CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/09/09

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
05973611
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
12
Document Creation Date: 
June 6, 2019
Document Release Date: 
June 27, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 9, 1952
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15655772].pdf306.36 KB
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Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 0 TOP ET 0 SEC INFORMATION 9 September 1952 Copy No.57 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO. NO CHANGE IN CLASS. At 0 DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS s C 70-2 IRE VW DATE DA ReviEwm Office of Current IntelligenTE 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) CENTRAL !, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 3.5(c) TO RET RITY INFORMATION Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 (�Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 RET 3.5(c) SUMMARY SOVIET UNION .1. Stalin allegedly calls meeting of secretaries of all Communist Parties (page 4). FAR EAST 2. Far East Command comments on heavy enemy ground action (page 4). 3. Portuguese resent British attitude in Macao-China dispute (page 5). SOUTHEAST ASIA 4. Chinese Communist incursion into Burma reported (page 5). 5. Philippine Foreign Minister reportedly pledges recognition of Vietnam (page_ 6). SOUTH ASIA 6. Afghan Ambassador in London recommends countercomplaint to Soviet note (page 7). NEAR EAST - AFRICA 7. Moslem-inspired coup reported imminent in Lebanon (page 7). 8. Israel offers Egypt opportunity to negotiate peace settlement (page 8). 9. Nationalist group reportedly plans disorders throughout North Africa. (page 9). EASTERN EUROPE 10. Yugoslavia will reportedly seek closer relations with Western, European Socialists (page 10). -2 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 3.5(c) 3.5(c) cApproved for Release: 2019/05/31 C05973611_ ToR SECIth WESTERN EUROPE 11. Austria offers to negotiate trade pact with USSR (page 10). LATIN AMERICA 12. Colombian police apparently condone anti-Liberal rioting in Bogota (page'l 1). -3 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 C05973611 TCA)SECRET SOVIET UNION I. Stalin allegedly calls meeting of secretaries of all Communist Parties: The general secretaries of all Communist Parties have allegedly been summoned by Stalin to a meeting in Moscow on 15 October. Comment: A meeting of non-Soviet Commu- nist Party secretaries might logically follow the All-Union Congress of the Soviet Communist Party. It could serve the purpose of promoting a feeling of cooperation among all Communist Parties and, if publicized, would be presented as "proof" of democratic cooperation in the Commu- nist world. 3.3(h)(2) FAR EAST 2. Far East Command comments on heavy enemy ground action: The Far East Command believes that the powerful limited-objective attacks launched against three points in the UN line on 6 and 7 September are not the forerunner of a Communist Offensive. These attacks appear to have as their objective the capture of key terrain features, or to be "spoiling" attacks in an- ticipation of a UN offensive. The unprecedented amount of artillery fire used by the Chinese against South Korean troops in east central Korea On 7 September reflects the enemy's generally improved forward supply situation. -4 Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 C05973611 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3 3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 RET The enemy has made increasing use of artil- lery in the past few months, and the arrival of some additional artillery units in Korea. 3. Portuguese resent British attitude in Macao-China dispute: Comment: The Portuguese have resented what they consider to be the lack of sympathy among the major Western countries for Macao's vulnerable position. They have also been irri- tated by the continuing pressure from the United States to strengthen export controls on strategic shipments from Macao to China. SOUTHEAST ASIA 4. Chinese Communist incursion into Burma reported: established several The Chinese Communist 13th and 14th Regi- ments entered Burma from Yunnan on 5 September in the vicinity of Bhamo in com- pany with Kachin rebels led by Naw Seng, that the Burmese Army has roadblocks in the threatened area. 5 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 C05973611 TbP ET 3.5(c) Comment: Naw Seng and his estimated 1,500 to 2,000 followers have been training in China for more than two years, and their intention of eventually returning to Burma has been reported on numerous previous occasions. The two regiments mentioned are attached to the 2nd Chinese Army and were reported in April to be located in North- west China. If there has been a Chinese incursion, the units described were probably drawn from the 13th and 14th Armies, both of which are stationed in Yunnan. 3.3(h)(2) 5. Philippine Foreign Minister reportedly pledges recognition of Vietnam: Comment: Thailand is the only Asian nation which has established diplomatic relations with Vietnam. 3.3(h)(2) Ceylon also is considering recognition in return for a three-year agreement involv- ing receipt of 300,000 tons of rice from Indochina. Despite American and French pressure over the past several years, the Philippines has refused to recognize the Vietnam Government because of the belief that it is not sufficiently independent. -6 TOP-SECRET 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 ID --Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 CRET 3.5(c) SOUTH ASIA 6. Afghan Ambassador in London recommends countercomplaint to Soviet note: The Afghan Ambassador in London, Shah Walt Khan, recommended on 21 August that his government reject the Soviet note of 11 August which protested any participation by nationals of NATO countries in Afghan oil drilling, He suggested that the reply should have the tone of a countercomplaint. Comment: The decision of the Afghan Govern- ment in this case is still not known. The Afghan Ambassadors in London and New