CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DAILY DIGEST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01146A000100360001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 11, 1951
• Content Type: SUMMARY

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COPY NO. 39
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
DAILY DIGEST
Date: APR 11 1951
NOTE: 1. This summary of significant repo%,t;; has been
prepared primarily for the internal ise of ti
Office of Current Intelligence. Rt does not
represent a complete coverage of o'':.l current,
reports in CIA or in the Office of Current
Intelligence.
2. Comments represent the preliminary views of
the Office of Current Intelligence.
3.
Marginal letter indications are defined as
follows:
"A" - items indicating Soviet-Communist
intentions or capabilities
"B" important regional developments
not necessarily related to Soviet/
communist intentions or capabilities
"C" -other information indicating trends
and potential developments
DIA AND DOS review(s) completed.
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SECTION I (SOVIET)
"B" EASTERN EUROPE. BpLGARIA Bulgaria Attempts to Focus? ttention on
Alleged Yugoslav-Greek-Turkish Hostility. During the past two months
Bulgaria, in a spate of protests delivered to the United Nations, Greece,
Turkey and Yugoslavia, has accused all three neighboring norl-Soviet
countries of violating Bulgarian sovereignty. The first UN note filed
about 1 March charged Greice, Turkey, and Yugoslavia with a plot to
carry out aerial reconnaissance over Bulgarian territory and cited seven
alleged recent violations. A second UN protest delivered about 1 April
accused Greece of system,-.tic and continuing violation of the Bulgarian
frontier, detailing sever: recent instances as illustrative of "the hostile
policy followed by the Grr.ok Government toward Bulgaria." A note to
Yugoslavia on 3 April charged continuous "unprecedented diplomatic dis-
criminations" against Bulgarian personnel as a result of a deliberate
policy on the part of the Yugoslav Government to harrass them with
"unheard of police terror." In epsn,e notes Yugoslavia has also been
accused of violating the diplomatic i vanity of a Bulgarian courier and
encroaching on Bulgarian air space: A: airkish note alleging illegal
search of a Turkish diplomat and seize ~f a diplomatic pouch has not
only been indignantly refuted, but has been countered with a Bulgarian
protest alleging similar treatment of a Bulgarian diplomat in Turkey.
25X1 COMMENT- Bulgaria has made use of French Morse
broadcasts to Europe to insure widespread publicity for its major protests.
The alleged hostile design of Bulgaria's neighbors have also been given
widespread internal publicity through all propaganda media.
"B" FINLAND. Former Soviet Ambassado~? to Poland Shifted to Finland. The
Moscow radio on 8 April announced the appointment of Victor Lebedev, until
recently Soviet Ambassador to Poland, as Minister to Finland. Lebedev was
relieved in Poland during mid-March by Arladi Sobolev 25X1
25X1 COMMENT. Lebedev, who had
served as Soviet.Ambassa or to Poland since 19L5,is reputed to have been
one of the most capable Soviet diplomats in the satellite countries. He
served as a Soviet liaison channel in the early phases of the Polish
Sovietization program and is said to have paved the way for Rokossovski's
appointment as supreme commander of the Polish armed forces. Sobolev has
gained considerable diplomatic experience in Soviet contacts with the
Western Powers since his entry into the diplomatic service in 1939. He
is widely regarded as one of the ablest Soviet diplomats.
"A" RUMANIA. Regent Developments Possibly Related to Hostilities. The US
Legation Bucharest cites several recent developments in Rumania which,
though "far from alarming, might possibly, be related to plans for distant
or 1951 hostilities." The developments noted include- (1) the current
expulsion of many non-orbit nationals and the discharge of :others from
state enterprises9 (2) the recent nationwide organization of fire brigades
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under military command apparently for war defense; (3) the reported
entry into Rumania of 20-30 trains of Soviet troops in early March. and
reports of Soviet troop movements within the country in excess of
routine,; (4) the great pressure exerted on industry to increase pro-
duction; (5) a new guard system for public property which may release
large numbers of militia men to the army; and (6) the emphasis within
recent months on patriotism. As negative factors, however, the Legation
notes that anti-aircraft guns remain in storage near Bucharest, that
the Rumanian public has received no air raid instructions and that
Rumania's sole armored division remains in the capital. 25X1
COMMEUT: Soviet concern for security, production, and. popu-
ar support of,their Rumanian regime, as in other Soviet-controlled
peripheral areas, apparently stems from the goal of developing the
country into a useful adjunct of Soviet power. Thus far, the most suc-
cessful phase of this program in Rumania. has been that dealing with se-
curity. However,, the Rumanian military forces seem to require additional
indoctrination, Rumanian industry is operating considerably below capa-
city, and the population remains largely anti-Communist and anti-Soviet
despite a persistent propaganda campaign.
