CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/04/19

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02733116
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
7
Document Creation Date: 
March 18, 2019
Document Release Date: 
March 28, 2019
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Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
April 19, 1951
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15587414].pdf311.44 KB
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.41 Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 000, v*.ird RET 19 April 1951 Copy No. e-T CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 3.5(c) ECtA,,.1,i ;140. NO CI.IANGE IN CLASS. y Li DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO; TS � e NEXT REVIEW DATE: ALITH:h e24,10 DATE! 7 REVIEWER 3.5(c).. Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 ET SUMMARY FAR EAST 1. Viet Minh military preparations in northwest Tonkin (page 3). SOUTH ASIA NEAR EAST - AFRICA 3. Iranian Prime Minister plans strong measures (page 4). 4. "Unhealthy" political situation reported in Tripoli, North Africa (page 5). EASTERN EUROPE 5. Soviet twin-jet bombers observed in Poland and East Gegmany (page 5). 6. US information program faces elimination in Poland (page 6). WESTERN EUROPE 7. Austrians concerned over signs of increasing Soviet aggression (Page 7). Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) pproved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 FAR. EAST 3.5(c) Viet Minh military pre arations in northt..TonkiLu..3.3(h)(2) The Assistant US Delilitary Attache in Indochina reports that French forces have reoccupied cer- tain,strategic,posts in the Tonkin delta area that had been seized by the Viet Minh two weeks ago and have repulsed Viet-Minh attacks of varying strength in other parts Of the delta. Meanwhile, Viet Minh forces in the rugged mountain country some 150 miles to the northwest have been preparing to attack the French- held post of Laichau, The Attache states that French.officials believe this operation is intended as a "face-saving" venture to compensate for the failure of recent-Viet Minh attacks the -delta. The Chinese Com- munist battalion that entered Indochina above Laichau two weeks ago is apparently still occupying the post of Phongtho arid vicinity, but the At- tache sees no indications that a large-scale invasion is imminent. Comment: The post of Laichau is significant only as the focus of converging trails and as a barrier to a.hostile in- vasion launched from Yunnan Orovince, China. It is located in a country of dense forests and 10, 000-fclot mountain peaks and inhabited by primi- tive Thai tribesmen of anti- Viet Minh and anti-Chinese sentiments -- fac- tors that would not facilitate a large-scale .Chinese Communist invasion in this area. Although the Chinese force at Phongtho has been reliably identified as Communist, the French have interpreted the situation as being only "a little bit more than a frontier affair," The French conten- tion that the Viet Minh is planning action against Laichau for face-Saving purposes is the latest of several different theories attempting to explain enemy activity in this area. 3.3(h)(2) SOUTH AKA� TOPSECRET Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 3.5(c) ,�pproved:or Release: 2.6-1...C/03/14 CO2733116 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) NEAR EAST - AFRICA 3. Iranian Prime Minister plans strong measures: Prior to receiving a vote of confidence from Parliament's lower house on 17 April, Prime Minister Hussein Ala informed US Ambassa- dor Grady that the situation in Iran was im- proving and that, if his appointment were confirmed by the lower house he would undertake strong measures to suppress the increasingly open activities of the pro-Soviet Tudeh Party. Ala said he was concerned about UK action in the present crisis and stated that the Shah also felt that the UK was not only undermining the present government but the Shah as well. In this connection, Ala pressed strongly his belief that no UK frigates should be sent to Abadan. 3.3(h)(2) jLComment� Although the vote a confidence increases the stability of the government, Alats optimism is not echoed by other reports from Iran which state that the situation continues to be critical. Despite the imposition of martial law in the southern oil fields, the appeals of various political leaders (including National Front member Mulla Kashani) to the strikers to return to -work and the reported agree- ment by many strikers to do so, the _majority of workers reportedly 3.3(h)(2), remain out, AOC officials report that "absenteeism" has spread to company labor at the Abadan airport TOP ET --"Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 3.5(c) ,pproved for Release: 2.9p/03/14 CO2733116 4. "Unhealthy" political situation reported in Tripoli. North Africa: In a 17_April report, US Consul Lynch in Tri- poli described the local political situation as "mast. unhealthy. " He commented that while the new Tripolitanian Government probably contains the best available persons, there is no effective political or- ganization. The most determined opposition group is led by Bechir Bey Saadawi, who is reportedly bang subsidized by Egypt and whose "line" coincides with that of the local Communists, Saadawi has engaged in rabble-rousing inflammatory speeches against the US, in which he as- serted that the "imperialistic Americans" are preparing to exploit Libya as an airbase. 