CONFIDENTIAL INTELLIGENCE BREIF
From: Nikita Khrushchev, Chairman of the Council
of Ministers for the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics
To: All Members of the Council of Ministers
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
of
Date: October 13, 1962
Comrades,
Review these two topics prepared by our intelligence officers in
the pages that follow before we meet tomorrow.
-N.K.
CONFIDENTIAL INTELLIGENCE BREIF
Topic One: Political Reform and Power Consolidation
SPACE RACE
In 1957, U.S.S.R launched the world’s first satellite called,
“Sputnik”, after that a new frontier was established, it also
greatly
alarmed
the
United
States
of
America
of
Soviet
capabilities. By 1961, the USSR had put the first man in space,
Yuri A. Gagarin. The US president, John F. Kennedy, has declared
that the United States will be the first country to put a man on
the moon. Not only is the USSR struggling for dominance in the
global platform, domestic policies such as political reforms and
power consolidation.
DE-STALINIZATION
In 1953, Nikita Khrushchev became the leader of the Soviet Union
serving as the premier and started political reforms and straying
from the traditional Stalin ideologies, or “de-Stalinization”. To
start off, Khrushchev released thousands of people from the labor
camps as well as rehabilitated party members who were killed by
Stalin. At the 20th Conference of the Communist Party of the
Soviet Union in February 1956, Khrushchev gave a “secret speech”
that criticized the incompetence of the former soviet leader
Stalin.
However,
the
intended
secret
speech
was
later
on
published by the United States’ State Department. In response to
the western publication of his speech, Khrushchev changes course
and recovered the image and ideals of Stalin. By 1961, Khrushchev
has returned to his initial agenda and continues to change Soviet
ideology by making statements such as changing the name of
Stalingrad to Volgogra, and removing the corpse of Stalin from
mausoleum in Red Square to the base of the Kremlin wall where
traditionally lesser heroes are buried.
Discontent
with
effectiveness
of
the
bureaucracy
within
the
opposing
party,
Khrushchev
sought
out
to
subtly
reduce
bureaucracy.
At
the
22nd
Congress
of
the
CPSU
in
1961,
Khrushchev
continued
to
attack
Stalinism,
the
former
leader
himself, and loyal individuals towards his ideology.
Khrushchev
linked
the
assassination
of
Sergi
Kirov
to
Stalin’s
authorization, on top of that, he also linked the elimination of
Kirov
to
two
prominent
leaders,
Vyacheslav.
M.
Molotov
and
Kliment Y. Voroshilov.
DE-STALINIZATION RESPONSES
Upon the publication of the “secret speech” of Khrushchev, Poland
and Hungary responded with protests. In order to assert power
towards the two satellite states of the USSR, Khrushchev took
matters into his own hands, which some will argue that it is
arguably assertive in the same manner as Stalin. The protests in
Poland
ended
in
a
peaceful
manner.
However,
the
Hungarian
protests
ended
on
the
other
end
of
the
violence
spectrum.
CONFIDENTIAL INTELLIGENCE BREIF
Khrushchev deployed troops and tanks into Hungary, and resulted
with 15,000 casualties among the Hungarian protestors. This shows
that Khrushchev may be against this type of assertive violence,
but bureaucracy still inhibits his ability to apply his agenda
without
establishing
his
dominance
in
the
political
playing
field. This political move of Khrushchev caused many Hungarians
to move farther to the West due to the fear of death, arrest, or
exile.
SECRET TRIBUNALS
Other domestic political reforms include lessening the secret
police force as well as making USSR more humane. Khrushchev
attempted to change the Soviet system by making restrictions less
strict
(i.e.
more
humane)
as
well
as
released
political
prisoners, and promoted a small degree of freedom of expression.
However, not everyone agreed with his new structure for the
Soviet Union. Khrushchev still needs to fight the opposition for
his political agenda.
Questions to Consider
1. How best to implement reform in the Soviet Union?
2. What efforts need to be made to improve the bureaucracy of
the Soviet Union?
3. How can the Soviet Union continue to be the leader in space
exploration and technology?
CONFIDENTIAL INTELLIGENCE BREIF
Topic Two: Protecting Strategic Russian Interests
INTRODUCTION
The
satellite
states
of
the
Union
of
the
Soviet
Socialist
Republics (USSR) are of utmost importance to the USSR To retain
global power and influence, we, as Soviet leaders have and
continue to carry out extensive planning and negotiation both
domestically and abroad. The main disagreement between the us and
the West is the clash between Communist ideals and Democratic
approach of society over the role of the working man and the
existence of a free market. These two approaches in economics and
government system leads to tensions as the two sides. The Western
leaders are trying to contain communism as the we try to spread
influence and extend our reach.
