist fraction in the friendship society, as in most Com-
munist front organizations. This unit, during closed meetings
held without the knowledge of other friendship society members,
determines action to be taken at general membership meetings.
The fraction has sometimes been reported to be under the
direction of a Mass Organization Section of the Communist party's
national headquarters. There is evidence that fractions operating
in some of the friendship societies may be under the immediate
direction of the Foreign Section of the Central Committee of the
local Communist party. Presumably the leader of a Communist
party fraction working in a friendship/cultural relations society
is in close contact with a VOKS officer.
With the easing of travel controls after 1953 and the stepping
up of the Soviet cultural exchange program, VOKS seems to have
had an increasingly active role in guiding the friendship societies.
The exact role to be played by VOKS now that a Soviet State
Committee for Cultural Ties with Foreign Countries has been es-
tablished remains to be seen. It seems possible that VOKS may
revert to its earlier status as simply the Soviet equivalent
of the foreign friendship and cultural relations societies.
As such, its functions would be to receive and to entertain any
unofficial'. (non-governmental) friendship or cultural delegations
sponsored by the societies of friendship-with the Soviet Union;
to arrange for Soviet entertainers, lecturers, artists, etc.,
for programs the foreign friendship societies present and from
which they can benefit from admission fees.
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It also seems possible that periodicals formerly prepared
by VOKS may now be written and printed by the new State Com-
mittee. It is of interest to note in this regard that the name
of the VMS publication traditionally entitled The VOKS Bulletiq
was changed to Culture and Life in February 1957. The Chief of
the new State Committee has a background of experience as a
writer and editor in the International Section of Pravda.
5. Financing of the Friendship Societies. A society of
friendship-With the Soviet Union tries to be self-supporting
to the greatest degree possible. It assesses membership dues,
and sells literature produced by the society itself or supplied
from Moscow. Entertainment it sponsors also brings some income,
especially that presented by artists, musicians, sport teams,
etc., from the Soviet Union. Sometimes fairly large amounts
of money are derived from the showing of Soviet films. In most
cases, however, an effective society of friendship with the
Soviet Union is heavily financed by the Soviets?especially those
which are particularly successful in disseminating ideas or
views favorable to the Soviet Union, or in performing valuable
intelligence work for that government.
Soviet funds for friendship societies in most areas are
received through Soviet diplomatic channels. In some places
funds apparently are passed directly by the VOKS officer or
Cultural Relations officer to a Communist functionary of the
friendship society. There is some evidence?supplied by Com-
munist defectors of both East European satellite and Free World
areas--that funds from the Soviet Union (probably from VOKS,
though possibly originating with the Foreign Section of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union)
are sent first to the Foreign Section of the Communist Party
in the country in which the friendship society is located and
then transferred to a Communist functionary of the friendship
society.
At least one friendship society located in a Free World
country was required by VOKS to submit a monthly report which
included an accounting of all proceeds received from entertainment
sponsored by the society. The report also included statistics
concerning the number of persons who attended the public gather-
ings held by the friendship society and details about their
reactions.
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6. Current Programs and Projects of Soviet-Soonsored Friend-
ship/Cultural Relations Societies. Propaganda objectives of the
friendship societies now are (1) furtherance of Soviet political,
economic, technical and military interests and (2) promotion of
friendly attitudes towards the Soviet Union. Priority targets
are intellectual, political and industrial circles, although
in some areas labor groups are still propaganda objectives. For
example, the VOKS-supported organization in France, the France-
USSR Association, sent two delegations to Moscow for May Day
celebrations in 1957--one composed of persons from the professions
and the other made up of factory workers.
Propaganda themes now stressed by the Soviet friendship/
cultural relations societies aim (1) to promote military, economic
and political programs in non-Orbit areas beneficial to the
Communist bloc countries; (2) to promote the establishment or
resumption of diplomatic and trade relations with the Soviet
Union; (3) to promote understanding and appreciation of Soviet
culture; (4) to support any action which will limit or curtail
the military strength or progress of the West and extol as peace
measures any minor Soviet military reduction or even Soviet troop
transfers. The recent appointment to the chairmanship of VOKS
of Nina POPCVA, a Soviet functionary who has had much experience
in the field of "peace" propaganda, may foreshadow a focusing
on this theme by the friendship societies.
In some countries branches of the friendship societies are
found in nearly every town of any size. Most societies maintain
information centers, libraries or reading rooms in which are
placed Soviet books and publications to promote better understand-
ing of the Soviet people. In some areas mobile libraries have
been particularly successful in this work. Lectures are present-
ed and studies are made of various aspects of Soviet culture.
The societies also hold social gatherings, sponsor exhibits and
undertake other activities of similar nature which promote good
will. Programs in which Soviet artists, musicians, authors and
athletes frequently participate are featured. (The Soviet defi-
nition of culture includes almost everything, including athletics.)
Many friendship societies include functional or activity
sub-sections administered by their central executive committees.
