CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/08/02

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02872250
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
7
Document Creation Date: 
July 15, 2019
Document Release Date: 
July 22, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
August 2, 1953
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15677503].pdf222.54 KB
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, - Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 TOP SE ET SECURI NFORMATION 2 August 1953 Copy Na. 67 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN ra 13 3 ALli H: :ri 7O2 - DATikl,,Qi!..17 REVIEWER: Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY z ,_sTec(4prymSS'rNo'N .7 toot _ 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) r4 Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 . .1. I Noe SECUItITY INFORMATION 3.5(c) SUMMARY GENERAL /USSR may not seek place in Korean political conference (page 3). SOUTHEAST ASIA 2. Viet Minh expands sabotage program in Tonkin (page 3). Or Indonesian Communists outline national front policy (page 4). NEAR EAST - AFRICA 4. Iranian Communists reportedly concentrate on agitation among the peasants (page 5). WESTERN EUROPE 5. New Communist moves expected to counter Berlin food relief program (page 5). 6. France plans to send additional metropolitan battalions to Indochina (page 6). 7. 3.3(h)(2) (page 7). * * * * -2 T ZS4 E T 2 August 53 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 Noe, I !Of ttU, 1 SECURITY INFORMATION 3.5(c) GENERAL 1. USSR may not seek place in Korean political conference: Soviet UN delegate Tsarapkin, in separate 3.3(h)(2) conversations on 31 July with a UN Secretariat member and a US delegate, pointed out that the Korean armistice agreement calls for a political conference "of both sides." He indicated his inability to understand the belief among UN delegates that the General Assembly had the specific responsibility for naming participants in the conference. Comment: These statements suggest that the USSR may wish to avoid playiTh'�Viii overt role in the political conference called for by the Korean armistice. Tsarapkin's remarks,after discussing alternative possibilities a few days earlier, probably reflect Moscow's instructions to express a preference for a limited conference. The Kremlin may consider that overt parti- cipation would have disadvantages overbalancing the propaganda opportunities of the forum. Its alliance with Peiping would require it to support fully China's demands concerning the UN and Formosa, and thus jeopardize its attempts to improve relations with the Western powers. The USSR may also calculate that it can better exploit differences among the non-Communist powers over Far Eastern questions from a flexible, behind-the-scenes position. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2. Viet Minh expands sabotage program in Tonkin: The chief of staff of the French air force in Tonkin, commenting on the sabotage of a military DC-3 at Gialam airfield near Hanoi by a time-bomb, states that Tonkin airfields can operate safely only by excluding all Indochinese personnel. The American consul notes that the pattern of sabotage has now been ex- tended to include all forms of communication in Tonkin. - 3 - 2 Allgust 53 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 1 r t�X, 1. Nee CURITY INFORMATION 3.5(c) Comment: The Viet Minh during the past few months has stepped up, its program of sabotage within the delta and has demonstrated improved techniques against rail and rbad communications and supply installations. The apparent ease with which such activities are conducted illustrates the fundamental insecurity of this heavily in- filtrated area. 3. Indonesian Communists outline national front policy: In outlining the program for such a government he included security measures against armed Moslem groups, imprisonment of pro-Western army elements who led the abortive coup of 17 October, increased governmental responsibility at a local level, nationalization of foreign enterprises, abrogation of the Netherlands-Indonesian Union, and the accession of Netherlands New Guinea. Comment: The draft program of the new Indonesian cabinet closely parallels the national front program outlined by the Communist central committee,providing another example of Communist influence in the present government. At the same time the Communists reportedly are increasing their capabilities fo*" paramilitary activity. An "elite," armed ;Communist group of undisclosed strength is believed to have been organized recently in Java, and other reports indicate extensive Communist infiltration of other dissident groups. 4 T T 2 August 53 3 .3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 ---- Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 -1 %Jr Z�....ax.c.,.1 Nue' SECURITY INFORMATION NEAR EAST - AFRICA 4. Iranian Communists reportedly concentrate on agitation among the peasants: Comment: Tudeh agitation was largely res- ponsible for the bloody clashes between landlords and peasants in the strategic Azerbaijan province last spring, a resurgent Tudeh is 'paying more attention to the organization of peasants. Widespread activity in the rural areas could create a serious problem for Iranian security forces, particularly since Prime Minister Mossadeq is now apparently accepting Tudeh support and may therefore not order necessary countermeasures. The rural areas are the strongholds of Mossadeq's conservative opposition. WESTERN EUROPE 5. New Communist moves expected to counter Berlin food relief program: 3.3(h)(2) American officials in Germany believe that the East German government may approach High Commissioner Conant, directly or through.,. Soviet officials, to demand the release of blocked East German funds in the United States for the purchase of food. Premier Grotewohl recently demanded release of the funds and said his government is willing to buy American food at world market prices. - 5 - TO>. SEET 2 August 53 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) 3. 3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 *tale 1 ki.r IK1, 1 SECURITY INFORMATION 3.5(c) US officials in Germany fear that any increased attempt to,publicize the American role in the Berlin food relief plan might be used as an excuse,not only for further Soviet intimidation of persons bringing food parcels across the border but also for the closing of the East-West Berlin border and for new interference with food shipments from West Germany into Berlin. Comment: Communist retaliation has so far been limited to isolated seizures of food and identity cards, pre- sumably because harsher measures would seriously 'Upset current Soviet conciliatory policies. Official ,r6quests to:I:much-ate food:from-the, blocked account might bolster the weak Communist propaganda response to the food program, even though the account totals only about $1,400,000. 6. France plans to send additional metropolitan battalions to Indochina: French commissioner general Dejean told 3.3(h)(2) Ambassador Heath in Saigon on 29 July that Paris has agreed to initiate the "Navarre plan," but cannot carry it out completely until funds are available. According to the reported decision, nine battalions will be sent from France on 1 October and the battalion now in Korea will be added if the UN Command consents. Additional cadres, non- commissioned officers, specialists and cargo planes will also be sent. Dejean pointed out, however, that these reinforcements and the formation of new Vietnamese battalions would not enable Navarre to undertake an all-out offensive in the next few months, but only a stepping up of limited offensive moves. Comment: Navarre is reported to have requested 15 battalions from France. The reinfok�cements now promised are not scheduled to leave France until the time autumn hostilities usually begin in Indochina. This policy of reinforcing Indochina, apparently a triumph for Foreign Minister Bidault, cannot be expected to survive over the long term unless the military situation undergoes marked improvement in the coming months, - 6 - TOP CRET 2 August 53 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250 �me IC.0 1 SECURITY INFORIviavrPUIN 3 r�N 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) 7. 7 2 August 53 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872250