CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/03/18

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02046563
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
8
Document Creation Date: 
May 24, 2019
Document Release Date: 
May 30, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 18, 1952
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15638340].pdf275.36 KB
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� Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 602046563 TOP b .40 SECURITPtNFORMATION � 18 March 1952 Copy No. 4 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN . DOCUMENT NO. 2- 0 NO CHANGE IN CLASS, If . DEcLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGE') 10 T L c NExT AUTH: HR 70-2 Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TOP ET SECU INFORMATION Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 TOP SECRET 3.5(c) SUMMARY FAR EAST 1. Communists may expand propaganda to include chemical warfare in Korea (page 3). 2. Chinese harass British business interests (page 3). 3. Deteriorating conditions in south Burma reported (page 4). NEAR EAST - AFRICA 4. Turkey refuses to attend Pakistani-sponsored Moslem conference (page 6). 5. Egypt seeks Turkish mediation in Anglo-Egyptian dispute (page 6). 6. Resident General in Tunisia threatens resignation (page 7). WESTERN EUROPE 7. Pro-Italian extremists threaten disorders in Trieste (page 7). 8. French tend to discount present Russian threat to western Europe (page 8). * * * 3.5(c) TOP Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 TOP RET 3.5(c) FAR EAST 1. Communists may expand propaganda to include chemical warfare in Korea: A 13 March message from a North Korean unit in a rear area reports: "On 7 March the enemy used chemical weapons. . . (they) were white colored powder, which are soluble n wa er. t is s!ld that when one drinks the water. . he will be killed Instantaneously. This has been discovered by the medical section of the Volunteer troops stationed here." 3.3(h)(2) Comment: Previous Communist propaganda charges against the UN have been preceded by similar "reports," The alleged � discovery of a toxic chemical by a Chinese Communist unit may indicate that China is taking the initiative in expanding the campaign to include chemical warfare. 2. Chinese harass British business interests: British interests in Shanghai face a crisis following the arrest last week of a leading British firm's principal representative. His detention reportedly was for failure to pay employees of an affiliate whose business has been paralyzed by the anti- corruption campaign. Officials of the British-American Tobacco Company are now expecting the arrest of their Shanghai manager for failure to meet extortionate demands. The company has already written off its 25 million dollar China investment and has declared that It will not remit additional funds regardless of reprisals which may be taken against its 20 executives remaining in China. 3.3(h)(2) At a meeting in Hong Kong, officials of British firms agreed to recommend "to London" not to, yield to extortionate Chinese demands regardless of consequences to executives caught in " China. - 3 - TOP SERET Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 WP-56EUlitl. 3.5(c). Comment: There is a general conviction among the British that their China investments must be abandoned. How- ever, they are still anxious to maintain trade relations with the Commu- nists, subject to export restrictions on the more strategic commodities. China is Hong Kong's principal customer and British-flag ships outnumber those of any other foreign registry in the China trade. 3. Deteriorating conditions in south Burma reported: 3.3(h)(2) The rapid deterioration of law and order in Mergui District, in southern Burma, is leading inevitably to insurgent control over the entire Tenasserim Division, in the opinion of a The population is reported to be either apathetic or sympa e ic o e ocal Karen and Communist rebels, (See map) Comment: The tenuousness of the Burmese Government's hold on Tenassertm and the hostile attitude of the people are confirmed by several other reports. This situation is emphasized by the Karen capture for a few hours last December of the important port of Mergui, during which time they shot the Bur man District Com- missioner. Other reliable sources have indicated increasing unrest in the Victoria Point-Ratong area, which is suspected of being a center for smuggling out tin, wolfram, and rubber -- possibly in return for arms. Moreover, these reports have been received simultaneously with information that Communists from Malaya have been establishing themselves in the nearby Sadao-Betong area of southern