These are extended as desired in order to reach wider segments
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of the population. Activity sub-sections noted to date include
the following categories: art, chess, education, films, history,
law, music, science, medicine, the social sciences, the theatre,
and youth. Some of the sub-sections attain large enough member-
ships and develop sufficient interest and support to become
almost autonomous units.
At least one society is currently sponsoring atutwin: city ,
program" designed to establish relations between Soviet towns.
and those of the country in which the friendship society is
located, on the basis of exchanges between the interested lo-
calities. The friendship societies try to assist the work of
universities and other cultural institutions of both the Soviet
Union and the other country concerned. A publication may be
prepared by each friendship society or it may only distribute
copies of Soviet publications.
In order to extend the work of the friendship societies
among non-Communist groups, an effort has been made?particu-
larly during 1956 and 1957--to disassociate them from the
Communist parties. Reorganizations of the societies have occurred
in some areas and non-Communists have been placed in the most
prominent offices, but the Soviets--through the VOKS officers
and local Communists in the society--maintain control.
8
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III. Covert Exploitation of Soviet Friendship Societies
The friendship and cultural relations societies offer many
possibilities and assets for exploitation by the Soviet intelli-
gence agencies. Within the leadership of the societies there
is frequently a highly-trusted Communist who has access to the
facilities and personnel of the society and who collaborates
with Soviet intelligence (referred to hereafter as RIS) by per-
forming any support work he is requested to do. Although this
person acts as a witting agent and usually has direct contact
with an RIS officer under diplomatic cover, other members of
the friendship society frequently collaborate unaware of the
fact that they assist a foreign intelligence service.
In some areas friendship society information centers, reading
rooms, libraries, club rooms, etc., have been used by RIS officers
for meetings with informants. RIS officers have been able to
acquire information at friendship society gatherings or have
been directed to persons who could supply information.
1. RIS Use of Friendship Societies in the 1930's and during
World War II. As previously stated, one of the principal reasons
for establishing VOKS was to assist the Soviet acquisition of
foreign cultural and scientific literature. As also explained,
the two friendship societies which received earliest support
from VOKS were those in Germany and in the United States. The
Soviets explained this aid as attributable to the fact that
these societies did most to inspire good will toward the USSR.
It is to be noted, however, that they were located in countries
well advanced scientifically and technologically and were proba-
bly most productive in acquiring information for the relatively
new Soviet industries and research centers. It is likely that
some of the information acquired was of confidential nature.
In one of these societies there was a special department
for forwarding technical, industrial and military information
to the Soviet Union. The person in charge of the department
appears to have been an agent of Soviet State Security (the
service now known as the Committee for State Security). In
the Soviet Union the VOKS organization was itself under close
Soviet State Security supervision during this period. A care-
ful study was made by this intelligence service of foreign
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scientists who supplied information through VOKS facilities.
Communists who served the RIS as witting agents within the
leadership of the friendship societies did "talent spotting",
looking for persons employed in sensitive positions or in some
other way well qualified to provide information of interest, and
performed other support services for the RIS. According to.
persons formerly affiliated with a Communist party or a Soviet_
intelligence agency, other Communists in the friendship society?
sometimes wittingly performed similar services.
Assistance in setting up cover firms for RIS operations
reportedly was provided by people in Communist-controlled groups,
including the friendship societies. Walter Krivitsky, writing
of hisexperiences as a Soviet State Security officer assigned
to procure arms and ammunition covertly for the Loyalist forces
inthe Spanish Civil War, described how business firms were
set up in several European cities to purchase military Supplies:.
"Our first problem, therefore, was to create a new
European chain of ostensibly independent conderns,
in addition to our existing Ibusines6' outposts, for
the purpose of importing and exporting war materials...
Success depended upon our selecting the right men.
We had such men at our disposal. Numbers of them
were in the societies allied with the various Com-
munist Party centers abroad, such as the Friends of
the Soviet Union and the many tLeagues for Peace
and Democracy's...
"Many were discreet, reliable, having the right contacts
and capable of playing a role without betraying them-
selves. We supplied the capital. We furnished the
offices. We guaranteed the profits. The men were
not hard to find."*
During World War II a Communist in a West European country
who served simultaneously as a high ranking Party officer and
as an RIS collaborator requested a regional functionary of the
* Walter Krivitsky,12_21.4.1.1..W.,esseie_u, page 85.
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Soviet friendship society to help him contact secret Communist
Party members employed in certain government offices where sensi-
tive work was being carried out in connection with the war effort.
The regional functionary complied with the request, apparently
unaware of the fact that this service was performed for the
benefit of the RIS.
In another case procurement of political and economic intel-
ligence, mostly of an avert character, was carried out by an
active VOKS-sponsored society for cultural relations in a western
country. Information about political parties in the country
was procured, collated and furnished to intelligence officers
attached to the local Soviet Embassy. This included reporting
about the parties' objectives, strength, sources of financial
support and detailed biographic information about their leaders.
Economic intelligence provided by the same cultural relations
society included such data as kinds of industries, capacities
of each and percentages of capital which were domestic or foreign.
