CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1954/05/02

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03006379
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: August 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2019
• Publication Date: May 2, 1954

rrydv/ANA"Reeae2090802
C03006379
2 May 1954
3.3(h)()
Copy No. 7
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO. NO CHANGE CHANGE IN CLASS.
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 0-9
AUTH: HR 10-2
VAT4e/Z.V__. REVIEWER: _
CEN
Office of Current Intelligence
-TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/08/02
CE z,x7
Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 C03006379
SUMMARY
SOUTHEAST ASIA
1.
2.
3.
4.
Burmese clearly recognize Communist threat from Indochina
(page 3).
tsao Dal gives police control to Saigon underworld group (page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
5. Tension continues between General Nagib and Egyptian military
regime (page 5).
WESTERN EUROPE
6. French delay on EDC seen further slowing ratification in Italy
(page 6).
2
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 C03006379
2 May 54
Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 C03006379
rJE1XDI
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Burmese clearly recognize Communist threat from Indochina:
Burma favors a peaceful settlement of the
conflict in Indochina and complete independence
for the three Associated States,
At the same
me, it aoes not want to see "Indochina falling out of the French frying
pan into the Chinese fire, since such a development would mean the
progressive encirclement of Burma and a reduction in the neutral bloc
area.
Burma was not as yet prepared to take a "bold provocative stand"
against Communist China and therefore was impelled to decline For-
eign Secretary Eden's invitation to attend the Geneva conference. For
the same reason, it would remain aloof from the anti-West, pro-Chinese
proposals that Indian prime minister Nehru was expected to submit at
the Colombo conference of Asian prime ministers.
3
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 C03006379
2 May 54
Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 C03006379
/
slow
Comment:
Contrary to the cautious policy Burmese
premier Nu in Colombo has opposed Nehru and supported the Pakistani
position that Communism rather than colonialism is the greatest imme-
diate threat to the independence of Asian countries.
3.
4. Bao Dai gives police control to Saigon underworld group:
Bao Dai's decree granting control of the
Vietnamese surete to the Binh Xuyen
organization as of 1 May puts civil law
- 4 -
TOP SECRETl
Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 C03006379
2 May 54
Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 C03006379
A.
enforcement in the hands of "scarcely disguised gangsters, " the
American charg�n Saigon reports. The move was probably made
to implement Bao Dal's recent decision to integrate paramilitary groups,
including the Binh Xuyen, into the national army. A French official
points out, however, that the resulting clamor from other groups for
political' prizes will only aggravate disunity.
The French believe that police efficiency in
dealing with the Viet Minh will not be impaired, since the Binh Xuyen
finds anti-Communism profitable.
Comment: The award of highly important
functions on the national level to such a group is certain to cause dis-
may among respectable non-Communist Vietnamese and to accentuate
bitterness toward Bao Dai's one-man rule.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
5. Tension continues between General Nagib and Egyptian military regime:
Nagib is under virtual house arrest. He is
now permitted visitors only in the presence of a guard who reports to
Wing Commander Ibrahim, a member of the ruling Revolutionary
Command Council and newly created minister for presidential affairs.
Comment: Friction between General Nagib
and the Revolutionary Command Council will probably continue despite
the councils present dominant position.
Nagib still commands considerable popular
support and remains a potential rallying point for the many elements
- 5 -
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 C03006379
2 May 54
Approved for Release: 2019/06/02 C03006379
A.
favoring restoration of parliamentary government. The council,
however, is expected to continue using strong pressure to neutral-
ize Nagib's influence.
WESTERN EUROPE
6. French delay on EDC seen further slowing ratification in Italy:
Representatives of the Italian Foreign
Ministry have returned from the North
Atlantic Council meeting in Paris "most
pessimistic" about the possibilities of
French ratification of EDC, and correspondingly doubtful about the
course of Italian ratification. These officials believe that no Italian
government would risk a major battle on EDC while estimating that
the French would not ratify, but that signs of early action in Paris
would make procedural short cuts possible in Rome.
The American embassy, reporting recent
procedural delays, estimates that at the present rate the foreign af-
fairs commission of the Italian Chamber of Deputies should terminate
Its work on the EDC draft treaty by the end of Tune.
Comment: A contributory factor deterring
the Scelba government from giving parliamentary battle on EDC at
this time is the current maneuvering of the Monarchists to bring down
the government on any pretext. The Monarchists are at present re-
ported negotiating to this end with right-wing elements in Premier
Scelba's Christian Democratic Party.
6
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/08/02 C03006379
2 May 54