64. Editorial Note
According to the memorandum of discussion at the 305th meeting of the National Security Council on November 30, Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles made the following statement in his briefing on significant world developments affecting United States security:
“Mr. Dulles said that reports from both the American Embassy and other sources in Moscow were giving us fairly hard evidence of unrest in the Soviet Union itself. So far this unrest was mostly confined to youth and student groups. Such groups were expressing open sympathy for Hungary and calling for the creation of more than one political party in the Soviet Union. After citing certain specific instances of such student activity, Mr. Dulles pointed out that while these were small indications, they seemed to be signs of real discontent. There were even some signs of unrest in the field of labor. Other rumors concerning dissension in the high command in Moscow so far lacked confirmation, though it was certainly likely that there had been real attacks on Khrushchev’s policies In this connection Mr. Dulles pointed out that as long as the Soviet Union remained under such fire as it now was, it was very likely that the top Soviet leadership would try to hold together. The Central Committee was scheduled to meet before the end of the current year. If any changes are to occur in Soviet leadership, the meeting of this Committee might be the occasion of the announcement. While there was no doubt that Khrushchev’s policy was under fire, it remained difficult to see who could successfully replace him. It was the general opinion of the intelligence community that Molotov’s new position did not constitute a promotion.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)