Agricultural production statistics were also provided to the
Soviets by the society.
2. RIS and the Friendship Societies in the Postwar Period.
The most solid evidence of the support the friendship-cultural
relations societies provided the RIS since World War II was
contributed by Vladimir Petrov, Soviet State Security officer
who defected in Australia in April 1954. RIS utilization of the
friendship society in Australia included (a) the use of the
society's secretary, an ardent Communist Party member, as a wit-
ting agent to supply all possible assistance and (b) employment
of rank and file members of the friendship society as unwitting
sources of information and support.
The unpaid secretary of the Australia-Soviet Friendship
Society, Jean Ferguson, assisted the RIS in a variety of ways--
arranging meetings between RIS officers and local Communist
Party leaders, alerting the RIS when projected meetings with
Communists would have been in jeopardy, etc. A copy of a Moscow
letter which Petrov took from the Soviet Embassy showed RIS
plans for Jean Ferguson to obtain information about an Egyptian
national who was believed to be residing in Melbourne, Australia.
The Australia-Soviet Friendship Society's members were to
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assist unwittingly in the establishment of illegal RIS networks
in Australia, according to a directive from RIS headquarters
in Moscow to its representative in Canberra;
"The M.V.D. section must therefore instantly begin
collecting the necessary data and compiling reports,
without observing any fixed time limits, and send them
in installments to M.V.D. Headquarters. For this work
you may at your discretion use any cadre worker, re-
cruited collaborator, and also the most reliable agents.
For the collection of some of the data you may also
exploit official possibilities open to you (lawyers
of your acquaintance, members of the Australia, .
Russia Society, etc., without disclosing our intentions
to them)."
3. RIS Use of Friendship/Cultural Deleations. The current:,
program of cultural delegation exchanges serves not only to further
understanding of the culture and people of the USSR but also to
assist the RIS recruitment effort. Delegations visiting in the
Soviet Union are under close scrutiny of the RIS, according to
Vladimir Petrov, who stated that this observation served two
purposes: (1) to discover in these presumably sympathetic groups
persons who on return to their own countries would be worth
"study" for recruitment into active espionage or for use as
unwitting informants; (2) to determine whether or not any Of the
visitors were counterintelligence agents.
One Australian delegation, following attendance at an
"International Conference for the Protection of Children" held
in Vienna in April 1952, was invited to visit the Soviet Union
at Soviet expense for May Day celebrations. In this delegation
were a Miss Mary Ellen C. Lewis, a member of the Australia,.
Soviet Friendship Society, and a Mr. and Mrs. Les Flood. All
were members of the Australian Communist Party. Soviet State
Security headquarters sent the following message concerning the
three Australians to its legal resident in Canberra:
* pt of the Royal Commission on Espionage, 22 August 1955,.
Sydney, Australia, page 254
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As Enclosure No. 1 we send you particulars concerning
two members of the Australian delegation which was in
Russia for the First of May festivities--Flood and
Lewis. Both of them, in our opinion, could be used
for the fulfilment of tasks which are provided for
in the plan of work of the Australian M.V.D. section.
"Instruct Antonov to make the acquaintance of Flood
and Lewis for the purpose of studying them and using
them along our lines.
"Inform us concerning the results."
All data supplied by Soviet State Security headquarters to the
Canberra Resident Agent concerning these Australian Communists
were correct. The intent to use these Australians if possible
for intelligence purposes is clear.
There are indications that, at Soviet bidding, a friendship
society may invite a Soviet "cultural" delegation to visit in
its area at a moment when the presence of a specific RIS officer
is desired in the locality for a brief period of time. In such
a circumstance the RIS operative can reach the target area in-
conspicuously and conveniently as a member of a visiting Soviet
delegation, and can then carry out any short-range intelligence
mission--procure secret information, recruit a highly-qualified
agent, or provide direction for subversive political action.
4. Current Indications of RIS Use of Friendsh4 Societies.
Besides the several cases which have been exposed in the past
either through the work of a national security agency or through
the defections of Soviet intelligence officers or Communist party
members, there are many indications that friendship and cultural
relations societies are now being used for RIS purposes. Among
the indications are the following:
(1) The members of an Economic Department of a society
for cultural relations with the Soviet Union in a Free World
country were requested in late 1956 to obtain certain statistics
* Report of the Royal Commission on Espionage, 22 August 1955,
Sydney, Australia, page 80.
13
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for the Soviet Union. These were to include production figures
of industries and businesses in the Country and records and fi-
nancial balances of all public utilities and banks. Members
of this Department were told that the information was to be sent
to the Soviet Union "in exchange for information from there".
They were told to develop contacts in banks, public entities
(sic), employers' associations, economic magazines, education
and student centers.
(2) Certain Communists holding leading positions in
a Soviet friendship society in a Free World capital city have
held discreet midnight meetings on the premises of the society
with RIS officers who are under diplomatic cover.