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SECTION 2 (EASTERN)
C" GRETXE.. Inter^st in,_Municipal Flections Growing in Salonika Area, The-
US Consulate in Salonika reports strong electoral activity in all parts
of the area during the last reek. Despite party .leaders' statements to
the contrary, the E1'EK (National Progressive Union of the Center) campaign
around Salonika is definitely political, and the leading candidate is
making a frank appeal to rally around the party of "real. democracy" and
to throw out the old parti s. There has been little overt activity thus
far by the extreme left,but this is attributed to the fact that its followers
have already received their instructions and are reluctant to be noted by
police as KKE partisans. Predictions are that if the present trend continu?s,
EPEK will be able to provoke government ter elections on the basis
25X1 of a strong showing. . COMMENT-. Municipal
elections throughout the country have been scheduled for 15 April. With
the exception of EPEK (the only political party which stands to gain by
giving party significance to the municip?.l elections) the political parties
in Greece have attempted to treat the eltict.ions on a nonpartisan level.
They fear that clarification of the r,~la=:ive political strengths would
affect their position in the national el:ntion,wrhich may be held in the
late summer or early falls Even if extreme left candidates are elected,
limitations on the power of municipal officials lessens the effect which
such leftists might have on Greek security.
"C" PAKISTAN. Communist PartDisclaims Responsibility for Recent Plot Against
Government,, Anti-Communist feeling, generated in Pakistan by recent dis-
closure
of a plot to overthrow the Government E: I 25X1
25X1 has led the Karachi District Committee of the Communist
issue a press statement formally denying that the Communist Party
had anything to do with the plot. The statement alleges that the Communist
Party "does not Relieve in conspiracies and coups d'etat to achieve its
aims; and the Party's objectives, policies and methods are never derogatory
o to the independence and sovereignty of Pakistan", ato 25X1
25X1 COMMENT: Faiz Ahmed Faiz, leading Communist o a s an, was
apparently intimately connected with the plot. The above statement there-
fore seems to be an effort to recover the ground lost by serious mis-
calculations of (1) the plot's chances of success, (2) ability of the
25X1 Communists to conceal their implication in it, and (3) the extent of public
reaction to possible disclosure of the plot,
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"A" INDOCHINA. Vietnamese Rebels Sabotage Gasoline Depot. Over 1,000,000
gallons of motor gas and 100,000 gallons of avgas stored at a river
junction below Saigon were destroyed as the result of a systematic
rebel sabotage operation,which involved the harassment of fire brigades
and military units which were despatched to the area. Friendly forces
encountered five earth barricades covered by small arms fire across the
only roads leading from Saigon to the storage depots.
25X1 COMMENT: Although the material loss suffered by the French in
this affair will probably be of little importance in the overall military
picture, such acts of skillful sabotage by the rebels serve to prevent the
full employment of French reserves in more active military areas to the
north.
25X1
"A"
Viet R bells Said to Join Invading Border Force. Mountain parti-
sans attached to French forces in Western Tonkin reportedly affirmed
that Chinese forces which crossed into Indochina at Buong Nam Cuong
on roops of the Ho Chi Minh forces.
25X1 r 111 COMMENT-. The above broadcast by the
French-controlled radio in Saigon notes that news from the remote and
mountainous area of Western Tonkin is "mea er" and that the exact identit
of the invading Chinese is still unknown.
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25X1 I Inot yet confirmed whether the Chinese in question are Communist,
an ?- ommunists, or deserters from the regular Chinese Communist army.
A report transmitted by USARMA Saigon states that the invaders may have
been Joined by deserters from Hoes forces.