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) Comment: For some time,. the opportunistic Saadawi, who has effective connections in Egypt, has been a consistent and vocal critic of the present government in Tripolitania. US dif- ficulties in acquiring land for enlarging its facilities at Wheelu.s Field (5 miles east of Tripoli) have provided him with a pretext for his anti- American propaganda. He has likewise exploited for propaganda purposes the recent dissatisfaction and confusion created in Tripolitania in con- nection with the formation of a Libyan state (of which Tripolitania is a part). EASTERN EUROPE 5. Soviet twin- et bombers observed in Poland and East German 3.3(h)(2) )fl 14 April seven 3.3(h)(2) Soviet "Type 27" twin-jet bombers were sighted On the Soviet-occupied airfield at Brzeg, in southern Poland, The US Air Force comments that these planes may be enroute to East Ger- 3.3(h)(2) many, possibly to join units of the 80th Bomber Corps of the Soviet 24th Air Army. It further suggests that the planes may remain at Brze temporarily to participate in the May Day air show over Warsaw. P 3 3(h)(2) observed twin-jet aircraft flying north of Berlin on 6, 7 and 9 April - 5 - Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 ,Comment: The "Type 27" is believed to be the first jet bomber produced in numbers by the USSR. Its combat radius Is estimated at about 500 nautical miles, with a bomb, load of 4400 poundi. It represents a considerable improvement in range and capacity over the conventional bombers now bei erated b uro e. 3.5(c) 6. US information program elimination � � The US Embassy in Warsaw reports that the 3.3(h)(2) Polish Security Police have threatened serious reprisals if USIEgs Polish librarian does not surrender a complete list of the library's pat- rons for an official investigation to begin on 18 April. The list of 839 borrowers includes many of Poland's outstanding professional, religi- ous, scientific and former political leaders who have maintained library membership as a means of continuing intellectual relations with the West. The Security Police agent who approached the Polish USIE li- brarian stated that the US information program in Poland would probably be completely eliminated within six months. The US Ambassador, who has taken precautions to safeguard the list, notes that if it fell into the hands of the Security Police, the careers and possibly the lives of the individuals concerned would be placed in the gravest jeopardy. Comment: This is the most drastic step that the Polish Government has taken against USIE so far and indicates the government's intention to sever all intellectual and cultural contacts , between Poland and the West. Since the first of the year, the Security Police have engaged in a sporadic, but ineffective, campaign of 'harass- ment against USIE patrons. With respect to Soviet Orbit countries, USIE Is still able to conduct a curtailed form of activity in the USSR, Poland and Hungary. 6 Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 Eit;rtra WESTERN EUROPE Austrians : Austrian Minister of the Interior Helmer has 33(h)(2) 3.5(c) informed the US Legation in Vienna of his fears that the LISSR is quietly building up Soviet troop strength in Austria, and he cited a number of recent indications as proof of this build-up. Helmer appeared particu- larly disturbed, however, by the recent wave of Soviet abductions and is convinced that a "vigorous reaction" by the Austrian Government is required to prevent the demoralization of the eastern zone population and the security forces. Comment: Helmer's statements about a Soviet troop build-up, which are not confirmed, may represent an attempt to alert US officials to the seriousness of the situation in which he finds himself vis-a-vis the Soviet Occupation element as a result of his recent sweeping dismissal of Communists from the Austrian police force. Nevertheless, Austrian alarm over growing Soviet intransigence and its consequences for Austrian control of the eastern zone is sincere. 7 Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733116 3.5(c)