(3) On trie directing boards of two societies of friend-
ship with the Soviet Union in Free World countries there are
Communists who have been reported in the past as active in covert ,
intelligence procurement work for their respective parties.
(4) A prominent physicist who is reported to have
close working relations with the Soviets in the field of nuclear
research is active in a Soviet friendship society of West Europe..
(5) On May Day, 1957, delegations from five West.
European societies of friendship with the Soviet Union visited
Moscow. Two of these delegations were headed by persons suspected
of RIS connections.
(6) Members of a society of friendship with the Soviet
Union who visited Moscow in 1955 were carefully instructed by
society and by Soviet Embassy officials concerning what they,
should observe in the Soviet Union. Each person was assigned,
specific subjects on which to concentrate and to report upon
his return. One of the Soviet Embassy officers included in
these instruction sessions was believed to be the local RIS
representative. Besides the exploitation of this reporting for
propaganda purposes there was possibly an RIS intention to attempt
to assess the visitors' ability to observe and to report. Instances
where members of youth delegations visiting the Soviet. Union
were instructed to do similar work have also been reported.
(7) In one Free World country there appears to be a
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410111.111.111.1101
concentration of members drawn from a government agency in which
work of a confidential nature would normally be carried on.
Although this perhaps is simply a case where one employee invites
a co-worker to go along with him to a meeting or social affair
sponsored by the friendship or cultural relations society, there
is also the possibility that Soviet officers guiding the society
intentionally have encouraged the recruitment of members from
the government agency.
(8) In several Free World countries, VOKS or Cultural
Attaches who are in close contact with local friendship and
cultural relations societies have been identified as RIS officers.
(9) Some societies of friendship with the Soviet Union
have established units or bureaus for the exchange of scientific
and technical information. One of these bureaus in a Free World
country planned to send circulars to all laboratories and libraries
in the country offering to perform mediation services in the
exchange of scientific information from the Soviet Union, to
assist in translating Russian publications into the local language,
etc. The bureau was to deal with the Soviet Union through the
local VOKS representative exclusively. VOKS was to check the
"reliability" of persons contributing to the exchange of cultural
and scientific information to determine whether or not Soviet
data would fall into the wrong hands. As of 1955 the only scientific
organization which was reported to have benefited from this ex-
change of information program was one staffed entirely by Com-
munists.
(10) As late as 1954, Soviet State Security (actually,
the Committee for State Security, KGB) still maintained a unit
of its personnel within the VOKS headquarters, according to
Yuri Rastvorov, former State Security Lieutenant Colonel.
15
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IV. Societies of Friendship or Cultural Relations with East
European Countries.
In most of the East European satellite countries there have
been and in most cases there are still organizations parallel
to the Soviet VOKS which sponsored, supported and guided
societies of friendship and cultural relations. In Poland,
for example, the Committee for Foreign Cultural Cooperation
(Komitet Wspolpracy Kulturalnej z Zagranica, KWKZ) had this
function. Like the Soviet Ail-Union Society for Cultural -
Relations Abroad (VOKS) the principal reason for the existence
of the KWKZ was to arrange contacts with non-governmental or
"unofficial" agencies and societies of Free World countries.
1. Administration and Functions of the Satellite-Sponsored
Societies. The Polish KWKZ and the East German counterpart organ-
ization, the Society for Cultural Relations Abroad (Gesellschaft
fuer Kulturelle Verbindungen mit dem Ausland) appeanto have
been controlled administratively by their respective Ministries
of Foreign Affairs, but received policy direction from the Central
Committee of the respective Communist Party. In the case of the
KWKZ, direction from the Polish United Workers' Party (the Polish
Communist Party) came specifically from the latter's Department
of Foreign Affairs of its Central Committee.
According to information of November 1956 the KWKZ was to
be liquidated on 1 January 1957. To date no information regarding
a successor organization has been received. Little or no infor-
mation exists about equivalent friendship-cultural sponsoring
organizations in other East European states, in spite of the
fact that new societies of friendship and cultural relations
with these states have appeared in several Free World areas.
Exceptions are new societies with Hungary and Poland: no new
Hungarian-sponsored friendship or cultural relations societies
have been reported since the uprisings of the fall of 1956, and
only one new Polish-sponsored society has been reported thus
far in 1957--the Egyptian-Polish Friendship Society which appears
to have been organized in Cairo in April 1957.
In general the purposes and functions of the East European
sponsored friendship and cultural relations societies have been
16
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similar to those of the societies of friendship or cultural
relations with the Soviet Union. Primarily they are propaganda
instruments for the sponsoring East European government, reflecting
and disseminating its ideas on any question needing support in
the area in which the societies are located. The societies have
been particularly active in demanding more trade with the sponsoring
country. In some Latin American countries, for example, Czech-
sponsored societies of friendship or cultural relations have
agitated to promote trade with Czechoslovakia.
2. Covert Exoloitation of the Societies of Friendship with.
East European Satellite Countriu, To an even greater extent
than the societies of friendship with the Soviet Union, some of
those with East European satellite countries have been exploited
by intelligence services of the sponsoring satellite country.
