25x1 - 'Approved For Regs 2002105107 DOCUMENTPJO NSC BR CHANGE IN macs- 7 1 May 1955 ECLaavnth T3 3 DATE MAY DAY AUTH - DATE HEVIEWEH 1 May Day events in Moscow completely reflected the current Soviet policy of peace with a new low both in the display of military hardware and in the belligerency of the main speech delivered by Defense Minister Zhukov Displays for the parade further emphasized the Kremlin's new campaign to deflate the Stalin myth 2 As with his mild speech last year when Zhukov balanced the imperialist policy of threats against the mighty Armed Forces of the Soviet to rout any grouping of enemies his reference this May Day to the dangers arising from the enemies of AND EVEN MMDEIE peace was again cast in defensive terms stating that the Soviet people take the necessary measures for further reinforcing the defensive might of the socialist state and that the Soviet armed forces with their first class military equipment are a reliable guard and sure guarantee of the security of the state 3 The bulk of Zhukov's brief speech emphasized two themes First was the drive on the part of the great community of the countries of socialism for realization of the Leninist principal of peaceful coexistence between states irrespectiye of their social systems Peace and friendship between nations and the struggle for peace against the threat of a new war received 8 separate references The second theme was the primacy and the collective wisdom of the Com munist Party with particular emphasis on the historic decisions of the 20th Party Congress There were 7 separate references to the Party and the Congress and the closing line of Zhukov's speech cried Glory 3 7 ganizer to the Communp b alf br Rh atheow l 'tz 11 of all our victories as ease 2062105167 8-6 Approved For 4 The down-grading of Stalin was underscored both in static displays and in procession placards In the entire city of Moscow only a single Stalin portrait was set up for May Day Among the thousands of placards carried by the civilian paraders Stalin's face' appeared only a few times As in the last two years the placement of portraits of present Party leaders followed no fixed order of precedence Embassy Mbscow reports that Bulganin and Khrushchev consistently occupied the two top honor positions with one or the other in the number one Spot in different displays 5 One press report states that the loudspeakers in Central Moscow ushered in the day's festivities with the US song There Is A Tavern In The Town a melody reportedly las heard in Moscow in 1945 -2- Approved For Release 2002l05I07 CIA-RDP79R00890A000700050018-6 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu