CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A001800400001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 26, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 15, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL
ETIN
DOCUMENT NO. 41.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
UI DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: 7/--//&0 REVIEWER:
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AG
AGENCY
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
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1. Soviet leaders warn French ambassador of consequences of rati-
fication of Paris agreements (page 3)0
FAR EAST
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3. Opposition subjecting President Rhee to unprecedented criticism
(page 4)0
4. Chou En-lai says Peiping will not be "intimidated" in airmen
case (page 5),
SOUTHEAST ASIA
60 Prominent nationalists express misgivings about Vietnamese
premier (page 7)a
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
70 France seen supporting anti-Western elements in Syria (page 7)0
8. Comment on anti-American demonstrations in Athens (page 8)
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GENERAL
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14 Soviet leaders warn French ambassador of consequences of rati-
fication'-of Paris agreements:
the considered and carefully thought-out view of the Soviet govern-
ment.
In a two-hour discussion between top
Soviet leaders and French ambassador
Joxe following the 10 December celebra-
tion of the anniversary of the French-
Soviet treaty, Malenkov emphasized
that Soviet statements regarding the re
militarization of West Germany and its
consequences were not propaganda but
With Malenkov taking the lead, the Soviet
leaders repeated their familiar themes about the dangers of German
"militarism" to France and Europe, the incompatibility of the Paris
agreements with the French-Soviet pact and with post- ratification
negotiations with Moscow, and the consequences which would follow
the entry into force of the Paris accords. When Joxe stated that
there was no doubt that the French assembly would ratify the agree-
ments, Malenkov expressed surprise and pointed to the recent re-
port of the assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee as evidence of
serious opposition in the French parliament.
In defending the Paris agreements, Joxe
blamed Stalin's postwar policies for creating a feeling of insecurity
and threat in Western Europe. Malenkov nodded his head in appar-
ent agreement, Bulganin and Mikoyan exchanged approving glances,
but Molotov, who was sullen and "glacial" throughout the conversa-
tion, was visibly irritated. Ambassador Bohlen concurs in Joxe's
opinion that there is at least a difference of view within the Soviet
leadership as to what exactly should be done if and when the agree-
ments are ratified.
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FAR EAST
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3 Opposition subjecting President .ghee to unprecedented criticism:
President Rhee is being subjected to
unprecedented criticism by his opposi-
tion, according to Ambassador Briggs.
The ambassador believes the major
causes are Rhee's highhanded tactics in forcing through his con-
stitutional amendments and his prolonged dispute with the United
States over the aid program, which has undermined confidence in
his ability to deal with the United States. Opposition leaders say
Rhee is too old, misunderstands democracy, and has "smeared
and retarded" parliamentary politics.
Briggs feels Rhee, to prevent further
deterioration of his position, will seek to prevent a serious rift
with Washington, and will institute strict controls over activities
of both his own and the opposition parties.
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Comment: Rhee has begun a party
reorganization and is reported-considering some cabinet changes
to prevent further defections from his party.
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Only vigorous action by the police, which
Rhee still controls, can effectively stifle the opposition. That such
action is contemplated was suggested by Rhee's recent denunciation
of his opponents, including those persons advocating co-operation
with the United States on the aid program, as "traitors."
4. Chou En-lai says Peiping will not be "intimidated" in airmen's
cases
victed as spies, but that if the airmen's behavior were good their
cases "would be reviewed." This account of the Chinese Commu-
nist position was given 25X1
Chou En-lai is reported to have told the
hat Commu- 25X1
nist xna wouia not in imidated" in
the case of the 11 American airmen con-
Chou mentioned to the ambassador the
"American" action of sending to Formosa some 109000 Chinese
prisoners of the Korean war who had refused repatriation., the
recent signing of a mutual security treaty between Nationalist
China and the United States, and the detention of some Chinese
students in the United States
Chou alleged that the list of American
nationals held in Communist China which was provided by the
United States during the discussions at Geneva last summer did
not identify the 1.1 airmen as prisoners of war.
Comment: Chou's reported remarks'.
like Peiping's propaganda, suggest that Chinese Communist pres-
tige is heavily committed in the airmen's case. and that the pros-
pects are therefore poor for their early release. At the same
time, the door apparently remains open for an eventual settlement.
Should UN secretary general Hammerskjold
go to Peiping, the Chinese Communists could be expected to document
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the "spy" case in great detail and to present a list of allegedly
related grievances which have long been staples of Peiping's prop-
agandao
There is no basis for Chou's implication
that the 11 airmen were regarded by the United States last summer
as civilians. The American list explicitly identified them as United
States air force personnel.
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SOUTHEAST ASIA
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6. Prominent nationalists. express misgivings about Vietnamese
premier:
minister. After 15 discussions with Diem with regard to a cabi-
net appointment, Quat rejected the premier's latest proposal to
take him into the government if Quat could persuade the Cao Dai
and Hoa Hao sects to agree to it.
Phan Huy Quat told American officials
on 10 December he is now convinced
PremierDiem is merely finding pre-
texts to avoid appointing him defense
Quat criticized Diem's haste to elimi-
nate French influence and armed strength in Vietnam, stating
that he favored a more 'Iflexible" policy.
. Le Huu Tu, dean of the Vietnamese
Catholic bishops, told the embassy on.11. December that Diem's
appointment last July had aroused. a "wave of hope throughout
the country," but that this feeling had been dissipated by Diem's
ineffectiveness in office. He also stated that Diem is fearful of
potential rivals and attempts to play one off against another.
Comment: On previous occasions,
Diem's refusal to bring into government certain well-known
opportunists has probably been to Vietnam's advantage, but his
rejection of Quat, an outstanding Vietnamese nationalist and the
most promising candidate to head the Defense. Ministry, has no
such justification. His decision appears to be based largely on
his desire to retain a maximum of political and military power
in his own grasp.
NEAR. EAST AFRICA
7. France seen supporting anti-Western elements in Syria:
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Syrian minister .of economy Kayyali
told Ambassador Moose in Damascus
that France considers the United States
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as much a French adversary in Syria as the Soviet Union. Kayyali
declared that French money is being freely spent in order to pre-
vent closer Syrian collaboration with either the United States or
Britain. To that end, Kayyali asserted, France is financing the
efforts of the independent politician, Khalid al Azm, in co-operation
with socialists and pro-Communists, to discredit Prime Minister
al.Khouri's government.
Ambassador Moose feels Kayyali may be
somewhat prejudiced but believes that recurring reports of Azm's
close connections with French agents in Syria seem to justify
Kayyali's statements.
Comment: France, which has traditionally
resented the growth of American or British influence in. Syria and
Lebanon, apparently contributed heavily to Azm's recent success-
ful campaign for election to parliament.
Azm has long wanted to be president of
Syria. He now heads a loose coalition of opportunistic independ-
ents, extreme socialists and Communists which is bent on over-
throwing the present anemic government.
8. Comment on anti-American demonstrations in Athens:
The anti-American demonstrations in
Athens on 14 December increase the
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pressure on the government of Prime
Minister Papagos to be obdurate on the Cyprus issue. The Greek
government may as a consequence be forced to modify its recent
tendency to compromise and insist on a clear-cut decision in the
UN, which is now considering the issue.
The Papagos government, which Greeks
identify closely with American influence, may. attempt to escape
its dilemma by publicly assuming an anti-American attitude and
placing the blame for the probable Greek defeat in the UN on the
United States.
dlang internal repercussions of the Cyprus issue.
the regime's continuance in office, which is also threatened by
other political difficulties, may depend on.Papagos' skill in han-
Similar riots may occur again, but the
government is considered capable of controlling them. However,
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