INCREASED SOVIET EMPHASIS ON TRADE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003900190009-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2003
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: April 2, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2003/12/01,: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003900190009-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
Finland/USSR
25X1
Increased Soviet Emphasis on Trade
This Document contains information affecting the National 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.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
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PLACE -ACQUIRED
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
TI4E APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
2 April 1954
1. Communist propaganda in Finland during the past several months has featured
the drive for peace and demands for increased trade with the Soviet Union.
In addition, the Finnish communist have recently demanded the formation of
a Big Three government in Finland. If the propaganda practiced by the
Finnish communists is coupled with that being practiced by the Soviet Union
in all parts of the world in behalf of peace and trade, it is impossible not
to conclude that the peace propaganda practiced for so long a period has had
behind it a deliberate plan for the achievement of bigger world markets.
2. There is no doubt but that the Soviet policy of peace and trade is meeting
with some success in Finland as well as throughout Europe. In a speech to
a FCP group on 18 December 1953, Yrjoe Murto, a leading Finnish communist,
stated that the hegemony of western foreign trade is creaking at the joints.
During a similar occasion on 15 January 1954, Hertta Kuusinen stated that
the western capitalists would learn within the next five-year period that the
United States has lost all of its markets in the Eastern Hemisphere.
3. In accordance with the over-all Soviet emphasis on increased trade, it has
been reported, although unconfirmed, that the Soviet-owned firm, Seximo 0y.
in Helsinki, will not be able to handle the trade between Finland and the
USSR because of the formation of a Finnish State agency which would act as
the broker and agent in all transactions. Seximo Dy. has released several
score of its workers and its business activity has noticeably decreased.
It would appear that the Soviet Union has chosen an entirely new trade tactic
in Finland which places more emphasis on the amount of goods sold rather than
on who sells them. This is understandable in view of the inability of Soviet
and communist owned firms to achieve the successful sale of eastern products
to the Finnish people.
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SECRET
STATE X ARMY Ix jNAVY
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4. The reduction in business activity on the part of Soviet and communist-owned
firms means a reduction in financial support of Finnish Communist Party
organizations. However, this aspect appears to have little effect on the
Soviet Union. Financing of FOP activities will be arranged in other ways,
particularly if trade between Finland and the East is increased.
25X1 [--]Comment. This refers to a government based on the three largest
political parties in Finland, the Agrarians, the Social Democrats and the
SKDL.
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Approved For Release 2003/12/01 : CIA-RDP80-00810A003900190009-0