CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T00975A001200570001-5
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
7
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
September 30, 2003
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
August 27, 1953
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP79T00975A001200570001-5.pdf267.81 KB
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~~ ~ 2003/MP: SIN1PDT0097 25X1 27 August 1953 25X1 nrvA Rf Copy No. v . CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN iN CLASS. I [' J GLi C AuTH: H 7O--~~? 25 Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO01200570001-5 5X1A Approved For ease 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A0012 SUMMARY GENERAL 1. Soviet press comment may foreshadow new disarmament proposal in UN (page 3). Soviet Union seen committed to support of East Germany at cost of unity (page 3). SOVIET UNION 3. Continued absence of Zhukov and Vasilevsky from official Soviet functions noted (page 4). SOUTHEAST ASIA 4. Strategic corner of Tonkin delta heavily infiltrated by Viet Minh (page 4). 5. Politicians blamed for terminating Philippine military action against Huks (page 5). SOUTH ASIA 25X1 25X1A 6, Nehru unlikely to withdraw Indian candidacy for political conference on Korea (page 5). NEAR EAST - AFRICA Latest Anglo-Egyptian meeting reveals sharp contact page ij). 25X1A 27 Aug 53 Approved For Release 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A001200570001-5 25X1 25X1A Approved For GENERAL 1. Soviet press comment may foreshadow new disarmament proposal in UN: 25X1A Ambassador Bohlen reports that the Soviet press on 25 August carried a long article quoting foreign reaction to the Soviet hydrogen bomb explosion. Most of the quotations were chosen to show that Soviet possession of the H-bomb will give "new impetus to the struggle for outlawing atomic weapons." One mentioned "repeated Soviet demands in the United Nations for limitation of armaments and outlawing of atomic weapons." Comment: The new emphasis given to the disarmament question in the Soviet press at this time may foreshadow increased propaganda emphasis on disarmament as a prelude to the introduction of a new Soviet proposal in the forthcoming UN eighth General Assembly. The proposal would probably be similar to that of November 1951, following Stalin's October announcement that the USSR had carried out an atom bomb test., It called-fot a"world conference" of all states. 2. Soviet Union seen committed to support of East Germany at cost of unity: 25X1A Ambassador Bohlen believes that the Soviet- East German talks and Malenkov's speech prove beyond reasonable doubt that the USSR has decided to throw its full support tLehind the East German regime for the immediate future, regardless of the effect on other aspects of its foreign policy. He believes the. decision resulted from the 17 June riots and later unrest, which would have weakened the Soviet position in serious negotiations on German unity. Bohlen believes that Malenkov's speech marks a return to a policy of general threat and intimidation on the German problem. He notes that it contained no appeal to the West German Socialists and seemed to anticipate an Adenauer victory, which could be used as justification for later Soviet actions in East Germany and Berlin. 25X1A 27 Aug 53 Approved For Release 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A001200570001-5 25X1A ? Approved For R$Iease 2003/10/15: CIA-RDP79T00975A001 SOVIET UNION 25X1A 3. Continued absence of Zhukov and Vasilevsky from official Soviet unc ons noted- The American embassy in Moscow comments that press reports have failed to mention either Marshal Zhukov or Vasilevsky in con- nection with several recent functions attended by the other members of the Soviet hierarchy. Both apparently were absent from the Supreme Soviet session, the air show, and recent Mos- cow receptions in honor of the East German delegation. Comment: The continued absence of these two first deputy ministers of defense may possibly reflect further political maneuvering among the top leadership, While Vasilevsky was listed above Zhukov in the March announcement of their appoint- ments, the order was reversed when their names appeared among the signers of an obituary of a lesser military figure on 22 July. This was the last date either was publicly mentioned. Vasilevsky also failed to attend the 16 July meeting of important party members in the Ministry of Defense which approved Beria's arrest. SOUTHEAST ASIA 25X1A 25X1 4. Strategic corner of Tonkin delta heavily infiltrated by Viet Minh." The military and political situation is "very bad" in the strategic area forming the western apex of the Tonkin delta to in infiltration is so eavy that the bulk o this nominally French-controlled area is in enemy hands. Most of the population supports the Viet Minh and little is being done by the French or the Vietnamese govern- ment to counter Viet Minh propaganda. -4- 25X1A 27 Aug 53 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A001200570001-5 Apprc ' 1 elease 2003/10/15: CIA-RDP79T00975A0~ 25X1A . 25X1A Comment.- The Viet Minh's most determined frontal assault against the To delta took place at this point in Janu- ary 1951. Several recent reports state that the enemy will drive for Hanoi through this region in the fall. 5. Politicians blamed for terminating Philippine militar action against u s: i 9 cessation on the "politicians. The army is convinced that Huk leader Luis Taruc could have been captured had the operations been permitted to continue. The Americhl.n embassy in Manila reports that the Philippine army has confirmed the termination of anti- Huk operations northwest of Manila placing responsibility for their The American embassy believes that the deliberate failure to capture Taruc strengthens the probability that a Liberal Party deal with the Huks is being concluded. Comment.- This development is the strong- est indication so far received that Liberal Party leaders, in anticipa- tion of the forthcoming elections, are offering liberalized terms of surrender to the Huks. It supports the embassy's recent warning that such terms constitute a serious threat to Philippine security. SOUTH ASIA 6. Nehru unlikely to withdraw Indian candidacy for political conference on Korea, On 25 August Indian prime minister Nehru delivered a violent diatribe to American ambassador Allen, stating with extreme emotion that South Korea was not one of the major parties concerned with the political conference on Korea. -5- 25X1A 27 Aug 53 Approved For Release 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A001200570001-5 25X1A Approved For R ase 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A0012 He said that Rhee was a "wicked, corrupt, and unprincipled old man" who had no right to dictate to the world, that it would be ruinous to permit him to do so, and that Rhee's setting a 90-day time limit on the Korean conference was "insupportable arrogance." Comment: This outburst suggests that if India is elected to a seat at the political conference, it will not voluntarily withdraw therefrom. India is likely to regard the judg- ment of a majority of UN members as outweighing that of South Korea on the advisability of India's attendance. 25X1 NEAR EAST - AFRICA 25X1A 25X1 25X1A 8. Latest Anglo-Egyptian meeting reveals sharp conflict: A sharp conflict between the British and Egyptians over the question of the duration of any Anglo-Egyptian agreement on the -6 25X1A 27 Aug 53 Approved For Release 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO01200570001-5 25X1 Approved For ease 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A0 Suez base emerged at the informal meeting of representatives of the two countries on 24 August, according to the American embassy in Cairo. 25X1 The British are proposing a ten-year agree- ment, with 4,000 technicians remaining at the base for five years and the number tapering off thereafter. Britain insists that all duration periods must start after withdrawal of British troops has been com- pleted. Eighteen months to two years is considered the minimum for evacuation. The Egyptian counterproposal was a five- year agreement, with technicians to remain three years only. The Egyptian negotiators maintain that the duration period must start from the date of the signing of the agreement. Comment. Anglo-Egyptian negotiations on the Suez base were suspended on 6 May. Informal meetings be- tween the delegates have been taking place in Cairo since 28 July in an effort to establish sufficient agreement for the resumption of formal talks. 25X1A 27 Aug 53 Approved For Release 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO01200570001-5