CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/05/05

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02003057
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: March 18, 2019
• Document Release Date: March 28, 2019
• Publication Date: May 5, 1951

Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 C0-2003057
"11.E1 Ntige
5 May 1951
Copy Noeu �1
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
t- 1 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO:
10 0
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HR 704,144
DATIVa REVIEWER
c 260t.
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
krup4
pproved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
T('-' HET
SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. British reservations delay talks on economic aid to Yugoslavia (page 3)
FAR EAST
5. Fear of war reported in Manchuria (page 6)
6. British concerned over Chinese Nationalist troops in Burma age 6)
7. Ceylon may recognize Bao Dai government (page 7)
NEAR EAST
8. Nehru recently subject to strong anti-American influences (page 7)
9. Comment on Prime Minister Mossadeces prograxn (page 8)
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
TOP ET
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
3.5(c)
1.
Approved for Release: 2019703/14 CO2003057
T S C E T
GENERAL
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
Jr-r-
114r(*
Talks on economic aid to Yugoslavia now taking
p lace in London among representatives of the US,
UK, France and the World Bank (IBRD) have
become snarled over reluctance of the British
to comit themselves on the revision of Yugoslay
debt schedules to meet IBRD requirements. The
UK has also indicated reluctance to give Yugoslavia
British aid on a grant rather than on a loan basis.
Earlier the UK had insisted on including in the economic aid program "common
use" items that might be used for both civilian and military purposes. The
US delegation comments that the British seemed unmoved by US and French
references to the overriding political considerations and appeared unconcerned
that the IBRD loan might fall through as a result of the London talks.
A 41' 9 .9 111
comment: The Yugoslav aid talks were initially
conducted on a bilateral basis between the US and the UK, and then extended
to include France. Representatives of the IBRD were invited in the hope of
providing for eventual stabilization of the Yugoslavv economy through an IBRD
capital investment program, coordinated, with the more immediate needs of
Yugoslakria's balance of payments. The IBRD representatives have indicated
that a four-year $200 million capital investment IBRD loan could be carried
by Yugoslavia if its current unfavorable balance of payments picture is
corrected through other foreign aid. The earlier agreement of the three
powers on the principles of the aid program has now become ensnar led in
more specific questions of implementation. Despite the UK's recent caution,
Britain has shown its concern for the Yugoslav situation through the recent
extension of a loan of four million pounds and through encouragement of 3.3(h)(2)
proposals for military aid.
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
3.5(c)
T= pc3ved tor lelease: 29.1i/03/14 CO2003057
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
3.5(c)
pproved for Release: 269/03/14 CO2003057
T RET
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
TOP
-5
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
TSEET
5. Fear of war reported in Manchuria:
3.5(c)
A Russian-born naturalized American, 3.3(h)(2)
who left Harbin on 10 April and arrived
in Hong Kong on 1 May, told the US Consul
General in Hong Kong that the fear of war was
growing in Harbin. The atmosphere was particularly tense in Manchouli
(on the Sino-Soviet border in northwest Manchuria), where Chinese residents
were being evacuated from the Sino-Soviet border and where the USSR was
erecting fortifications on its side of the border. In Harbin, air raid pre-
cautions were inaugurated at the time of Chinese intervention in Korea and
were being further implemented at the time of the source's departure. Several
hundred Soviet airmen were stationed at the Harbin airfield, but few were seen
in the city. Flights over Harbin were infrequent and never consisted of more
than five planes in a group. Source reported a very heavy southward rail
movement, largely after dark, through Harbin. He observed four or five
train-loads of Russian tanks and one load of Mongol horses. Source stated
that there was no doubt in the minds of the inhabitants that the real power in
the area, though exercised through the Chinese, was held by the USSR.
Many Russians have been discharged in preparation for tho turn-over of
enterprises including the railway to the Chinese in 1952.
Comment: Few reports are received from
the northeastern areas. This one appears credible.
