Francesco/who-killed-jfk huggingface dataset:
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STRICTLY CONFIDENTIALJuly 21, 1953" PROSPERO "Proliminary ReportThe purpose of this operation was to exploit the present critical circumstances in the Communist empire and in Czechoslovakia in particular by bringing to the people of that country tangible evidence of the Wost's interest in and support for their resistance against the regima. There follows a brief summary of the sallent facts about the operation:1.  5402 rubber balloons and 1212 plastio balloonH were launched from the primary sito in Ellonfeld, a small Corman village on the Czechoslovak frontier and from the secondary sito in Sohonnee, some 40 miles to the south.2.  These carried a not total (after wastage) of approximately 10,000,000 messages of three types:a. A likeness of the now l-crown noto issued by the Czochoslovak regimo following tho recent currency reform. The toxt of this note is attached as Appendix A,b. A replica of the new 25 holler coin, bearing the words "All our people for freedom All the free world for our peoplo". The words "Free Europe" and the emblem of the Freedom Foll appeared in the center of the coin.c. A leaflet bearing photographs of the Eus Berlin demonstrations on one aide and a text describing recent events in East Germany and the Soviet Union (including the Beria purge) on the other. Copies of this message are attached as Appendix B.3.  The target areas for the operation were: (a) the industrial and mining districts of northwest Bohemia; (b) the capitol of Prague and the heavily populated area north of Prague; (c) the city and environs of Pilsen; (d) the Ostrava rogion. (See display map.)
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4. The oporation took place between 0800 Monday, July 13, 1953 and 2400, Friday, July 17. Balloons were in the air 15 working days after concoption of the idea, and 3 working days after final approval.. The third (Boriin-Feria) message was sent to the printer on Saturday; on Monday 2,000,000 copies were at the site and on the way to their destination.5. A crow of 22 workmen was transported from Munich to the alto. Including guards, drivers, and supervisory personnel, the total payroll for the oporation was approximately 40. The crew was billeted in a small hotel in the nearby village of Tiraohenreuth and was fed in a Gasthof at the aite, Working time totalled approximatoly 3000 man hours. The operation entailed the use of 7058 cubic meters of hydrogen, representing 17900 lbs. of lift. The weight of the hydrogen cylinders was 102 tons.6. The rubber balloons carried an average payload of 2 lbs. and burst at an altitude of from 30,000 to 40,000 ft. They rose in the air at a rate of 100 to 500 ft. por minute. The total elapsed timo from the leaflets' point of departure to arrival on the ground ranged from 2 to 5 hours. The plastio balloons carried a payload of from 1/10th to 4/10ths of a pound, travelled at an altitudo of 30,000 ft., and penetrated from 60 to 300 miles, depending on the target desired. The plastic balloons do not burst but descend to the ground at a point determined by the amount of gas and weight of payload. At the peak of tho operation well over one millior messages were in the air at the same time.7. The wind speed averaged 40 miles per hour and ranged from 230° (blowing into Northern Schemla) to 270° (blowing towards Prague and Ostrava). Pilson was bracketed from both launching sites. Meteorological data was obtained from the Neubiborg air base and confirmed by radar facilities located 7 kilometers from the sito. These facilities and the personnel necessary to man them were obtained from the U. S. Army. They were able to track target balloons deep into the country. The radar units were also able to datect Czechoslovak air activity and to establish that the other side was also using radar, presumably. in connection with the balloons8. Border activity was intensified during the period of operations. During 5 trips to the frontier (which was within sight of the launching location), it was observed that officers had replaced enlisted men on border patrols. On several occasions attempts were made by ground forces to shoot down
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3. the balloons, although only two hits were observed by bordor police.On Wednesday, July 15, at 1400 hours, two Migs flow along the frontier over the site and were clearly observed by the working party. Subsequently that afternoon the theodolite was moved to a hilltop point (from which, incidentally, the hills around Pilsen could be discerned) and Miga attempting to shoot down ballcons were viewed by members of the party as well as by the German border patrol. As many as 7 Migs were observed at one time. Three hits were witnessed, two of which appeared to cause the balloons to explode and one of which simply caused the balloon to disappear. On Wednesday night additional planes were reported by border police. Searchlights were also seen. On Thursday, 5 Nesseramiths 109Fs replaced the Migs and succeeded in destroying three balloons. No air action was observed on Friday, although at 1000 hours a jet vapor trail materialized directly above the Launching site and was headed into Czechoslovakia. lHowever, it was impossible to see the aircraft or to say for certain that this was a border violation.9. On the last night of operations (Thursday) a procession of 80 plastic balloons with candle-lanterns was launched. Since the night was perfectly clear, the "torchlight parade" could be easily observed - the lights looked like stars marching quietly acress the sky. No aircraft wore seen.10. The total cost of both the original operation and the supplementary Serlin-Beria message is estimated at loss than $25,000, or a unit cost of 1/5th of a cent per message sont. A substantial portion of this represents transportation and other non-recurrent expenses which would not be involved in a sustained operation.11. Note must be made of the invaluable technical and operational assistance provided by the two General Mills personnel, Mr. C. B. Moore and Mr. Fletcher Bartholomew, who were present on the trip. It should also be mentioned that the help of RFE personnel was exceedingly valuable.12. As of the date of this report, regime reaction includes:A。Rude Pravo editorial read over Radio Prague on July 18. (Appendix C), plus supplementary articles in Svobodno Slovo and Kada Front.
