CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/06/27

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02684312
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
5
Document Creation Date: 
May 24, 2019
Document Release Date: 
May 30, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
June 27, 1952
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15638361].pdf168.65 KB
Body: 
Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684312 '`�44e SEC INFORMATION 27 June 1952 Copy No, CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN WOMEN, NO CHANGE IN CLASS. )ir OECLASSIFVED CLASS. CHANGED TO:2N NEXT REVIEW DATE; AtiTH: HS 70-2 Office of Current Intelligence DATE; CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TOP SECRET � SECURIT NFORMATION REVIEWER: 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684312 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684312 'iv�OP S ET SUMMARY FAR EAST 1. Ten Chinese battalions reported in northwestern Tonkin (page 3). NEAR EAST - AFRICA Turkish ambassador urges Turkey be included in Middle East defense: talks (page 3). WESTERN EUROPE 3. Italy makes clandestine shipments of ball bearings to Czechoslovakia (page 4). 4. West German pressure for four-power talks increases (page 5). 5, Danish Government may fall if US aid is suspended (page 5). * * * * 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684312 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684312 tOP SECkth1f FAR EAST . Ten Chinese battalions reported in northwestern Tonkin: about ten Chinese Communist battalions, each numbering from 200 to 300 men, are now active in northwestern Tonkin. These units, n cooperation with the Viet Minh, have clashed with French- supported guerrillas, and for the first time dead combatants have definitely been identified as Chinese. the Chinese probably entered Indochina to stop French interference with the opium trade, and that this is not a "serious Chinese invasion." Comment: There is as yet insufficient Information to judge whether these Chinese troops are provincial or regular forces and whether their operations will be confined to this relatively remote area of Tonkin. Three Chinese battalions were reported to have entered the same area about 13 May and to have withdrawn several weeks later. NEAP E.AST - AFRICA 2, Turkish Ambassador urges Turkey be included in Middle East defense talks: ,��������������� The Turkish Ambassador in London believes that the Acheson-Eden-Schuman conversa- tions may include Middle East defense and he has urged his government to "demand" that Turkey participate in any discussions on this subject. The Ambassador suggested that if the three powers do notagree to its participation, Turkey should insist on being given the opportunity to express its opinions on any decision. TOP LECRET 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684312 Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684312 Comment: The British have been working on a new version of the Middle East Command which they plan to pre- sent to France, Turkey and the interested dominions. Turkey, a sponsor of the proposed Middle East Command, has been critical of the manner in which its estab- lishment has been discussed. WESTERN EUROPE 3. Italy makes clandestine shipments of ball bearings to Czechoslovakia: Ian Italian firm is sending a shipment of ball bearings at the end of May. This consignment was to be sent as "luggage." Another shipment was to be sent on12 June to Basel, and from there by airplane to Czechoslovakia. Comment: Despite Italian assurances that exports to Czechoslovakia of International List I bearings would be held up pending United States consideration of these items as a possi- ble exception to the Battle Act, clandestine shipments are being made. The Czech-Italian trade agreement now in effect calls for supplying Czechoslovakia with 1.4 million dollars worth of List I bearings, which Italy has refused to ship since 1951. smuggling from Italy to Czechoslovakia during the last six months of such other strategic items as cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten and nickel. - 4 - TOP S ET Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684312 Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684312� rt-OP SECRJT 3.5(c) 4. West German pressure for four-power talks increases: There is a growing demand among political circles in West Germany for four-power discussions on German unification. This trend, which was touched off by press re- ports that France wants immediate discus- sions, was given further impetus by the recent postponement of German ratification of the Bonn-Paris treaties. Meanwhile, East German Foreign Affairs Minister Dertinger is quoted in an East Berlin newspaper as stating that the Western powers may yield to popular pressure for such talks, but will attach unacceptable conditions. 5. Danish Government may fall if US aid is suspended: anish Foreign Minister Kraft has told the merican Ambassador that his government y fall and that Denmark may have to re- Lew its entire foreign policy if MSA aid is stopped as a consequence of Denmark's delivering to the USSR a tanker recently completed under the 1948 trade agreement The Danes have agreed to postpone delivery for a few days. Kraft believes that the opposition Social Democratic Party could not assume power in these circumstances and still support NATO. 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) Comment: The United States requested Denmark to delay the delivery of the ship until late 1953, as scheduled in the agreement, or until the end of the Korean conflict, whichever is later. When Deninark replied that Soviet merchant marine officers were already on board the vessel, the United States warned on 25 June that if the tanker were delivered, the US would have to apply the Battle Act and probably terminate aid. 5 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684312