Cases are known where friendship society reading room or infor-
mation center attendants have served as intelligence agents who
have spotted and investigated potential agent recruits, have
received information from intelligence agents and have served
as links between these agents and intelligence officials of the
East European satellite government concerned. These officials
were ostensibly serving as diplomatic representatives in Free
World countries.
As a general observation concerning intelligence work per-
formed by friendship societies sponsored either by the Soviet
Union or by East European Communist countries, it may be noted
that a large part of their effort is directed toward the pro-
curement of information which, in Free World areas, is generally
considered overt: statistics pertaining to industrial and agri-
cultural production, objectives and colorings of political groups,
public opinion surveys, etc. But, in addition to information of
unclassified nature obtained by these societies, there is sound
evidence that certain individual members of the societies are
being used to assist in the procurement of classified military
and technical data.
17
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APPENDIX
Societies of Friendship and Cultural Relations Sponsored
by Communist Countries
19?1.10?AN!!1?91
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mommmommommom
APPENDIX
Communist-sponsored societies of friendship and cultural
relations reported through 31 July 1957 are listed here
according to the sponsoring organizations. First are listed
those sponsored, supported and guided by the Soviet All-Union
Society for Cultural Relations Abroad (VOKS); then the
societies of friendship or cultural relations with China are
listed under the organization believed to be the Chinese
equivalent of VOKS, The Association for Cultural Relations
with Foreign Countries.
Following these are lists of societies sponsored by Albania,
Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, North Korea,
North Vietnam, Poland, Rumania and Yugoslavia9 An organi-
zation which is apparently the equivalent of VOKS in the
Mongolian People's Republic, namely, the Bureau for Cultural
Cooperation Abroad, has been reported, but no friendship or
cultural relations societies which it sponsors have as yet
become known.
At the end of the list are a group of friendship/cultural
relations societies which are possibly supported by one or
more of the VOKS -type organizations, or possibly in some
cases, are front organizations of the local Communist Party.
In most cases the name of the country which appears first in
the title of the friendship or cultural relations society
shows the country in which the society is located. In cases
where the location of the society is not clear from the title,
the location has been parenthetically included before the name
of the individual society.
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A. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
All-Union Sotiety for Cultural Relations Abroad
(Vsesoyuznoye obshchestvo kulturnoy svyazi zagranitsey, VOKS)
(Afghanistan) Friends of the Soviet Union
Albanian-Soviet Friendship Association
Institute of Argentine-Soviet Cultural Relations
(Institute de Relaciones Culturaies Argentina-URSS IRCAU)
Australia-Soviet Friendship Society
Austro-Soviet Friendship Society
(Oesterreichisch-Sowjetische Gesellschaft)
Belgian-Soviet Friendship Society
(Amities Belgo-Sovietiques? ABS)
Brazil-Soviet Cultural Institute
(Institute Cultural Brasil-URSS)
(Bulgaria) Fatherland Front (This organization has ab-
sorbed the former society, the Central Council of the
Union of the Bulgarian-Soviet Societies.)
Burma-Soviet Cultural Association
Burma..-Soviet Friendship Association
Canadian Russian Friendship Society
Association of United Ukrainian Canadians (AUUC)
Ceylon-USSR Friendship League
Chilean-Soviet Cultural Institute
(Instituto Chileno Sovietico de Cultura)
Sino-Soviet Friendship Association -(SSFA)
Cuban Soviet Cultural Relations Institute
(Institute) de Intercambio Cultural Cubano-SovieticO)
Czechoslovak-Soviet Friendship Society
(Svaz Ceskoslovensko-Sovetskeho Pratelstvi):
Czech-Soviet Institute
(Ceskoslovensko-sovetsky Institut) .