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4. b. Commentarios ovor Radio Mosecu in Russian and Polish and over Radio Warsaw.c. Articles in the Romanian and Hungarian press.d. An article in Moscow Pravda.13. In accordanos with previous plans, Weatorn publicity about the operation was discouraged.ConclusionsThe limited purpose of "Prospero" has, so far as we know, been substantially achieved. However, it must be acknowledged that an operation of this kind is both *strongly provocative* and (because of its tangible form) susceptible to dangers not risked by radio. There is the further complication that it is launched from German soil and could conceivably cause injury to RFE's position in Germany. All of these fastors must be carefully weighed in considering any future action of this sort. Further, this must be classified as a "crash action", as evidenced by the time elapsed between conception and termination. Crash actions are good once or twice, but are not to be recommended as a habit either from the point of view of cost or, even more important, in cognizance of the utter necessity of careful and thorough preparation of the best possible message.On the positive side, this can be stated:1. The message was timely, worth saying, and closely integrated with RFE policy.2. Enemy reaction was immediate and sorely hurt.3. Intornal conditions and the world Communist situation suggest that the action was taken at an apt moment.
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4. Technically, with radar help it was provod   that balloons could be launched carrying   relativoly heavy payloads on on assembly lino   basis with a high degree of target accuracy.   This was not proviously known.5. Aside from the irpact of the meesagos, the   very fact that the West was interosted enough   to go to the trouble and expense of ponotrating   the Iron Curtain by a means which the regime is   poworless to prevent by Miga or bullets   cannot be lost upon the captive pooples.S. S. Walkor, Jr.5.
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# MESSAGE ON LEAFLETCZECHS AND SLOVAKS! HEAR PE MESSAGE WHIC!! CONES TO YOU TODAYFROM THE FREE WORLD!# THE SOVIET UNION IS GETTING MEAKER!# THE PEOPLES OF THE CAFTINE SOUNTRIES ARE GROWING STRONGER!The Soviet Union is getting weaker. The struggle for Stalin'sheritare. shakes the entire Soviet empire and fear creервthrough the Kremlin. who will fall with Beria and who willfall after Deria? How many millions will fall victims to thenew purge which is now going to begin the biggest purgewhich the Soviet Union has ever known?How many victims will fall in the Soviet Union and how manyin the occupled countries? Who will fall with Berla 10Progue and who will be regged down by his fall in Bratislava?Who will be the new Slansky and who the new Clementis? Andwhen the purge spreads and broadene, down from the Polithureau.to the lands and districts, to the offices and the factorieshow many functionaries will safely surviverOnly those will survive who detach themselves from the sinkingCommunist boat in tire. Only those who Join the people andhelp the people's struggle against the oppressors.The Soviete have trapped themselves. in a blind alley. Ifthe Moscow boot weighs even heavier on the necks of theoppressed people and if Moscow's demande upon the frightened.puppet jovernments become more pressing, the resistence ofthe people will only Fres: for the people will not returnInto soumission. If the Communist regimes, in order toappease the wrath of the people, try to bribe their subjectsby promising concessions - as in Hungary and in EasternGermany - they will get nowhere: for the people will nolonger be deceived by peny concessions.The people are growing stronger. The first flames of revolthave flared out in Crechoslovakia and in Eastern Germany.From Plisen, from Moravske Ostrava, from Oslavany, from Berlin,Dresden and