CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/09/12

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02872271
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: September 12, 1953

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12 September 1953
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO 1
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
D DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S.
NEXT REVIEW DATE. 200 9
AUTH: FIR 70-2
11)6T:69//4/7-9 REVIEWER:.
Office of Current Intelligence
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
SOUTHEAST ASIA
I. Comment on Cambodian attitude toward Viet Minh (page 3).
SOUTH ASIA
Comment on Communist victory in Nepalese elections (page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
ibiaen attempt to ctivert J oraan river creates new crisis (page 5).
WESTERN EUROPE
Reports of Soviet troop withdrawals from Austria appear
unfounded (page 5).
Pella states Italian occupation of Zone A must precede round-table
conference on Trieste (page 6).
LATIN AMERICA
8. Guatemalan exiles apparently uniting under foreign guidance for
attack on Arbenz government (page 6).
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SECURITY INFORMATION
SOUTHEAST ASIA
1.
Comment on Cambodian attitude toward Viet Minh:
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Cambodian premier Penn Nouth stated
on
10 September that
his government had "no quarrel with com-
munism so long as it does not attempt to impose itself by force
on our people." He also promised Viet Minh elements in Cam-
bodia that they would not be pursued if they returned to Vietnam.
Penn Nouth's attitude is entirely con-
sistent with the Cambodian view that the Viet Minh is a Vietnamese
problem which has to a small extent involved Cambodia; there are
perhaps as many as 1,000 regular Viet Minh troops in Cambodia.
The three Associated States have consistently maintained isola-
tionist attitudes with respect to each other. Cambodian and Laotian
troops are under no obligation to serve outside Cambodia and can-
not be expected to join in the fighting against the Communists in
Vietnam.
SOUTH ASIA
2. Comment on Communist victory in Nepalese elections:
The unexpected Communist victory in
the 9 September municipal council elections in Katmandu, capital
and only important city of the strategic border state of Nepal,
indicates greater voting strength and a greater degree of cohesion
than the Nepalese Communist Party has previously demonstrated.
The Communists ran as individuals rather
than as members of their party, which is banned, and won six of
the 18 seats in the council, more than the number won by any party.
With the probable help of the National Congress Party, which won
four seats, they will be in a position to control the council on many
issues.
It is likely that both Prime Minister
Koirala and the Indian government will take steps to curtail Com-
munist influence in the council, though their ability effectively to
suppress it entirely is doubtful.
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5. Israeli attempt to divert Jordan river creates new crisis:
General Bennike, the chief of staff of
the UN Truce Supervision Organization,
is disturbed at Israel's attempt to dam
and divert the Jordan river in the de-
militarized zone near the Syrian border. According to Ambassador
Moose in Damascus, Bennike fears that without the support of the
US and the other Western powers his position will be undermined
If he issues a judgment unfavorable to Israel.
� Comment: Syrian-Israeli relations
have entered a critical stage during the last 10 days as a result
of the new construction project. Israeli spokesmen have insisted
that the dam will not lessen the volume of water currently available
to the Arabs, but UN observers believe that Israel is attempting to
divert the water to its own territory.
Both countries have posted guards in the
general area. Damascus authorities, moreover, have indicated
that they plan to take the new dispute to the Security Council if
General Bennike's decision should favor Israel.
WESTERN EUROPE
6. Reports of Soviet troop withdrawals from Austria appear unfounded:
American embassy and military observers
in Austria have seen no reliable evidence
that Soviet forces are to be withdrawn from
Austria. Minor movements of Soviet troops
have been going on within that country during the past few weeks, but
the number of troops in Austria is believed to be substantially un-
changed.
Comment: Recent reports of Soviet troop
withdrawals from Austria may have grown out of misinterpretations
of normal summer maneuvers or of the confirmed withdrawals from
interzonal checkpoints.
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7. Pella states Italian occupation of Zone A must precede round-table
conference on Trieste:
Premier Pella told Ambassador Luce on
9 September that he would not object to a
round-table conference of interested par-
ties on the Trieste issue provided Italy
would participate on an equal basis with Yugoslavia. "Equality"
he explained would involve Italian occupation but not annexation of
Zone A of the Free Territory. He also said that Yugoslav claims
were now too excessive for him to negotiate directly with Tito.
Pella also complained that the Allies'
so-called "impartiality" toward Italy, a member of NATO, and
the Communist dictatorship in Yugoslavia could be interpreted
by the Italian public only as partiality for Tito.
The premier also stated that only 4,100
Italian troops had been disposed near the Yugoslav frontier since
29 August, and that all would be pulled back gradually after Italian
public opinion had calmed down.
Comment: On 7 September a spokesman
for Pella told Ambassador Luce that a de facto occupation of Zone A
by Italy would pave the way for Tito-Pella negotiations. The day be-
fore, however, Tito had stated categorically that Yugoslavia could
not accept such an occupation.
LATIN AMERICA
8. Guatemalan exiles apparently uniting under foreign guidance for
attack on Arbenz government:
Anti-Communist governments of the
Caribbean area are demanding that
Guatemalan exiles in El Salvador and
Honduras come to an agreement among
themselves before financial and military
assistance will be granted,
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some arms have already been smuggled into northern Guatemala,
but financial assistance is needed before more can be sent in.
It is also planned to obtain three fighter planes from the United
States by having a "friendly country," possibly El Salvador, re-
quest them through diplomatic channels for "training purposes."
Comment: Conflicting ambitions among
the Guatemalan exiles have heretofore hampered their plans to
overthrow the Arbenz regime and were probably responsible for
the failure of a revolt in March. Present plans appear to be still
preliminary.
certain Caribbean governments, long concerned over the Communist
trend in Guatemala, are now willing to give direct support to the
groups intent on overthrowing the Arbenz government.
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