USSR FOREIGN POLICY
“Coexistence”
was
promoted
under
the
leadership
of
Chairman
Khrushchev,
which
he
and
his
political
partner
Georgii
M.
Malenkov tried to spread both in the Soviet Union and the West.
“Coexistence” is an ideology that both the West’s free market
policies and the communist economic policies and exists side by
side. However, it should be noted that Khrushchev despises the
West’s corporate ways. The purpose of the “coexistence” agenda is
to help the ease the tension of the arms race during the Cold War
so that the Soviet Union can catch up in terms of technology from
the Western powers and also strengthen the economics of the USSR.
Khrushchev wanted the standard living of the Soviet Union and its
allies
to
be
improved,
and
he
and
his
supporters
believed
“coexistence” is the best course of action.
The United States of America (US.)
The United States of America is undoubtedly our biggest rival due
to the political and economic differences in core governmental
ideology.
Khrushchev
visited
the
United
States
in
hopes
to
improve relations with United States and ease tension. However,
the Soviet Union is extremely threatened by the existence of US
Missiles in Turkey.
EAST GERMANY, WEST GERMANY, and the BERLIN WALL
The reunification of Germany is of the utmost priority. It is our
hope that Germany, if reunified will be under full communist
leadership. However, at this point 3,000,000 East Germans have
fled
the
territory
to
the
West
(i.e.
one-sixth
of
the
population). This desertion was stopped by the construction of
the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961 which was authorized by Soviet
leader Khrushchev. The Rapacki plan includes a nuclear weapon
free
zone
(NWFZ)
in
Central
Europe
which
includes
Germany,
Poland, and Czechoslovakia. The West opposed this plan as it
CONFIDENTIAL INTELLIGENCE BREIF
outnumbers NATO, in addition to the fact that they recognize East
Germany as a sovereign state.
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC of CHINA (RED CHINA)
Communist China began on October 1, 1949 when Mao became the
leader
of
the
People’s
Republic
of
China.
He
started
many
programs for land reform that redistributed property at the
expense of the well-being of landlords and peasants owning large
amounts of property. He also launched the Campaign to Suppress
Counterrevolutionaries,
which
publically
executed
individuals
that included those perceived as a threat to the market, and
former Kuomintang officials. Following this campaign, Mao started
the
three-anti/five-anti
campaigns
in
1951.
The
five-anti
campaign was a more general plan of attack than the three-anti
campaign.
However,
both
campaigns
had
one
underlying
goal:
purging
the
government,
industry
and
society
of
capitalist
factors.
Once centralizing the power, Mao launched the first Five-Year
Plan in 1953. This foundation of this plan would shift China’s
dependence away from agriculture to become a major power at the
forefront of global society. With the help of the Soviet Union,
China quickly built up enough industrial plants to be selfsufficient. After great success in the first Five-Year, Mao
started a period of rapid collectivization as well as the Hundred
Flowers Campaign. The Hundred Flowers Campaign encouraged the
Chinese people to express advice and opinions on the current
Chinese
government.
There
was
a
strong
opposition
to
the
Communist
Party
during
this
campaign,
and
it
was
met
with
tolerance in the beginning. However, after a few years Mao’s
government persecuted these anticommunist critiques in a movement
commonly known as the Anti-Rightist Movement.
In
early
1958
Mao
started
the
second
Five-Year
Plan,
more
commonly
known
as
the
Great Leap
Forward.
This
plan
was a
different take on the Soviet’s model to economic growth. This
program forced many smaller agricultural collectives formed at
this time to merge into larger people’s communes with many of the
lower
class
ordered
to
work
on
large
scale
infrastructure
programs (such as steel and iron production). Along with the
redistribution
of
labor,
the
new
agricultural
programs
implemented
lacked
the
necessary
scientific
background
and
resulted in a significant decrease in grain production through
the following few years.
Soviet relations with Communist China deteriorated under the
leadership of Chairman Khrushchev. Chairman Mao of the communist
state
was
appalled
after
hearing
the
contents
of
Chairman
Khrushchev’s secret speech and actions against the ideas of
former Soviet and communist leader, Stalin. The world is clearly
aware of this deterioration of the relationship between the two
states, however, the United States has not taken any action as of
CONFIDENTIAL INTELLIGENCE BREIF
now. After weighing benefits, cabinet members should discuss the
potential of fixing relations with Red China.