Magdeburg the echo of this revolt has roaredthroughout the world and deeply shaken the entire Soviet realm:the people showed their strength.The Communist regimes recognized the menace and became afraid.They started apologising. They started self-criticising.They started giving promises. In Germany the anti-labor de-crees had to be revoked. In Czechoslovakia the frightenedgovernment was forced to desist from applying the penal lawsconcerning absenteeism. In Moscow, under the influence ofthe news of the peoples volt in Czechoslovakia and Germany,the internal struggle became sharper. Beria and his all-powerful police fell as victims. Your resistance has helped
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to alter the course of history: new forces rade theirappearance on the battlefield, the people won their firstmajor victory in their fight with the regim.## CZECHS AND SLOVAKS!The more your oppressore are shaken by uncertainty, thegreater in the certainty of your victory. The regime isafraid of you, it known that power is fundamentally onyour side. This is the time when people's unity, commonagreement, and unity of purpose are capable of winningconcessions. Your battlefield of labor 10 in the factorlesand in the fields. On this battlefield of labor you havethe advantage of numbere. On this battlefield you cannotbe vanquished. You will not be content with bribes, youwill ask more and more from the exploitera. do notpresume to give you orders nor to give you advice. Youand your new leaders who are being born in the struggleknow best how and where to strike. But we want you toknow that you ere not alone: Among the masses of peoplebehind the Iron Curtain the fire of revolt is smoulderingand its sparks are flying from country to country. Every-where in the free world your friends are with you. Theirhelp will grow as your determination grows.FREE EUROPE!
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MESSAGE ON BANKNOTEOn one side:Czechoslovaka, know this:The regime is weaker than you have dared to think!Pover lies with the people and the people stand opposed.With unity and courage, organize your strength: Downwith the collective! Insist on workers' rights! Todaydemand concessions; tomorrow - freedom!On other side:Men call this the hunger crown - gift of the SovietUnton. It is the symbol of regime desperation, offave-year failure: It is a challenge to fight, to meetweakness with strength, to resist as you know best.The other captive peoples are uniting and will join youin your struggle.The free world is with you!All power to the people!
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RPE LS 7-24-53CAESAR INFO WALKER FE MICHIEOUR VIENIA BUREAU YESTERDAY REPORTED POLLOWING BALLOON REACTION QUOTE SEVEN MEN FROM PARDUBICE SAID THAT ALL LAST WEEK PEOPLE WERE JUMPING LIKE FROGS TO CATCH THE LEAFLETS AS THEY CAME DOWN. MANY PEOPLE WORE THE COINS AROUND THEIR RECKS. MANY SOLDIERS WERE CHECKED OUT FROM THEIR ARMY UNITS TO COLLECT THE LEAFLETS. SAME REFUGEES SAID ALSO THAT IN PILSER MIG PLANES TOOK OFF EVERY HOUR FROM THE AIRPORT TO SHOOT DOMI THE FALLOONS. THERE WIETLE NO REPEAT NO LEAFLETS AND NO REPEAT FO BALLOONS IN THE BUDEJOVI CE AREA IT WAS REPORTED. NEVERTHELESS ALL THE GENDARMERTE INTERVIEWED THE POPULATION TO SEE IF THEY HAD SOUPHON OBTAINED AMY. ALSO THE POSTMEN HAD ORDERS FROM THE GENDARMERIZ TO ASK EVER BODY ALONG THEIR POSTAL ROUTES IF THEY HAD ANY LEAFLETS. UNQUOTE
