CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/01/20

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02064893
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: January 20, 1953

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20 Sanuary 1953
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
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CLASS. CHANGED 10:
l'slEY.T REVIEW ONCE:
AUTH: B 70-2
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REVIEWER:
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Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
I, Russian newspapermen emphasize need for Eisenhower-Stalin
meeting (page 3).
2. Western tires transshipped to China via Lebanon (page 3).
SOVIET UNION
3. Soviet civilian guard functions transferred to MGB (page 4).
4. GCI equipment possibly employed in Chultotsk (page 4).
FAR EAST
5. Troop strength in South China may have been reduced (page 5).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
6. Mossadeq reportedly optimistic over oil settlement (page 5).
WESTERN EUROPE
7. Icelandic Foreign Minister postpones negotiations on military
facilities (page 6).
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GENERAL
1, Russian newspapermen emphasize need for Eisenhower-Stalin meeting;
reporters em-
phasized the necesst y an Eisenhower-
talin meeting. They pointed out the need for secrecy in the prep-
arations, intimating that the British and French should be excluded.
Comment: Soviet UN delegate Zorin,
referring to the Reston letter to Stalin as "obviously inspired" and
as mentioning a "new approach" to peace in Korea, recently stated
that the Soviet Government would be interested in learning what the
United States had in mind. Other Communist officials have hinted
indirectly at the importance of Stalin's indication that he would wel,
come a meeting with Eisenhower,.
2. Western tires transshipped to China via Lebanon:
A shipment of 784 sets of Western truck
tires from a Lebanese firm was included
in the cargo of two Polish-flag ships en
route to China in December,
Comment:
Lebanon iileing used as a transshipment
center for goods destined for Communist China.
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SOVIET UNION
3. Soviet civilian guard functions transferred to MGR:
/a widespread
reorganization of the civilian guard system.
of various ministries throughout the USSR,
It is believed that this responsibility has
nOw been tranerred to the Chief Directorate of Militia. The
guards presumably will be given other work within their respective
ministries, released to the Ministry of Labor reserves, or trans-
ferred to the militia.
Comment: Transfer of this function to
the Militia would be a furticetep in the trend toward centraliza-
tion of all internal police powers in the Ministry of State Security.
Heretofore the responsibility of guarding
the various industrial installations in the USSR has been the duty
of the ministry concerned with the particular enterprise.
4. GCI equipment possibly employed in Chukotsk:
rnmen soviet air teiense capabiLities
in the Chukotsk would be gi-Wrmproved by the efficient employ-
ment of GCI equipment.
Other recently noted evidence of strength-
ened air defenses in this area includes the deployment of jet fighters
to Provideniya and the improvement of air defense communications,
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FAR EAST
5. Troop strength in South China may have been reduced:
The American Consul General at Hong
Kong believes that many Chinese Com-
munist troop movements in South China
coastal areas are intended to conceal a
lack of strength further inland. He cites
apparently unnecessary movements of troops along the border of
Hong Kong and Macao as evidence of some sort of deceptive plan�
Comment: There are indications that
Chinese Communist troop strength along the South China coast
has been greatly reduced in recent months. At least three of the
armies stationed in Kwangtung and Fukien Provinces in early
1952 have recently been reported in Korea. Another Chinese
Communist Army completed a move from the mainland to Hainan
Island last fall.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
6. Mossadeq reportedly optimistic over oil settlement:
Minister of Court Ala told Ambassador
Henderson on 18 January that Prime
Minister Mossadeq was optimistic over
progress toward an oil settlement, but
that he was disturbed by internal political squabbling.
Ala stated that the Shah's relations with
Mossadeq have improved and that the Shah believes an oil settle-
ment with him would have more authority than one with another
Prime Minister.
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Comment: It is unlikely that an oil
settlement will soon be reached. Mossadects distrust a the
British and of his political opposition will lead him to a minute
examination of plans to end the dispute lest they appear to con-
tain concessions which could be used against him.
WESTERN EUROPE
7. Icelandic Foreign Minister postpones negotiations on military
The Icelandic Foreign Minister has
concluded that it would be unwise to
grant the United States request for
additional military facilities before the
general elections in Iune. He is convinced that any pre-election
concessions would "materially" strengthen the Communist Party.
American Minister Lawson believes
that any further protests by him would avail little and that a
last resort approach through NATO is "decidedly questionable."
Comment: The Communists, who
control about 20 percent of the electorate, consistently try to
exploit the widespread xenophobia of the Icelanders. Communist
influence and strength is furthered by the fact that the Social
Democrats enjoy little support from labor.
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