CUBA and FIDEL CASTRO
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was the illegitimate son of a wealthy
farmer. At age six, Castro was sent to live with his teacher in
Santiago de Cuba. He was an average student but excelled in
sports and played for his school’s baseball team. In 1945, Castro
enrolled himself at the law school in the University of Havana.
While studying in Havana, Castro was immersed in a culture of
Cuban
nationalism,
anti-imperialism,
and
socialism.
He
participated
in
a
failed
plot
to
oust
right-wing
Dominican
President Trujillo, a strong US ally.
Throughout the 1940s, Castro was exposed to Marxist influences
and traveled to poor villages in Venezuela, Panama, Bogota, and
Havana.
Corruption
and
the
bourgeoisie
became
his
chief
opponents.
He became the nominee for the PCP following Chibas’
death and was enraged when General Batista scrapped the slated
elections and set himself up at dictator of Cuba with military
support. Castro led 150 men against the barracks in rebellion and
was
imprisoned.
He
moved
to
Mexico
and
planned
Batista’s
overthrow alongside Che Guevara. In 1956, Castro failed again to
oust government forces, and began building a parallel government
with his brother Raul in small towns across Cuba. In 1958,
Castro’s military offensive resulted in the collapse of the
Batista government. The following year, Fidel Castro became the
Prime Minister of Cuba.
Castro has nationalized factories and plantations to end US
economic benefits in the region. Furthermore, he has censored
anti-Castro journalism and is dependent on Soviet oil. Castro
harbors anti-American sentiments and has attempted to overthrow
our Caribbean ally Trujillo and succeeded in the overthrow of
Fulgencia Batista.
Cubahas strong ties with the USSR and increasingly grows more and
more dependent on the support of the USSR both in economic and
military affairs.
The Soviet Union has recently been in secret
talks with Cuba regarding the placement of Soviet Missiles on
Cuba soil in order to prevent another invasion by the US (such as
the
Bay
of
Pigs)
which
would
threaten
Castro’s
Communist
influence on the nation. Nuclear-armed missiles will be extremely
close to the mainland of the United States (i.e. 90 miles) which
will alarm the United States. This situation affects the entire
globe as a possibility of a global nuclear conflict is just
around the corner. Neither USSR nor the US can afford another
catastrophic war, but at the same time both states must establish
a degree of influence.
HUNGARY
CONFIDENTIAL INTELLIGENCE BREIF
"He who is not against us, is with us.” These are the very words
of Janos Kadar as Hungary begins their reconciliation policy. At
this point, Hungary is given the liberty to discuss the economic
situation of the state and given permission for free discussion
on economic reforms.
ROMANIA
Transylvania, has a large portion of the population who are
German-speakers. Many of these German-speaking people began to
immigrate
to
West
Germany
by
paying
Romanian
officers
in
government. Moreover, there is also a Hungarian population in
Transylvania who are minorities in this region. The Romanians’
assimilation Hungarian people in this region causes bad relations
between Hungary and Romania.
BULGARIA
Todor Zhivkov the communist leader of Bulgaria also experimented
with economic reforms that was introduced by the Soviet Union.
Zhivkov
allowed
liberalization
of
cultural
life
which
many
intellectual Bulgarians support Zhivkov.
YUGOSLAVIA
In 1948, there was a Sino-Yugoslav, which means Yugoslavia is not
within the bloc of the U.S.S.R and it’s communist satellite
states. In 1955, Yugoslavia became to reconstruct relations with
other
Soviet
states
under
Khrushchev’s
leadership
and
reconciliation policy. Yugoslavia started economic reforms which
appears to help the state’s economics. Many Soviet states started
looking into this reform and applied some of its principles.
Josip Broz Tito lead Yugoslavia at this time as the state’s
president. Economic and cultural relations were established with
the West under Tito’s rule.
Questions to Consider
1. How best to implement a policy of “coexistence” with Western
powers for the benefit of the Soviet Union and her allies?
2. How can the Soviet Union restore relations with Communist
China?
3. What
are
the
consequences
of
the
attempts
at
reform
throughout members of the Soviet bloc?
4. What is the best strategic position for the Soviet Union to
be in at this time with respect to Cuba?