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TO CAESAR FOR W/ TERMICHIERADIO WARSAW JULY 20 0700 HOURS QUORT BALLOON ACTION. AMERICANIMPERIALISTS HAVE LATELY LAUNCHED IN WESTEIGI GERMANY A CAMPAIONAGAINST CEFCHOSLOVAKIA - THE DAILY RUDE PRAVO STATED IN AN ARTICLEENTITLED QUOTE A CAMPAIGN CONDEMNED TO FIASCO UHQUOTE. FROM AUSTRIASMALI BALLOONS CONTAINING DENOUNCING LEAFLETS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED INTHE DIRECTION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA. THE ACCION AS ANNOUNCED BY THEMUNICH SLANDER-STATION FIEE FUROPE WAS LED BY AMERICAN EXPERTSWHO CAME TO WESTERN OFRMANY FOR THAT INTENTION. IT IS A FACT SAYSRUDE PRAVO THAT FALLOON EXPERTS HAVE NOT SPARED THE LEAFLETS.DURING TWO DAYS TIME CZECHOSLOVAK CIPIZENS HAVE BROUGHT HUNDREDS OFTHOUSANDS OF LEAFLETS TO SECURITY AUTHORITIES AND NATIONAL COMMITTEES.CZECHOSLOVAK WORKING MASSES ARE DEEPLY INDIGEANT AT THIS DISHONESTPROVOCATION OF WARMONGERS UNQUOTE.RADIO WARSAW JULY 22 0700 HOURS QUOTED THE NOTE SENT BY THE CZECHOSLOVAK GOVERNMENT TO TEF AMERICAN EMBASSY. THE CZECHOSLOVAK GOVERN-MENT SENT A NOTE TO THE MAERICAN EMBASSY IN PRAGUE IN WHICH IPROTESTS VIOLENTLY AGAINST SPREADING ON CZECHOSLOVAK DERRITORY SOMELEAFLETS, CALLING FOR ANTI-STATE ACTIVITY. THE NOTE STRESSED THATTHE FROVOCATIONS HAVE BEEN PREPARED AND CARRIED OUT BY AMERICANCITIZENS WHO ARE STAYING IN THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION ZONE IN WESTERNGERMANY UNQUOTE
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# A BEACH AND PUBLICATION SERVICEJuly 20, 1955The following report is one of the first full attacks on the recent "Typhoon Operation" in Czechoslovakia. The test was read over Radio Prague on July 13, 1955:We are going to read to you now an article from today's Rude Pravo. The article is called: "An Action Doomed to Failure". This is the peace policy of the Soviet Union and of all the countries of the camp of peace, the conviction that a war can be prevented grows stronger among the people all through the world. Naturally, this evolution creates a great concern with those for whom automation is to produce a source of immeasurable gains and of a luxurious life. Therefore the warmongers do their best to put obstacles in the way which leads towards the lessening of international tension. In focus is the part of the provocateur and saboteur of the peace effort given to Syngman Rhee. In Germany resolute were used, recruited from the ranks of Nazi war criminals in the democratic sector of Berlin as well as in some other parts of the German Democratic Republic. And after the failure this much heralded day, there comes the hypocritical and demagogical offer to help to the population of the DDR, which was made for obvious propaganda reasons which, in fact, was admitted by the Western bourgeois press.Into this chain of provocations which are aimed against the strengthening of peace there also belongs the American propaganda action which was started in the last days in Western Germany against Czechoslovakia. In a similar way in which two years ago the all-famed "Crusaders for Freedom" were doing it today again with balloons: dispersing inflammatory leaflets over our territory are being sent from the Bavarian side.The Munich transmitter Free Europe, financed by Ford and similar "Institutions" speaks bombastically of the propaganda balloon action which, allegedly is the biggest action of this kind which ever has been attempted and for the direction of which there came to Western Germany specialists from America.We can indeed certify that the balloons specialists did not spare the leaflets in the first two days tens and hundreds of thousands of those leaflets are with our police and our national committees: where they are being brought by our citizens after having been discovered. The farmer Hajek from Domousnice, district of Ceeky Brod, brought an entire parcel of leaflets which came down in one place. Josef Korinek from Zatae brought an entire balloon which fell down. The leaflets are being brought by the works of the Vladimir Lenin Works as well as other factories, by farmers, railwaymen and children. Yet even if the balloon action was not only four times bigger - as Free Europe says - but hundreds times bigger than the Crusade action of 1951, it will bring to its initiators the very opposite of what they had in mind.