The National Association for Cooperation between Denmark
and the Soviet Union
(Landsforening for Samvirke mellem Danmark og Soviet Unionon)
(East Germany) Society for German-Soviet Friendship
Finland-Soviet Union Society, or, Finnish-Soviet Union
Society
(Suomi Neuvostoliito-Seuran, SNS)
France-USSR Association
(i ?Association France-USSR)
2
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Algeria Society of Friendship with the Soviet Union
Madagascar-USSR Association
Greek-Soviet League
Hungarian-Soviet Society
(Magyar Szovjet Tarsasag, MSZT)
Icelandic-Soviet Cultural Society
(Menningartengsl Islands og Radstjornarrikjanna, M1R)
IndO-Soviet Cultural Society
(This replaced the dissolved Friends of the Soviet Union)
Indonesian-Soviet Friendship League
Irish-USSR Society
Israeli-Soviet Friendship Congress
(also referred to as the Israeli-Soviet Friendship League
or Movement)
The Italian Association for Cultural Relations with the
USSR
(Association? Italiana per i Rapporti Oulturali Con 11URSS)
Japan-Soviet Friendship Society (JSFS)
(Nisso Shinzen Nyokai)
(Japan) New Arts Friendship Society (Possibly a VOKS
sponsored organization)
Japan-Soviet Mutual Aid Society
(Nisso Sofu Kai)
Society of Cultural Relations between Lebanon and USSR
(Luxemburg) Society of Friendship with the Soviet Union
Mexican-Russian Institute of Cultural Exchange
(Instituto de Intercambio Cultural Mexicano-Ruso, IICMR)
(Mexico() The Soviet Friendship Society
(Sociedad de Amigos de la URSS)
Netherlands-USSR Association (NU)
(New Zealand) Society for Closer Relations with the USSR, (SCR)
Korean-Soviet Cultural Society, or, Korean Society for
Cultural Relations with the USSR
Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Association
(Hol Huu,nghi Viet-nam Zo-viet, or, Hoi Viet No Huu-nghi)
Northern Ireland Soviet Friendship Society
Norwegian-Soviet Friendship Society
Pakistan-Soviet Cultural Association (PSCA)
Polish-Soviet Friendship Society
(Towarzystwo Przyjazni Polsko-Radzieckiej, TFPR)
Polish Soviet Institute
Rumanian Association for Relations with the Soviet Union
3
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(Asociata Romana Legaturi cu Uniunea Sovietica, ARLUS)
Rumanian-Soviet Friendship Society
The Society for Advancement of Cultural and EconOmic
Contacts between Sweden and the Soviet Union
(Forbundet for framjande av kulturella och ekonomiska
forbindelser mellan Sverige och Sovjetunionen)
Switzerland-USSR Society, or, Swiss-Soviet Union Society
(Association Suisse-URSS) (Gesellschaft Schweiz-Sowjetunion)
(Syria) Society for Cultural Cooperation with the Soviet
Union
Tunisian Association of the Friends of the USSR
(Association Tunisienne des Amis de l'URRS)
The South African Society for Good Will and Friendship
with the USSR
National Council for British-Soviet Unity
Russia Today Society of Great Britain
Scotland-USSR Friendship Society
British-Soviet Friendship Society
(British) Society for Cultural Relations with the TsR
Women's British-Soviet Committee
Anglo-Soviet Youth Friendship Alliance
Association of Friends of French Science and Culture
(Set up in Moscow under the auspices of VOKS)
Armenian Society for Cultural Liaison Abroad
Kazakh Society for Cultural Relations With Abroad
Soviet-Mongolian Friendship Society
(Tadzhikistan) All-Union Society for Cultural Relations
with Foreign Countries
Ukrainian Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign
Countries
Slavic Union of Uruguay
(Union Eslava del Uruguay)
(This appears to be a Soviet-sponsored group.)
Uruguayan-Soviet Cultural Institute
(Instituto Cultural Uruguay? Sovietico, ICUS)
Instituto Cultural Venezolano Sovietico
(West Germany) Working Circle East
(Arbeitskreis Ostl-AKR054)
(Apparently a VON-sponsored organization
Nepal-Russian Friendship Association
4
618?11?111rnilaiii
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B. China
The Association for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
(ACRFC). Headquarters address: Peiping, China
This organization, formed in May 1954, appears to be the
Chinese counterpart of the Soviet VOKS.
Argentine Association of Chinese Culture
(Asociacion Argentina de Culture China, AACC)
Australia-China Society
Belgian-China Society
Brazilian-Chinese Cultural Society
(Sociedade Cultural Sino-Brasileira)
Burma-China Friendship Association, or, Sino-Burmese
Friendship Society
Burma Chinese Cultural Union
Cambodia-China Friendship Association
Chinese Canadian Welfare Association
Ceylon-China Friendship Association
Chilean-Chinese Cultural Institute
(Instituto Chileno-Chino de Cultura? ICCC)
China-Burma Friendship Association (CBFA)
China-Egypt Friendship Association
China-Finland Friendship Association
China-India Friendship Association
China-Indonesia Friendship Association (CINFA)
(Indonesia) Peoples Cultural League
(Lembaga Kebudajaan Rakjat? LEKRA)
(Apparently the successor to the Chinese-Indonesian
Cultural League)
China Islamic Association
Chinese Association for the Promotion of the Hui (Moslem)
People's Culture
China-Nepal Friendship Association
China-Pakistan Friendship Association
China-Thailand Friendship Association
Sino-British Friendship Association
China-Syrian Friendship Club
Denmark Society for Cultural Contact with China, or,
Danish-Chinese Society
(Dansk-Kinesisk Selskab)
Finnish-Chinese Society
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.1.11.19.111141101?0
France-Chinese Friendship Association
(Amities Franco-Chinoises)
Iceland-China Cultural Association
India-China Friendship Association
(Sino-Indian Association, ICFA)
Indonesia-China Friendship Association (INCFA)
Italian Institute for Promoting Cultural and Economic
Relations with China, or, the Center for Cultural and
Economic Relations between Italy and China
Japan-China Friendship Association (FCFA)
(Nitchu Yuko Kyokai)
Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association
Luxembourg-Chinese Friendship Association
Society of Mexican Friendship with the Chinese People,
or, Mexican Society for Friendship with Popular China
(Sociedad Mexicana Amistad Con China Popular)
Nepalese-Chinese Friendship Association
(North Vietnam) Vietnam-China Friendship Association
(Hol Viet Trung Huu-ngli)
Pakistan-China Friendship Association
(Philippines) Friends of China Youth Congress
Polish-Chinese Friendship Society
(South Vietnam) Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos-Communist China
Friendship Association
Sweden-China Society
(Syria) Arab-Chinese Friendship Society
Tunisia-China Association
(Association Tunisie-Chine)
(Union of South Africa) Friends of China Society
(United Kingdom) British-China Friendship Association
(Greece) Union of the Friends of People's China
C. Albania
Albanian Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
This is possibly the Albanian counterpart of the Soviet VOKS.
