CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/04/01

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02733111
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
March 18, 2019
Document Release Date: 
March 28, 2019
Publication Date: 
April 1, 1951
File: 
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15587424].pdf169.41 KB
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Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  TO ET  1 April 1951  Copy No. -1  CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN  DOCUMENT NO,  NO CHANU7 iN CLASS.  I DCCI.AS:giED  CL CHANCq'T.I. TO: IS  NEXV DAP":  AUTH:taHR 70-4u  QATER4 r "41 REVIEWER  Office of Current Intelligence  CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY  TOP RET  dl  3.5(c)  .3.5(c)  3 5(c)  .1  3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  74.0)P CRET  3.5(c)  SUMMARY  GENERAL  Widespread UK and French sentiment for more conciliatory Western  position in four-power talks (page 3).  FAR EAST  3. Urgent air preparations being undertaken by enemy forces in Korea  (page 4).  EASTERN EUROPE  4. French Legation reports governmental crisis in Albania (page 5)  5. Soviet consulates in Yugoslavia closed (page 5).  -2  3.3(h)(2)  3.5(c)  3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  Tcoir  3.5(c)  GENERAL  1. Widespread UK ard French.L�..stir2atio..r_2E_e.m  position in four-power talks:  US Embassy London reports that the British  public, which has viewed the Soviet proposals  of 28 March as "a concession of considerable  importance," would become increasingly 3.3(h)(2)  critical of US policy should these proposals  not be accepted as a basis for discussion in  seeking to eliminate unacceptable features  of the revised Soviet agenda. The Paris  press has featured the alleged British feeling that the "ice is beginning  to melt" between the West and the USSR, and has emphasized that the  UK Government is trying to bring the US to a "more moderate policy" �  In the Far East while appearing to count on France to use similar in- fluence in Europe. The pro-government newspaper Figaro reported  in particular that�wide current British opinion" had observed that the  West "would be well advised" to renounce German rearmament, at  least for the near future.  Comment: The Soviet proposals of 30 March  -- introducing additional East-West issues -- are likely to produce  considerable public disillusionment in the UK and France, but will  not halt the rise in popular sentiment for a more conciliatory Western  position resulting from Gromyko's 28 March concessions.  3  3.3(h)(2)  3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  T Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  vfeid  FAR EAST  3. Urgent air preparations being undertaken by enemy forces in Korea:  Comment: According to previous indi- cations, for the past several months North Korean and Chinese Com- munist air units in Manchuria have been intensifying their training  activity, and have been nearing the conclusion of preparations for  combat. This recent information further confirms the impression  that an imminent, significant increase in combat air activity over Korea  is planned by the enemy.  3.5(c)  3.3(h)(2)  3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  - Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  Tcrikj  3.5(c)  EASTERN EUROPE  4. French Legation reports governmental crisis in Albania�  US Emb Belgrade The French Legation in Tirana reports that  30 Mar 1 disagreement among high-level government  SE T officials has broken out over implementation  of the harsh law against terrorist activities  decreed on 26 February as a result of the bombing of the Soviet Legation  on 19 February. The Minister of Justice, Dr. Manol Konomi, has reported- ly resigned in protest against the decree, which deprives the accused of  all legal rights and includes arbitrary arrest, trials in camera without  defense counsel, conviction without appeal, and execution immediately  after sentence. According to the French Legation, Konomi, Vice Premier  Tuk Jakova, and Major General Spiro Moisiu, commander of the Tirana  Garrison -- with the support of Premier Enver Hoxha � are sympathetic  with popular feelings against the decree. The Minister of Interior, Maj.  General Mehmet Shehu, who is generally regarded as the eventual suc- cessor to Hoxha, leads the opposing pro-Soviet faction. The Legation  reports that the divergence of views between the two groups explains  the tension prevailing in the ministerial residential quarter, which is  under military guard not only for security purposes but also because  several dissident ministers are reported to be confined to their homes.  The Legation concludes thatibecause of the profound domestic distur- bance, the Soviet grip on Albania has been accelerated and strengthened.  Comment! Other reports bear out the French  Legation's conclusion that Soviet influence and direction in Albania  have greatly increased during the past six months. Premier Hoxha  has been reported to be merely a figurehead in Albania. Shehu, on  thestney hand, has the reputation of being the leading agent of Soviet  policy in the country.  5. Soviet consulates in Yugoslavia closed:  US Embassy Belgrade reports that the 3.3(h)(2)  Yugosav Government has requested the  USSR to close its consulates in Zagreb  and Split and to remove their eight staff  members from Yugoslav territory immediately. The request was  based principally on the grounds of lack of reciprocity, since the USSR  3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  proved TLAP t Utei 1-  , for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111  does not permit Yugoslav consulates outside of Moscow. The Yugoslav  Government also noted that the Soviet consulates in Zagreb and Split  had no proper consular functions to justify their existence. According  to the US Embassy report, the Soviet Government has already complied  by closing the consulates and the Soviet personnel are preparing to  leave the country.  6  TOP CRET  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733111