CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/05/22

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02901116
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
July 15, 2019
Document Release Date: 
July 22, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 22, 1953
File: 
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15671763].pdf175.57 KB
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/Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 TOPS -RET SECUR INFORMATION 22 May 1953 Copy No. 0 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN I?. 1-_;;;(1MENT NO. 1.:....: (..;*i.-1ANCT: ;',1. CLASS. ?� Ci_,!'..,_-:,'",. i--;:4_,',N.:3,770 TO: IS NE 1,11- riP,1;::,..`.' DM 5: _ ..__.. AL IN: FfpR 70-2 i7.111_41 Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TOP CRET SECU INFORMATION 3.5(c) 4/7 3.5(c) 7 � 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116 N.' Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116 ur ar, SECURITY INFORMATION 3.5(c) SUMMARY FAR EAST veVLarge shipment of Soviet trucks to southern China reported (page 3). NEAR EAST - AFRICA Comment on scheduled meeting to implement Arab Collective Security Pact (page 3). 3. Egypt reportedly takes special measures to protect foreign of community (Daze 4). WESTERN EUROPE 5.'U1bricht leadership held confirmed in East Germany (page 5). vV French oppose any relaxation of Czech overflight prohibition (page 5). * * * * 2 TO CRET 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116 3.5(c) vawApproved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116 101' Kt,1 INFORMATION FAR EAST 1. Large shipment of Soviet trucks to southern China reported: 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3500 Soviet military vehicles were assigned to the East, South-central, and Southwest China military areas following their delivery from the Soviet Union between February and April. The Southwest China military area received the largest number, 1500. Comment: A lack of modern truck transport facilities has been a weakness of the military forces in South and South- west China. A delivery of this size would considerably increase Chinese Communist capabilities for supplying the Viet Minh, particularly from areas in Southwest China not fully served by railroads. There have been recent reports of an extensive road-building program along the Yunnan border near Burma and Indochina. NEAR EAST - AFRICA 2. Comment on scheduled meeting to implement Arab Collective Security Pact: The Lebanese announcement of 20 May that the Arab chiefs of staff will meet in Damascus on 25 June to implement the Arab Collective Security Pact is a severe blow to Western plans for the Middle East Defense Organization. The pact was ratified last fall, but its enforce- ment was delayed because of Egypt's belief that it might interfere with the Anglo-Egyptian negotiations. At the Arab foreign ministers' meeting in Cairo on 10 May, Egypt, after announcing indefinite suspension of the talks with Britain, joined in calling for immediate establishment of organizations provided for in the pact. Implementation of the pact would not give the Middle East an effective defense system, but it would encourage Arab leaders to insist that MEDO be dropped and that the West cooperate with the Arab defense plan. 3 TOP RET 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116 3.5(c) No,Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116 k_Jti tk.t., 1 SECURITY INFORMATION 3. Egypt reportedly takes special measures to protect foreign community: The Egyptian police and army have been orde:3.3-(h)(2) to take extraordinary measures to protect the foreignlarge community in Alexandria, 4. The government-sponsored National Liberation iantzation nas-aiso been ordered to help maintain order in Alexandria. Members of the banned Wafd party are to be carefully watched for any attempt to incite disturbances. The British ambassador is not worried at this juncture about possible acts of violence against the British by the govern- ment but rather that the Moslem Brotherhood, the Wafd or the Communists might use violence to create difficulties for the government. Comment'. General Nagib has assured Secretary Dulles that he would prevent disorder at least until after the secretary has a chance to discuss the situation in Washington. There are approximately 88,000 foreign residents In Alexandria, which represents 13 percent of the total population. They include large numbers of Greek and Italian as well as British subjects. 4 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116 NgApproved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116 i kir orA...,i. SECU INFORMATION 3.5(c) WESTERN EUROPE 5. Ulbricht leadership held confirmed in East Germany: American officials in Berlin believe that the 3.3(h)(2) dominant position of Deputy Premier Walter Ulbricht in East Germany was reconfirmed by the dismissal last week of Franz Dahlem from the politburo and central committee of the Socialist Unity Party. No immediate shift in top party or government leadership, or in Soviet policy toward Germany, is foreseen. There may, however, be a purge trial which, like that of Slansky in Czechoslovakia, would emphasize security against "foreign imperialism." Comment: Ulbricht% success in maintaining his position seems to imply the continuation of the policy of rapid com- munization in East Germany with which he is most closely associated. 6. French oppose any relaxation of Czech overflight prohibition: The French government is seriously con- cerned that Oatis' release may result in American consent to Czech overflights of West Germany. In a note delivered to the American embassy on 20 May, France points out that it could not now agree to overflights without appearing to abandon the case for two French citizens still - 5 - TOP RET 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116 Ns.Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116 ur SECURITY INFORMATION 3.5(c) imprisoned in Czechoslovakia. France also wishes to avoid giving the impression that the joint Franco-American representations to Prague in 1951 over issues which included the Oatis case were merely the result of United States pressure. Comment: France has steadfastly refused since the overflight ban to allow the Czechs to use Paris as the terminus of their proposed air route from Prague via Denmark and the Low Coun- tries. Both Belgium and the Netherlands plan to accede eventually to Czech pressure in order to safeguard their own scheduled flights to Prague. Air France, however, has not served Prague since early 1952. 6 TOPfiECRET 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901116