If so, it presumably supports societies of friendship with
Albania which are located in non-Orbit countries.
Association France-Albanie
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SONIMI?Rml
'Italian Association for Cultural Relations with Albania
Japan-Albanian Friendship Society
D. Bulgaria
Committee for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign
Countries
(Komitet za priyatelstvo i kulturni vruzki s chuzhbina),
Address: Boulevard Ruski 5,
Sofia, Bulgaria
Probably the Bulgarian equivalent of the Soviet VOKS.
Austro-Bulgarian Society
Chilean-Bulgarian Institute of Culture
(Instituto Chileno -Bulger? de Culture)
Finland-Bulgaria Society
Indo -Bulgarian Friendship Society
Israel -Bulgaria Friendship League
Japan-Bulgaria Friendship Society
Swedish-Bulgarian Society
(United Kingdom) Society for Friendship with Bulgaria,
or, Committee for Friendship with Bulgaria
E, Czechoslovakia
In the case of Czechoslovakia, it appears that responsibility
for friendship and cultural relations abroad is divided
between the Ministry of Culture and the Czech Foreign Institute,
with the letter concentrating particularly on Czechs residing
in foreign countries.
American-Czechoslovak Association
Austro-Czechoslovak Society
Czech-Bolivian Friendship Center
(Centro de Amistad Czechoeslovaco-Boliviano)
7
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Chilean-Czech Cultural Institute (formerly, the Chilean,
Committee of Friends of Czechoslovakia)
(Instituto Chileno-Czecoslovaco de Cultural ICCC)
Danish-Czech Society
Finland-Czechoslovakia Society
France-Czechoslovakia Association
(Association France-Tchecoslovaquie)
Indonesian-Czechoslovakian Friendship
(Lembaga Persahabatan Indonesia-Tzekoslowakia)
Israel-Czechoslovak Friendship League
Italian-Czechoslovakian Cultural Association
(Associazione Italiana per i Rapporti Culturali con la
Cecoslovacchia)
Japan-Czechoslovakia Friendship Society
Czechoslovakian-Mexican Association
Netherlands-Czechoslovakia Committee (also called the
Committee for Cultural Relations between The Netherlands
and Czechoslovakia)
(Hoofdbestuur Nederland-Tsjechoslavakije? NC)
Pakistan-Czechoslovakia Friendship Association
Sweden Czechoslovakia Society
(United Kingdom) British Czechoslovak Friendship League
(Uruguay) Czechoslovak Circle
(Circulo Checoeslovaco, CC)
Greek-Czechoslovak League
Mexican-Czech Cultural Institute
(Institut() de Intercarribio Cultural Mexicano-Checoslovaco
F. East Germany
The Society of Cultural Relations Abroad
(Gesellsdhaft fuer Kulturelle Verbindungen mit dem
Ausland)
This appears to be the East German counterpart of the Soviet
VOKS,
Japan-East German Cultural Society
The British Council for German Democracy
Swedish Society to Improve Relations with East Germany
8
4.1014.60111EW
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9.Pallimaurkami
G. Hungary
Institute for Cultural Relations
(Lulturkapcsolatok Intezet) (Possibly Hungarian Equivalent of VOKS)
Austro-Hungarian Society
(Oesterreichisch-Ungarische Gesellschaft)
Chilean-Hungarian Cultural Center
(Centro Cultural Hungaro-Chileno, CCHC or Centro Cultural
Chileno-Hungaro, CCCH)
(Chile) Club Concordia (An organization of Hungarian
Communists and Communist sympathizers.)
Danish-Hungarian Association
Finland-Hungary Society
France-Hungary Association
(Association France -Hongrie)
Italian Association for Cultural Relations with Hungary
(Associazione Italiana per i Rapporti Culturali con
l'Ungheria)
Japan -hungary Friendship Society
Trieste-Hungary Association
(United Kingdom) British Hungarian Friendship Society
H. Mongolian Peoples Republic
Bureau for Cultural Cooperation Abroad
I. North Korea
Korean Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
Possibly the North Korean counterpart of the Soviet VOKS.
