CIA Propaganda Strategy on Soviet Diplomats in Congo (1963)

21 Nov 63 22 02Z. FROM: DIRECTOR. INFO: DODS/L, DODS 4, SPOG 2, CA 2, CA/PEG, CA/O 4, CI/OPS, CI/IC-2, ADDED: DDP, ADDP, VR. CITE DIR 84327. BOOK MESSAGE: LAGS LEOP NODI RABA ATHE BERL BERN BONN FRAN FEOB VIEN MUNI (LANGDON) BANG DJAK HONG SAIG TANI CAIR COLO ISTA BKIR HAGU PARI BUEN CARA MONT MEXI RIOD SAGO PALP SAOP. BOOK MESSAGE: PRITY PSYCH. REF: LEOP 8022 (IN 64671) NOT SENT ALL ADDRES. 1. BACKGROUND. PRESS, WIRE SERVICES TODAY REPORT ARREST IN LEOPOLDVILLE, CONGO, TWO SOV DIPLOMATS, BORIS YORCHIN, COUNSELOR SOV EMB, YURI NYAKOTHYK, PRESS ATTACHE, UPON RETURN FROM BRAZZAVILLE (CAPITAL FORMER FRENCH CONGO), WITH INCRIMINATING DOCUMENTS, PROVING SOV SUPPORT FOR CHRISTOPHE GBENYE, FOLLOWER OF LATE LUMUMBA, NOW TRYING FORM CONGO EXILE GOVT IN BRAZZAVILLE, FOUND IN THEIR POSSESSION. SOV GOVT NEWSPAPER IZVESTIA, MOSCOW, 20 NOV, DENOUNCED "SHAMEFUL PROVOCATION" AND "BANDIT METHODS". CONGO GOVT EXPECTED TO SUSPEND OR BREAK DIPL RELATIONS WITH SOVS, CZECHS. 2. GUIDANCE. MAXIMUM PUBLICITY ABOVE EVENT, PLUS FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS CAST. URGENTLY DESIRED. DISREGARD HOLD PARA ONE REF, FOR ALL FACTS ALREADY IN PUBLIC DOMAIN. ALL TREATMENT SHOULD DOWNPLAY ALLEGED HANDLING OR BEATING SOV OFFICIALS AND DROP MELODRAMATIC EMBROIDERIES LIKE SULPHUR ACID PLOT. 3. DIPLOMATIC CONTROVERSIES, PROTESTS IN ORGANIZATION AFRICAN STATES AND/OR UN, AND CONGOLESE PRESS CONFERENCE, EVERYWHERE STIMULATE EDITORIALS, RADIO COMMENTARIES, FEATURE ARTICLES ALONG LINES PARA TWO ABOVE. WHEREVER PRACTICABLE INDUCE SUITABLE GROUPS ADOPT PROTEST RESOLUTIONS, SEND COPIES CONGO AND SOV AUTHORITIES, OR DESIGNATED SOV, CZECH EMBASSIES. 4. POUCH, MAIL OR VOICE CLIPS NOS, LEOP. CABLE MONTHLY DEVELOPMENTS YOUR AREA E.G. CONDEMNATION SOV ACTION BY LEADERS SIMILAR TO ACTION TAKEN AND REACTION OBSERVED IN DISPATCH AFTER CASE CLOSED. COORDINATING OFFICERS: C/CA/PROP - Henry C. F. Wotke, AF/CA, EE/OPS, FE/PO/P, NE/COP, WE/INT, WH/PO/B - WM Kere. C/CA, Mr. Wallor (craft) SC/AP.