CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/11/06

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02739304
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: April 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 22, 2019
• Publication Date: November 6, 1951

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SECURI FORMATION
6 November 1951
Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLET
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: T
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: IR
47
DAT
EVT-W7-1
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SEC INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
FAR EAST
1. "Aerial no-man's land" reported over northwestern Korea (page 3).
2. Burmese Communists and Karen insurgents reportedly sign agreement
(page 3).
3. De Lattre threatens to resign (page 4).
NEAR EAST
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3.3(h)(2)
WESTERN EUROPE
8. USSR apparently seeking four-power discussion of Berlin trade problems
(page 6).
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FAR EAST
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1. "Aerial no-man's land" reported over northwestern Korea: 3.3(h)(2)
The inability of UN medium bombers to venture
north of the Chongchon River in northwestern
Korea in daylight hours is cited by the Far East
�
Command as demonstrating the loss of UN air
superiority in this area.
The Far East Command states, however, that
the "relative freedom of action" enjoyed by high-performance UN jet aircraft
over northwestern Korea has in turn prevented the Communists from
achieving effective air superiority, in effect establishing an "aerial no-man's
land. "
Comment: Loss of air superiority north of
the Chongchon River has caused the UN to resort to night medium bomber and
fighter-bomber missions in 4n attempt to continue the neutralization of the
airfields at Taechon, Namsi and Saamchan. The Communists are continuing
to augment their antiaircraft defenses at these fields, and considerable con-
struction work continues in the repair and extension of runways.
2. Bur/nese Communists and Karen insurgents reportedly sign agreement:3.3(h)(2)
The US Charge in Rangoon was told by the
British Ambassador that the Karen insurgents
in the Irrawaddy Delta have just signed an agree-
ment to cooperate with the Burmese Communist
Party.
Comment: If this report is correct, Commu-
nist capabilities in Burma will have been greatly increased at a critical
moment. Coordinated action by the numerous Karen rebels in the rice-rich
delta area of southern Burma would facilitate the achievement of the Bur-
mese Communists' current objective -- control of northern Burma, including
territory adjacent to Communist China.
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The British Foreign Office regards the situation
in Burma with considerable concern and has recently suggested a joint
American-British effort to assist the Burmese Government in reaching a
settlement with the Karens. The American and British Embassies in Ran-
goon, however, believe such an approach unwise, citing extreme Burmese
sensitivity to the Karen insurgency as reflected in Premier Thakin Nuts 29
October statement that Burma would not accept mediation.
3. De Lattre threatens to resign: 3.3(h)(2)
General de Lathe, in a conversation with US
Minister Heath, detailed a long list of dis-
graceful activities in which Premier Huu was
engaged. The General, for the first time
in Indochina, seemed tired and depressed and said that he
was sacrificing his health in remaining there. He stated that, if he "had any
real difficulties" with Huu, he would offer his resignation as High Commissioner
and publicly expose the intolerable inefficiency and corruption of the Huu
government.
Comment: This is the first time that De
Lattre is known to have consiagied resigning or evidenced any lack of self-
confidence in dealing with problems in Indochina. Unless his health has been
more severely strained than has been reported, it is not believed that he will
resign at this time.
NEAR EAST
3.
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this question and thereby, as in the case of Iran, maintain its role of cham-
pioning the rights of small nations and former colonial peoples.
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WESTERN EUROPE
8. USSR apparently seeking four-power discussion of Berlin trade problems: 3.3(h)(2)
East German trade officials have told their West
German counterparts that they are now forbidden
by the Soviet authorities to discuss restrictions
on West Berlin trade. The East Germans admit
that this marks a definite change in the Soviet
position from the time the interzonal trade agree-
ment was signed on 20 September. They declare
that the restrictions can now be discussed only on
four-power level.
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The Western Allies are prepared to open trade
discussions with the Soviet authorities, but only after suspension of the inter-
zonal trade agreement, a step on which Chancellor Adenauer's views are
awaited. West Berlin officials, claiming that economic difficulties are begin-
ning to be evident in Berlin, believe that immediate steps should be taken to
increase the airlift of exports. Meanwhile, confirmation has been received
that the Rothensee canal lock in East Germany has been opened, removing one
of the obstacles to barge traffic from Berlin.
Comment: At the signing of the interzonal trade
agreement, the East Germans made an oral pledge that certain devices to
harass Berlin trade would be abandoned. Prior to this time, they honored
this promise only to the extent of reducing the tax on truck traffic to Berlin.
If the Soviet authorities have now denied the East Germans any jurisdiction
over trade restriction, the purpose might be to give the USSR a free hand to
use the restrictions as one of several levers to impede progress toward the
integration of Germany into the West, and particularly to force four-power
negotiations on this issue.
The Rothensee canal lock, now open for the
first time since last January, will not be of much immediate use to the West,
as the canal is normally closed because of ice by mid-December.
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