Indo -Korean Cultural Society
Japan Korea Council
Japan-Korea Friendship Society (JKFS)
Korean-Indian Cultural Society
9
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J. North Vietnam
n1 r
The Department of Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
This is possibly the North Vietnamese counterpart of VOKS.
Burma-Indochina Cultural Association
Vietnamese Union for Unity, Peace and Friendship with
France
(Union Vietnamienne pour leUnite, is Paix, et ltAmitie
avec la France)
North Vietnam-France Friendship Association
(United Kingdom) British Vietnam Friendship Comnittee
Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association (JVFA)
K. Poland
The Committee for Foreign Cultural Cooperation (Komitet
Wepolpracy Kulturalnej z Zagranica, KWKZ) which was the
Polish equivalent of the Soviet, VOKS, was scheduled to be
liquidated on 1 January 1957. It is not known what Polish
organization now sponsors the societies of friendship and/
or cultural relations with Poland.
(Argentina) The Frederic Chopin Cultural Society
(Argentina) Adam Mickiewicz Polish Culture Club
Austro-Polish Society
(Oesterreichisch-Polnische Gesellschaft)
Belgo-Polish Friendship Society
(Amities Belgo-Polonaises)
Brazil-Poland Cultural Union
Bulgarian-Polish Friendship Society
(Chile) Friends of Poland Center
(Centro de Amigos de Polonia, CAP)
Danish-Polish Society
Egyptian-Polish Friendship Society
Finland-Poland Society
(Suomi-Puola Yhdistys)
French-Polish Friendship Association
(Amities Franco-Polonaises)
India Poland Cultural Society
10
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Israel-Poland Friendship League
Italian Association for Cultural Relations with Poland
(Associazione Italiana per i Rapporti Culturali con
La Polonia)
Japan-Poland Friendship Society
(Mexico) Friends of the People's Republic of Poland
(Amigos de is Republica Popular de Polonia)
Netherlands-Poland Association
(Vereniging Nederland-Polen, NP)
(Poland) Polish-Egyptian Friendship Society
(Poland) Polish-Indian Friendship Society
(Poland) Polish-Slav Committee
Sweden-Poland Society
(United Kingdom) British Polish Friendship Society
(Uruguay) Adam Mickiewicz Polish Society
(Sociedad Polaca "Adam Mickiewicz"
(West Germany) German Society for Cultural and Economic
Exchange with Poland
(United States) American Friends of Poland,
(also known as Committee for Polish American Friendship)
L. Rumania
Rumanian Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations
(Institutul Romin pentru Relatiile Culturale Cu
Strainatatea)
Possibly the Rumanian counterpart of the Soviet VOKS
Argentine-Rumanian Cultural Association
Belgium-Rumania Friendship Society
Bolivian-Rumanian Cultural Center
(Centro Cultural Boliviano-Rumano)
Chilean-Rumanian Cultural Center
(Centro Chileno-Rumano de Cultura, CCRC)
Finland-Rumanian Society
France-Rumanian Association
(Association France-Roumania)
Icelandic-Rumanian Friendship Society
Israel-Rumania Friendship League
Italo-Rumanian Association
(Associazione Italians per i Rapporti Culturali con is
Romania)
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-00915R000800190027-4
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-00915R000800190027-4
Japan-Rumania Society
Mexican-Rumanian Society of Friendship and Cultural
Exchange
(Sociedad de Amistad y de Intercambio Cultural Mexican?,
Rumano)
The Netherlands-Rumania Committee, (NR)
or, Committee for Cultural Relations between the Netherlands
and Rumania
Norwegian Society for Cultural Relations with Rumania
Swedish-Rumanian Association
(United Kingdom) British-Rumanian Friendship Association
N. Yugoslavia
Commission for Cultural Ties with Foreign Countries
Address: Bircaninova #6, Belgrade
Probably the Yugoslav counterpart of the Soviet VOWS.
Argentine-Yugoslav Institute of Cultural Relations
(Institute Relaciones Culturales Argentina-Yugoslavia)
Chilean-Yugoslav Cultural Institute
(Instituto Chileno-Yugoeslavo de Culture)
Association for Cultural Cooperation between Yugoslavia
and France
Netherlands-Yugoslavia Association
(United Kingdom) The British-Yugoslav Association
N. The identity of the Communist organization which sponsors
and supports the following friendship/cultural relations
societies is not known.
(Ceylon) Soviet Union, People's China and People's
Democracies Friendship Association
(The Netherlands) The Association "Netherlands - Indonesia"
12
0111?11ESNIIMINTED
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-00915R000800190027-4
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-00915R000800190027-4
(Norway) People's Democracies Friendship Society
(Sambandet Norge -Folkedmokratiene)
(Syria) Afro-Asian Friendship Society
(Possibly identical with the Arab-Chinese Friendship
Society)
(United Kingdom) British Malaya Friendship Committee
13
SmEmtnir.milm
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-00915R000800190027-4
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-00915R000800190027-4
magima.
Approved For Release 2000/0"81r84.11S4-RDP78-00915R000800190027-4