Thailand, although there is no indication of a connection between Communist activities in the two areas. TOP SECTT Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 *le SECURITY/INFORMATION BURMA Rangoon THAILAND INDIAN 0 C E AN Tavo Victoria Point (61 anong TENASSERIM DIVISION TIN & WOLFRA1.11 ?AMES 259 Statute Miles Wangkok GULF OF SIAM -. � L"--Seadao Betong . MALAYA SKET Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 TdP CRET 3.5(c) NEAR EAST - AFRICA 4. Turkey refuses to attend Pakistani-sponsored Moslem conference: The Turkish Foreign Office has informed the Pakistani Charge in Ankara that the Turkish Government would not participate in a confer- ence of Islamic states which is being sponsored by the Pakistani Government, The Turkish Foreign Minister reported that as a result of Turkey's nonacceptance, Afghanistan would also probably decline the invitation. He added that the Lebanese Government had characterized the Pakistani proposals as "Utopia." Comment: Zafrullah, Pakistani Foreign Minister, discussed the idea of periodic consultations on questions of mutual interest during his recent tour of the Middle East. Turkey's refusal to attend the Islamic confer- ence underscores its determination not to engage in regional politics based on the Moslem religion. The Turkish attitude may seriously reduce the effectiveness of the conference. 3.3(h)(2) 5. Egypt seeks Turkish mediation in Anp)-Egyptian dispute: I Turkey' s -help, whether it be called "mediation" or "good offices," was needed in promoting an agreement with Britain. The Turkish Govern- ment replied that it must be informed of the details of any Egyptian proposal. Comment: /the Turkish Foreign Minister believes that Turkey can be more useful by "counseling the two parties" than by intervening directly. 6 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 -1UP " HET 3.5(c) Egypt has periodically indicated its interest in obtaining American intervention in the dispute, but the United States has refused to become involved. Iraqi and Saudi Arabian offers to mediate have met with little success. 6. Resident General in Tunisia threatens resignation: the French Resident General Hauteclocque threatened to resign if the Pinay government did not fully support his concrete reform policy, which, he said, had been approved by the preceding cabinet. Comment: a "substantial" progra %AL 11%0 W negotiations with Tunisia will be submitted to the French Cabinet this week. Nevertheless, while the French no longer seek Prime Minister Chenik's removal as a prerequisite for negotiations, they are still unable to establish a "useful" contact in the Bey's cabinet. WESTERN EUROPE 7. Pro-Italian extremists threaten disorders in Trieste: 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) Police authorities in Trieste have warned that "the most serious threat to public order for the past three years" will occur on 20 March, the date set by pro-Italian elements for demon- strations marking the anniversary of the 1948 tripartite declaration advo- cating the return of the entire Free Territory to Italy. There are indications that the neo-Fascist Italian Social Movement will try to whip up anti-Yugoslav feeling and provoke incidents serious enough "to focus the attention of the world on the Trieste problem." - 7 - TOP ET 3.5(c; Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 ,Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563 OY fthf 3.5(c) Comment: These planned demonstrations are not likely to get out of handL The Italian Government hopes unofficially that they will convince world opinion that blame for failure to settle the Trieste issue rests on the Western powers. The activities of the local Italian Social Movement reflect the growing aggressiveness of this party in Italy. 3.3(h)(2) 8. French tend to discount present Russian threat to western Europe: The Assistant Director of Political Affairs in the French Foreign Ministry speculates that the recent Russian note on German unity may reflect a Soviet decision to abandon any im- mediate design of military aggression in western Europe. He believes that the tempo of Western rearmament may have temporarily discouraged the Russians, particularly since they feel that in any event time is on their side. Comment: While the Foreign Office has no Illusions on ultimate Soviet aims, speculation of this sort appeals to a majority of Frenchmen in view of the country's critical financial situation. Consequently, there is real danger that responsible French officials may agree with the Belgian Premier, who recently stated that "nobody believes western Europe is now in danger of Soviet military aggression." -8 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2046563