Delhi, two of the country's trusted elder statesmen, both recommended rejection of the Soviet note, while the less-experienced Ambassador in Washington suggested that his government should avoid alienating the Soviet Union. NEAR EAST - AFRICA 7. Moslem-inspired coup reported imminent in Lebanon: The Egyptian Minister to Beirut believes that 3.3(h)(2) a Moslem-inspired military coup is imminent in Lebanon, 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 7 TOP Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 C05973611.,-,, 6.3 ET 3.5(c) The Minister feels that the strength of the Moslem Brotherhood in Syria has encouraged the latent hostility of Lebanese Moslems against Christian elements. He notes that the � Lebanese Army is predominantly Moslem and that it has been stim- ulated by the successful coup in Egypt. Comment: Political stability in Lebanon depends on a delicate balance between Moslem and Christian factions. The injection of a religious problem into the already disturbed situation may enlarge the widespread discontent against the corrupt administra- tion of President Khouri, who himself is a Christian. General Chehab, Commander in Chief of the Lebanese Army, previously considered loyal to the regime, is reportedly threatening to resign unless reforms are instituted immediately. 8. Israel offers Egypt opportunity to negotiate peace settlement: Israel was prepared to negotiate immediately and that Israeli officials would meet Egyptian representatives anywhere in Europe. , Comment: Ambassador Caffery has pointed out that the military regime in Egypt is too concerned with internal developments at the present time to consider foreign issues like the Israeli question. 8 - 3.3(h)(2) TIS.E.-COP ET Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 3.5(c) n Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 ET Israeli officials have long maintained that the conclusion of a peace agreement with Egypt, the most influential Arab state, would probably induce other Arab countries to follow suit. At the last UN session in Paris, Divon had several private meetings with various Arab delegations. 9. Nationalist group reportedly plans disorders throughout North Africa: North African nationalists will incite con- certed disorders throughout French North Africa if the United Nations does not pro- claim the right of Tunisia and Morocco to independence, \ 3.3(h)(2) 9 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) TO RET Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 3.5(c) --Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 EASTERN EUROPE 10. Yugoslavia will reportedly seek closer relations with Western European Socialists: 3.5(c) Yugoslavia is making renewed efforts to pro.. 3.3(h)(2) mote closer relations with the Socialist nartie& urope, 3.3(h)(2) Yugoslav officials believe that with the death of Kurt Schumacher, who rejected Yugoslav approaches, the time is now ripe for a new overture to the German Socialists. Through the good offices of Morgan Phillips, the secretary of the British Labor Party, who recently visited Yugoslavia, Belgrade reportedly hopes to gain membership in the "international free labor union movement." Certain unidentified Yugoslav leaders are also allegedly seeking means to counter the undesirable effect of the word "communist" in the West, and are considering changing the name of their party to "Yugoslav Socialist Party" during its congress this October. Comment: Previous Yugoslav attempts to attract sympathy and-support among Western Socialists have produced no favorable responses of any significance. Although Yugoslav leaders have admitted that the word "communist" has unpleasant connotations in the West, it is doubtful that they would prejudice the present ideo- logical basis of the regime by substituting the word "socialist," WESTERN EUROPE 11. Austria offers to negotiate trade pact with USSR: American officials who called at the Austrian Foreign Ministry on 5 September to renew American objections to Austro-Soviet trade negotiations were informed that Foreign Min- ister Gruber had already dtrected delivery of a note proposing such - 10 - 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 3.5(c) -.Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 T&P SECRET negotiations. In Gruber's absence, his subordinates reiterated that Austria's "precarious economic position" and strong Soviet propaganda had made the move necessary. The American Embassy states that Austrian industrialists were "apparently responsible" for the overtures. Comment: There is little evidence to support Gruber's previous contentions that Soviet trade propaganda has had any great effect in Austria. Although what the Austrians expect to gain from these talks is uncertain, Soviet standing in Austria would be improved by the regularization of exports of the Soviet Enterprises in Austria. Since industrial leaders are contributors both to the People's Party to which Gruber belongs and to the Union of Independents with which he has "connections," their influence in the Foreign Ministry is correspondingly strong. LATIN AMERICA 12. Colombian police apparently condone anti-Liberal rioting in Bogota: Colombian police on 6 September stood by 3.3(h)(2) and watched a small mob of Conservatives gut the Liberal Party's National Headquarters and the offices of the leading Liberal news- paper. The mob also attacked the offices of the second-ranking Liberal newspaper and set fire to the residences of two national Lib- eral leaders. The American Embassy in Bogota comments that the mob was determined but not unruly, and that the police could have stopped the incidents at any time. 3.5(C) Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 T6? for Release: 2019 T6? RET 05/31 005973611 3.5(c) Comment: The 6 September rioting in Bogota brings the explosive Liberal-Conservative antagonism one step closer to open civil war. An army coup with either tacit or open support from the dissident wing of the Conservative Party is becoming more likely as the civil disorders become more pronounced. - 12 - TOP ET Approved for Release: 2019/05/31 005973611 3.5(c)