CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/01/31

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02623665
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
May 24, 2019
Document Release Date: 
May 30, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
January 31, 1952
File: 
Body: 
� Approved for Release: 2019105113CO2623665. '4ftli TOP ET � '"ir SEC1Th1 INFORMATION 31 January 1952 Copy No. 4 9 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO. 2111�. NO CHANGE IN CLASS. 1 ; DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS iiirb de NEXT REVIEW DATE: 7 AUTH: FIR 7 DATE. ' � - Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TOP ET SEC INFORMATION REVIEWER: Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665 � � Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665 SUMMARY USSR 1. Soviet Union improves control of air defense in Far East (page 3). FAR EAST 2. France considering prohibition of Civil Air Transport flights over Indochina (page 3). NEAR EAST - AFRICA 3. Libyan unity threatened by King's attitude (page 4). 4. Inspector General of Greek Army removed (page 5). EASTERN EUROPE 5. Czechoslovakia and Poland reportedly seek to establish missions in Panama (page 5),I WESTERN EUROPE 6. Netherlands protests delay in receipt of US military equipment (page 6). � 2 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665 � Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665 1P -SECRET 3.5(c) USSR 1. Soviet Union improves control of air defense in Far East: 3.3(h)(2) a major communications change took place about 19 Ianuary which will facilitate centralized control of 5th Fleet Air Force and 9th Air Army fighter aircraft. Comment: Provision for closer central- ized control of the 5th Fleet and 9th Air Army fighter organizations will increase the efficiency of Soviet interceptor operations in the Vladivostok and Port Arthur areas. A trend toward closer coordination between Soviet tactical air units in the Far East has been underway since May 1951. Since that time increasingly frequent contacts and in some cases joint air exercises have been noted between the 9th Air Army and the 5th Fleet air arm based in the southern area, and between the 10th Air Army and the 7th Fleet air arm based in the area from Sakhalin northward. FAR EAST 2,, France considering prohibition of Civil Air Transport flights over Indochina: The French Foreign Office on 25 Sanuary called the attention of the High Commissariat in Saigon to "certain items of information" indicating that General Claire Chennault's Civil Air Transport planes were assisting it troops in northeastern Burma. The Commissariat - 3 - 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665 Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665 3.5(c) was instructed to warn the local representative of the company that its planes might be forbidden to fly over Indochina if they continued to carry supplies to the Nationalists. the Briash Foreign Office as believing that the United States could only agree to such a prohibition because of its categorical denials of involvement in Chinese Nationalist operations in Burma. Comment: France has been extremely sensitive to the activities of Chinese Nationalist troops in Southeast Asia, fearing that those in Burma as well as those interned in Indo- china might provoke a Chinese Communist invasion. Recently, the French Foreign Office acceded to a Burmese request to refuse any application for a transit visa for Indochina by General Li Mi, commander of the Chinese Nationalists in Burma. NEAR EAST - AFRICA 3. Libyan unity threatened by King's attitude: The Libyan King's preference for his native province of Cyrenaica and his apparent disinterest in the more important and heavily populated Tripolitania province endanger the prospects for a united Libya, according to the American Charge in Tripoli. The King seems unwilling or incapable of thinking of the country as a whole. Of the two cabinet ministers who have a true all-Libya outlook, one is definitely slated to go, while the other's tenure appears temporary. The Charge warns that American interests In the area will be jeopardized by the King's attitude since Tripolitania contains the important US air base, Whellus Field. He believes that the American, British and French representatives should press the King to accept his responsibilities toward all parts of his kingdom. - 4 - TC)JSEC1�.1' 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665 Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665 3.5(c) Comment: When Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and the Fezzan were united to create Libya in mid-December, separatist elements were considered a threat to its future. The elections in February will be a major test for the state which, without energetic federal leadership, faces an uncertain future. 4. Inspector General of Greek Army removed: The Inspector General of the Greek Army, General Kitrilakis, has been relieved "temporarily," on orders of the Minister of Defense. All remaining pro-Papagos officers reportedly are to be removed by May. Comment: The removal of Kitrilakis, a firm pporter ot opposition leader Marshal Papagos, is the result of the struggle for control of the armed forces which has already caused the ouster of several high-ranking pro-Papagos officers who are also pro-American. This action assumes serious proportions because it directly violates an understanding between the American army mission in Greece and Greek defense officials which provides for consultation on major changes in assignment of Greek army personnel. It is also indicative of increasing political manipulation within the army. EASTERN EUROPE 5. Czechoslovakia and Poland reportedly seek to establish missions in Panama Poland and Czechoslovakia reportedly desire to establish diplomatic missions in Panama. When questioned about the matter, the Panamanian Foreign Minister said that Czechoslovakia had not made an official approach, but - 5 - TOP ET 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665 Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665 C TE T 3.5(c) that the Polish representative in Mexico had formally requested an exchange of ministers, and had even submitted the name of the proposed chief of mission. The US Ambassador believes that he may have persuaded the Panamanian Government to refuse the Polish request. Comment: It was reported last September that the Czechoslovak Minister in Washington had made approaches to Panama for establishing official Czechoslovak representation � there. There are still, however, no diplomatic missions from the Orbit in that country. WESTERN EUROPE 6. Netherlands protests delay in receipt of US military equipment: The Netherlands has officially protested to American authorities the uncertainty of deliveries of US military equipment for the two Dutch divisions scheduled to take part in the SHAPE maneuvers next September. Officials state that serious political consequences are to be expected if the problem is not waved soon. The American Embassy at The Hague advises that, in view of the publicity given to Dutch participation in the maneuvers, the United States will be publicly blamed for any failure to deliver the promised aid on schedule. Furthermore, delay of the shipments would probably force the Dutch Government to reduce its conscription levies. This would deal a serious psycho- logical blow to the country's defense effort. Comment: Since last spring Dutchofficials have stated that a lack of equipment might delay fulfillment of their military commitments. In November,the Dutch hinted that "possi- bility of war in 1952" was the basis for their insistence on fielding fully equipped divisions for the SHAPE maneuvers. A later report shows that Dutch military leaders are now convinced of this possibility. - 6 - T e 11"Eri 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2623665