6. British concerned over Chinese Nationalist troops in Burma; 3.3(h)(2)
FOirr434
US Embassy London reports that the British Govern-
ment is becoming increasingly concerned over the
refugee Chinese Nationalist troops in the Burmese
state of Kengtung. The British, apparently feeling
that these forces are being supported by the US, may be expected shortly
to make high level approaches on the subject in Washington. They consider
that the Nationalists do not merely provide the Chinese Communists with an
excuse to invade Burma but constitute a pressure on the Communists to act
which would inevitably result in the establishment of a Communist government
in Burma.
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
3.5(c)
Approved Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
1151,7-SECRET
7. Ceylon may othmEa.avern eim
3.5(c)
A Ceylon diplomat who has been in Indochina o a
rice purchasing mission hinted at the time of his 3.3(h)(2)
departure that Ceylon might extend diplomatic
recognition to the' Bao Dai government. US Minister
Heath in Saigon had assumed that Ceylon would follow the lead of India in
continuing to refuse recognition, and speculates that the Ceylon envoy's
remarks may reflect an evolution of his government's attitude, or may simply
be a device for promoting a rice deal.
Comment It is known that Ceylon has been considering
recognition for some time and has generally aligned itself more closely with
UK policy (the UK recognized Bao Dal in February 1950) than has India.
Ceylon is a rice deficit area and may feel Lhat it might be in a preferred
position to obtain some Vietnamese rice if it opened diplomatic relations with
Bao Dai. Thus far, Thailand has been the only southern Asian nation to
recognize the Bao Dai government; the Western nations have been endeavoring
to persuade other Asian countries to take similar action in order to bolster
its prestige.
NEAR EAST
8. lighzsizugnu anti-American
US Ambassador Ambassador Henderson reports that during the 3.3(h)(2)
_�
last few weeks Prime Minister Nehru hasbeen in
close association with V. K. Krishna Menon,
Indian High Commissioner in London, and with Lady
Mountbatten, wife of India's last Viceroy and Governor-General. Several 3.3(h)(2)
responsible Indian officials have told Ambassador Hendersor
Menon tried to persuade Nehru not to accept US favors, and '
Lady Mountbatten's anti-American influence over Nehru is a subject of
almost common gossip in India. One prominent Indian who dined with Nehru,
Menon, and Lady Mountbatten later told Ambassador Henderson that he was
shocked at the anti-Americanism which dominated their dinner ccknVersation.
Comment Nehru is known to be susceptible to the
influence of Lady Mountbatten and Krishna Menon, both of whom are violently
anti-American and the latter of whom is probably a Communist. These two
-7 -
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
SECRET
� I
3.5(c)
persons may well have had a direct hand in producing (a) Nehm's statements
of 29 April and I May to the effect that India does not have to accept food
from any country which accompanies its offers with political "strings,"
(b) the 26 April statement of Secretary-General Bajpai, Indian Ministry of
External Affairs, that UN Secretary-General Trygve Lie would serve no
useful purpose in visiting India this spring, and (c) the I May proclamation
convening a Constituent Assembly in Kashmir in defiance of the UN Security
Council Resolution of 30 March.
9. Comment on Prime Minister Mossadea's program:
Iranian Prime Minister Mossadeq presented
his cabinet to the Majlis on 3 May and stated that his government did not
believe it necessary to present an elaborate program to the Majlis. He
proposed, howe'Ver, to enforce the oil nationalization law, to use the proceeds
to support the government's economic policy of "promoting the welfare and
comfort of the people," and to amend the municipal and parliamentary election
laws. All of these points are consistent with Mossadeq's avowed political
convictions. As yet, however, even the Shah has indicated that he has no
Information as to the method by which Mossa.deq plans to implement
nationalization./
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
-141"rirr
-8
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
�
3.5(c)
T_pproved for !Release: 2-019/03/14 CO2003057
3.5(c)
3.3(11)(2)
� 9 -
3.3(h)(2)
TOP
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2003057
3.5(c)