CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/02/17

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02698155
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
7
Document Creation Date: 
May 24, 2019
Document Release Date: 
May 30, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
February 17, 1952
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15641968].pdf229.36 KB
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Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 Noe TOP SECRET SECURtflNFORMATIQN 17 February 1952 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Copy No. 49 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO. NO CHANGE IN CLASS. I ; DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO TS S NEXT REVIEW DATE: AUTI-4k H/0014 DATElle /. I REVIEWER 3.5(c) Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 Istfi.-SECRET 3.5(c) SUMMARY FAR EAST 1. Soviet air defense unit probably participating in Korean war (page 3). 2. Bombers of Chinese 8th Division leaving Manchuria (page 3). 3. Large-scale troop movements into Yunnan again reported (page 4). 4. French official states views on Indochina situation (page 4). 5. Burmese Cabinet shakeup expected (page 5). NEAR EAST - AFRICA 6. Cabinet change in Egypt rumored (page 6). LATIN AMERICA 7. Comment on proposal for partly-nationalized oil company in Venezuela (page 6). -2 TOP RET 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 IriP-SECRET 3.5(c) FAR EAST 1. Soviet air defense unit probably participating in Korean war: 3.3(h)(2) about mid-November 1951 an air defense commander subordinate to the Soviet 5th Fleet moved from the Port Arthur Naval Base to Antung, which controls Communist jet combat operations in northwestern Korea, At the same time, aircraft of a 5th Fleet fighter division appear to have moved from Port Arthur into the combat area and to have begun Begin- ning shortly thereafter, there were frequent Chinese Communist references to flights of "Soviet" MIG-15's in the combat area. 3.3(h)(2) Comment: This is the first indication of the direct participation of an air defense organization of the Soviet Armed Forces in Korean air operations. The 5th Fleet air defense officer in question � apparently continues to communicate with his Soviet superiors. It is probable that his presence in the Antung area represents either an attempt to give him and his personnel combat experience, or a measure to estab- lish closer Soviet control over that portion of the combat operations which are considered a Soviet responsibility. . Bombers of Chinese 8th Air Division leaving Manchuria: Eleven TU-2 light bombers of the Chinese 8th Air Division were scheduled to make a "transfer move" from Mukden to Panzfou, 100 miles northwest of Nanking, The t equipped with at least 34 TU-2's, has peen oaseu at u e Mukden West airfield. TC$13 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 Comment: 8th Division bombers made attempt to bomb a UN-held island off north- western Korea, but in general TU-2's have seldom appeared in combat. Aside from this division, there is only one operational light bomber regiment in Manchuria. 3. Large-scale troop movements into Yunnan again reported: 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) I large numbers of Chinese Communist troops I have been moving from Szechwan to Yunnan province, and also toward the southern border of Yunnan. Comment/ 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) At least 30,000 Chinese Communist troops have been accepted along the China-Burma border for several months. 4. French official states views on Indochina situation: The French Minister of Associated States, Letourneau, who has just completed an in- spection trip throughout Indochina, told the American Minister in Saigon that while the outlook is "by no means hopeless it is far from optimistic." He was discouraged by the performances of Bao Dai and Premier Huu, and had warned them that France might not continue its sacrifices unless the Vietnamese Government showed signs of improvement 4 SECT 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 TOP ET 3.5(c) Although Letourneau vehemently denied any possibility of a rapprochement with the Viet Minh, he carefully avoided comment on rumors that France might negotiate with the Peiping regime to cease its aid. Comment: Increasing popular dissatisfaction with the Vietnam Government," partl.cularly in the critical Tonkin delta region, has been evident in many recent reports. French commercial circles in Indochina are known to be in favor of reaching some arrangement with the Chinese Com- munists which would halt further aid to the Viet Minh. 5. Burmese Cabinet shakeup expected: The American Embassy in Rangoon reports 3.3(h)(2) that the Burmese Premier is expected soon to approve a Cabinet shakeup dictated by the Socialists. Changes are to include the instal- lation of Socialist Party leader U Ba Swe as Defense Minister and the appointment of Thakin Tin, chief author of the Land Nationalization Act, to the newly-created post of Minister for Land Nationalization. The Embassy comments that this reshuffle appears to promise a stronger Cabinet and that no change in foreign policy is indicated. Comment: Both U Ba Swe and Thakin Tin are self-admitted extreme leftists who have never concealed their anti- Western attitudes and their admiration of Communist China and the USSR. They also retain friendly relations with leaders of the pro-Communist Burma Workers and Peasants Party. The American Army Attache in Rangoon was recently informed that Commander in Chief Ne Win was opposed to an appointment of U Ba Swe as Defense Minister and that rumors of a coup were "cropping up" again among government officials. 5 TOP ET 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 Approved for Release: 2019%05/13 CO2698155 NEAR EAST - AFRICA 6. Cabinet change in Egypt rumored: 3.5(c) the 3.3(h)(2) present Egyptian Cabinet under Ali Maher may soon be replaced by a government headed by Hilali Pasha, a former high official in the powerful Wafd Party. If this should occur, Parliament would be dissolved and the country ruled by decree for several months. the rumored 3.3(h)(2) Hilali Cabinet would deal ruthlessly with Wald Party corruption. Positive concessions by Great Britain on the Suez base and Sudan issues might en- able Hilali to win popular support away from the Wafd Party. Comment: King Farouk would gain little ad- vantage now in dismissing the present government, which won the initial support of Egypt's major parties, including the Wafd, and which is in the good graces of the British Government. Since Ali Maher became Premier on 28 January, some student opposition has been noted, occasional terrorist activities have occurred, and the Wafd Party has made veiled threats to withdraw its support from the government. Hilali was rumored to be in line for the Egyptian premiership when the Wafd government was ousted on 27 January. If he should suddenly replace Ali Maher, he too would face the prospect of losing Wafd support and would almost necessarily be forced to dissolve Parliament, which the Wafd controls. Rule by decree would increase Egypt's internal problems, no matter who were Premier. LATIN AMERICA 7. Comment on proposal for partly-nationalized oil company in Venezuela: A newly-formed group of American business- men have petitioned the Venezuelan Government for oil concessions and - 6 - 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155 have offered that government partial control of any resulting operations. The group, appears to have considerable capital at its disposal and has taken the position that an arrangement such as it proposes "would be a palliative rather than a stimulus" to sentiment for nationalizing the industry. United States Embassy officials are ap- prehensive about the activities of this group. Although there has always been a latent re- sentment of foreign control of the oil industry, Venezuelan sentiment favoring nationalization has never found an influential spokesman either from the right or the non-Communist left. Venezuelans have been general- ly satisfied with the benefits accruing to the country from foreign develop- ment of its petroleum resources. The proposal for a partly-nationalized company therefore appears to be premature. There is no indication at present that the Venezuelan Government is particularly anxious to accept it, but 4ny publicity for the proposal might create a new focus for nationalistic senti- ments'. -7 TOP RET 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/13 CO2698155