WEEKLY INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY NO.91

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01090A000300060027-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 29, 1999
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: December 6, 1949
• Content Type: SUMMARY

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TFANspoRTATION DIVISION
6 December 1949
!eekly Intelligence Summary 'RID. 91
SECTIO1 I. SUMMARY OF TRENDS AND DEd ..QPMENTS
The XETTLF AN EILLS, a US-flag tanker which carried oil from the Black
Sea to the Soviet Far lost in August, has again been chartered for one
voyage to the Soviet Petroleum Syndicate, Moaoowa . and will load a cargo
in the Black Sea at the end of this month consigned to Dairen.
(Item No. 1, A)
US Embassy, Rangoon. discounts as possibly political tactics the
recent announcement by the Minister for Machin Affairs that the Ledo Road
between Burma and India, which has been under intermittent improvement for
some time, will probably again be in use by February, 1950. The Govern-
ment is apparently trying to bolster its sagging prestige, which has
suffered from a succession of failures. (Item No. 2,. B)
The race between advocates of the proposed Grand St. Bernard and Mont
Blanc trans-Alpine road tunnels on the Italian-Swiss-French border has
entered a new phase, According to a communique issued by the Swiss Govern-
ment,, it has accepted the invitation of the Governments of France and Italy
and has delegated a representative to a Mixed Commission which will io.vasti-
gate the possibility of a quick realization of the project for a road
tunnel through Mont Blexno. (Item No a 3, B)
Seven Satellite delegations attended the recent International Railway
Conference in Amsterdam, which studied the regulations for the international
carriage of goods. The fact that Amsterdam witnessed the largest Satellite
attendance of any East-West conference or this type in many months, how-
ever, does not indicate any change of heart in the Satellite orbit or an
intention to cooperate more closely with the Western European nations,
(item No. 4, C)
N . "OF LCLASS.
CLASS. CHANGED TOj
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The Chinese Communists are hopeful that British legal restrictions
Will keep grounded at Hong Kong the 60-odd air transports of' China
National Air Transport (CNAC) and Central Air Transport Company (CATC)
until British recognition is accorded to the Peiping regime. In this
event the new Chinese Government would have a strong claim to titles of the
aircraft. (Item No. 5, B)
The DSSB may now have received its first US air transport of postwar
design. (Item No. 6, B)
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SECTION II. Ct7R T DEVELOPI fTS
SURFACE TRABSPORTATION
1. The JWTTL2W EIlt.S a US-flag tanker which carried oil from the
Black t oviet Far Fiast in August, hag again been c rtered for
a E3
one voyage to the Soviet Petroleum Syndicate, Moaoow, and will load a
cargo in the Black Sea at the end of this month ~oonaig9ied to Dairen.
Stockpiling may be the immediate motivation for these movements. It
in unlikely that the USSR would permanently organize the distribution of
oil except through the use of Soviet fe, ilit&es which it could confidently
expect to control in any emergency. The fact that the supply line from
the Bleak See. would be subject to almost certain interruption during
hostilities suggests strongly that these movements are considered as
special shipments. Dairen, with its extensive storage facilities, would
be well suited for the accumulation of reserve stocks. (Secret)
2. US Habassy_, Rangoon, discounts no possibl olitical tactics the
recent announcement by the Minister for Xaohin Affairs a t r Lodo Road
between Burma and India, which has been under intermittent Improvement
for some time, will probably again be in use by February, 1950. The
Qovernanent is apparently trying to bolster its sagging prestige,. which has
suffered from a succession of failures, The announcement asserted that a
flourishing trade will develop between Burma and India over the road, thus
providing es alternate to the outlet via Rangoon, Which is subject to
interference by insurgent: activity. If the road is opened, however, the
trade will probably consist mainly of a small amount of consumer goods
shipped from India to northern Durme, which cannot be obtained from Rangoon
at present. Meanwhile, an official at the Indian Embassy in Rangoon has
indicated that his government may not cooperate in the opening of the
Ledo road because (a) the amount of rice available for shipment to India
is very small; (b) India would need to ire a considerable expenditure to
restore its portion of the road; and (o) opening the road 'would increase
the problem of illegal entry arsd smuggling from Burma. (Confidential)
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CONHDENTIAL
t o esed Grand -ward and Mont
?
,r
Tat! to ?_, n;r un~ rll~c issued by the Swi, ari Govern.
t.,- the 2!7~it stt it?;? t' tht> O 1errtment6r of France ai:d
... ed r r e prV-gMntet1t,0 to s. M, : id Co;nmi.ss?.oi' whi