POWERS TRIAL TESTIMONY

: [RCS PE © Approved For Release sooo SERB cossonsr 2000860263 18 August 1960 TONERS TRIAL TESTIMONY T. A5 you know fzom the proceedings thus far in the Powers £r1al, Koscow meems to be taking pains to avoid any impressicn of a staged affair. . A. Soviat propaganda 1s quoting Powers family and 193-Dl0c lawyrru that Powers iu testifying freely, 3nd Rudonko--the prosecutor--carefully retrained £109 groasirg him on Aome points and allowed evasive replies to ster). I. TntareRting A1delight is that defense attorney uestioned Powers about birthmark on face--after Testorn news dispatches made referénces to “red ; ark" on face. . Mn / _y B+ Soviet propaganda gave heavy play to Power's [£7] i] testimony that plane was at 68,000 feet when hit-- jv attempt to document claims U-2 brought down by « “new and fantastic" rocket. . Ps; 1. Soviet prosscutor alo sought to establish 534 aircraft could have carried nuclear wespon. § GC. Another tnporcant objective of testimony he son ~d to involve free world countries; West Germany, Sweden, Iran, and Finland have now von geageed gn, in addition to Norway, Turkey, and Pakistan, FFs, Dhl I. For forern’ Conmmption, ¥oacow has tailored its broad- ’ CREting and reporting to relatively factual sumaaries, CRIIFIOLTLANR CECRET -1-  Approved For Release 200200130 : GIA-RDPTRO0B90A0D1 2000300263 SECRET . While for domestic audience reporting is liberally interspersed with slanted commentaries and denucistions of w. A. Pre-trial propaganda attemptod to build up expecta- tions of some new and sensational development, and Soviets may be holding Something ‘of dramatic nature for citmax. TIT. Tho defense attorney indicated to Powers family that he as Optiaistic that death sentence could be avoided. Ho also hinted that the Supreme Soviet Presidium would enter- tain a post-trial petition for clemency. we A. This could open the way for a grand gesture by Khrushchev at some point after a conviction and stiff sentence. 25X1D Approved For Release 200210130 : GIA RDPTRO0B90A001200080026-3  2 @) Testimony that Powers did not escape from aircraft by ejection until about 14,000 feet. 1s apparently in conflict with earlier reports, as well as the language of the indictment, that his parachute was seen to open immediately after he was "hit". Vednes- day testimony contained more details of his escape from the plane than had been published previously, @) Also new information was Powers' statement to effect that long hours in the plane were boring due mainly 25X1D to discomfort of the suit. . CoRR Fk rah nese SERA, CRIs < SECRET 5, } I Approved For Release 2002/01/30 : CIA-RDP79R00830A001200080026-8 J