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With words of justified anger cur citizens core with the leaflets and they are especially offended by the fact that one of the leaflets is some kind of a facsimile of the new Czechoslovak crown stamped on both sides by inflamatory words. Our citizens held in esteem the new crown which is firm and valuable and has a great purchasing power which helped us to get rid of rationing and, therefore, with sharp and ofter crude words they criticize that its image had been misuned as the besis for printing big lien concerning the government of our republic and the USSR.The second leaflet is propagating the Fascist provocations which took place on seventeen June ir the German Democratic Republic. When those provocations ended by failure, their organizers ordered that they should be used at last for the printing of leaflets with pictures, demonstrating the bandits of Berlin in action; as they are starting fires or indulging in provocations, etc.Those pictures belong into the series of the photographs which the Nazis Throatcutters used to take while they were starting fires in the occupied countries, in the Ukraine, in Cracor, in Li Lidice. It is quite natural that this, too, can only create die- gust towards those who have started this criminal action. Besides, the pictures of the Fascist provocations in Berlin are no sense- tional neus for us, as the directors of the balloon action coviously imagine. Similar pictures were published not long ago in our Svet Prece, It demonstrates the absolute political shortsighted- ness which when people mentioned it is described as atupicity of the organizers of the balloor action who think that they could influence our people by leaflets one side of which constituteз a glorification of hatred and of the attack against peace thich was to take place on 17th June in Ferlin.In vain is the part of the defender of Czechoslovak workire people and this will always be the sane assumed by those, from whose actions there emanates the wish to start a new murderous war which is not wanted by any honest working citizen whatever be is political or his religious opinion. This provocation clearly demonstrates how the USA reactionary circles plan the Lessening of international tension.It is a gross heresy just at the time when the pecole of the entire world are looking forward with hope towards the possibili.ty of a truce in Korea, when with confidence they are folling the peace policy of USSR, aiming at the peaceful settlement of 11 disputed international questions.Therefore, the balloon action was met with sharp condenration on the part of our people. The balloor specialists would certainly not like to hear what the people say when they bring the Beatlete to the SMB and to the Hatioral Committees. It is worth reticing. that ever. such people who to far did not find an active attitude to the socialist development express their surprise about the means the rest is employing. And all our people are deery offended by the latent violating of the independence ca our State territory. They are surprised by the great amount of stupidity of the people
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-3-who thought that they will achieve anything by the balloon. True, the Crusaders of Freedom in the West are losing more and more possibilities for conducting enemy activity on the territory of our Republic. On the frontiers of our country there stands a vigilant guard which breaks all the attempts of their agents and so they must be contented with the balloon action which our people overtly laughed at and which they condemn.They openly say that the entire action was a kind of pansteriorm which not even Hitler dared to commis at the time of the greatest hatred campaign against Czechoslovakia. Then they are bringing the leafiete which they had found to the security organs and to the administrative organs, they ask that the action should be publicly condemned.This spontaneous disgust concerning the balloon action demonstrated in which complete isolation lack of information and ignorance of the real thinking of our working people do live the mercenaries of Free Europe which is the patron of this act.on. Free Europe even broadcast, while propagating the balloons, some kind of poor poetry in which one says, that "Always all the good things were coming from above" and that our people knew this".Yet our people have got a longer memory than Free Europe believes. They will remember what good came to them from above from the West; that it was the bombs which on the eve of the end of the war were murdering women and children in peaceful residential quarters of Prapte and Plzen and which destroyed the Plzen Skeda Works and the Prague Kolben Works in order to make our recorstrus-tion more difficult.. Later we were getting from above, from Western Germany a flood of the Colcvado beetle which was pobed to bring us misery and starvation, and they know very well what American pilots are bringing from above to the women and children of Korea.And one more coincidence: One of the boxes with leaflets which was found near Brezce in the Plzen Region carried the Inscription Munchen and aise with the name of Munich are connected for every citizen the memories of the worst time of our nations: the memories how in reality looks the love of the so-called friends of our people.In fact the organizers of the ridiculous and stupid balloon action spent their dollars or balloons, paper and metal samps carrying the emblem of Free Europe which are also being spread. They can hardly expect any thanks on the part of their employers because the result is exactly the contrary of the expected. True, a few business ren finally got their pockets full but otherwise the action was doomed to failure fremts very beginning. This action blown up by Frec Europe deflated soon just as Its balloons.