25X1
PeiQingIs Reaction to Seizure of YUNG HAO, At the moment, Chinese
Communist reaction to Hong Kong's seizure of the 15
000 t
t
,
on
anker YUNG
HAO has taken the form of censure but not of retaliation, The Red -
Minister of Communications issued a statement blaming the Hong Kong and
Whampoa Dock Company for conspiracy with the Nationalists to "snatch" the
vessel. The Peiping radio has reiterated the Communist claim to ownership
of the tanker. The Hong Kong Government is charged by the Chinese Communists
with deliberately delaying clearance of the YUNG HAO, not for technical
reasons as the Hong Kong officials alleged, but in order to requisition
the vessel. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist master of the requisitioned
vessel asserted that he and his crew would "stand firm" against any attempt
b the British to take possession of the YUNG HAO. 25X1
25X1 COMMENT: Hong
ong AS een instructed to furnish a crew to e ver the YUNG HAO to
25X1 Singapore
and furth
r
ti
,
e
reac
on by the Communists is to be expected when
the vessel departs in the next few days-
Communist inspired -demonstrations
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25X1
COMMENT: MAO was last seen in Peiping on 26 January, and was reported. by
Pravda as in Peiping on 21 March; his whereabouts for the intervening
weeks have been a matter of much speculation. Sources of varying reliability
have reported that MAO has been chronically and is'now critically ill,
"C" KQREA. 5outl_Korean Expresses Doubts on Rearming of Japan. ROK Vice
Minister of Defense CHANG on 10 April in Pusan urged the Allies to
strengthen South Korea's Armed Forces if Japan is to be allowed to rearm
following a Japanese Peace Treaty. He cited the USSR as an example of a
once-friendly power turning on its Allies and warned that Japan may not
always be faithful and friendly. Chang called for a "well-planned Asian
25X1 balance of power." COMMENT: After the 40 year
Japanese occupation of Korea, Chang's statements are a very modest expression
of the strong convictions all South Koreans have about the Japanese, even
after 9 months of war with Communism. Secondary considerations are that
the ROK desires to be included in any Pacific Pact and is reminding the US
of South Korea's constant plea for arms.
"B" JAPAN. lnjtial Japanese Reaction to MacArthur's Removal. Japand'se officials,
including Prime Minister Yoshida, generally declined to'comment on the news,
although Chief Cabinet Secretary Okazaki indicated that MacArthur's replace-
ment "must come as a shock to the Japanese peoples..." Semi-official
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Japanese circles have expressed worry that General MacArthur's removal
may delay the Japanese peace treaty and upset Planned American-Japanese
economic cooperation.
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SECTION 3 (WESTERN)
not, GERMANY. Grain Shipments from USSR to Soviet Zone*
on - e Oder to Brest-Litovsk and the return of boxcars loaded with
grain to the Soviet Zone. This movement is believed to be connected
with. a. reported import by the GDR of 750,000 tons of grain from the
USSR between 1 February and 1 July. 1 -1
COMMENT: Although-grain shipments are probably neete o
civi ian requirements and provide seed for spring planting, shipments
totalling 750,000 tons during a five month period appears excessive,
in"view of the much smaller quantities of past shipments.. It is
therefore possible that at least part of the reported grain shipments
are to be stockpiled.
Destruction of N O rough papu ar opposi ion o wes ern European
armament efforts is being promoted in France by crypto-Communist
who for the past seven months has frequently
livet
i
t
D
,
o
s
Lou
agen
associated with leading French neutralists Pierre Cot (pro-Communist)
and Le Monde director Beuve Msry (Moderate). Dolivet opened his
"peace campaign" with three articles published by the Communist-
slanted Paris daily Combat, in which he developed a line carefully
calculated to lull Europeans into optimism and a sense of security
and to create a general political atmosphere conducive to slackening
the Western defense effort? Combat subsequently featured an article
by the pacifist-organizer of theLLeague of Nations, Lord Robert Cecil,
whose prestige Dolivet utilized during the 19308s as a cover for
pro-Soviet activities. Combat's concentration on a "neutralist"
line is linked with the paper=s continuing financial loss. While
on.tour in the US and seeking financial support., the editor-owner
may be permitting Dolivet to guide the a er's policy in return for
his financial assistance.
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COMMENT:' The Soviet "peace campaign", which has sought to use
neutralist and pacifist media in Soviet-Communist attempts to disrupt
Western unity and defense efforts, will gain a further following if
Combat is transformed into an organ championing disarmament.
"C" ITALY, Togliatti Remarks on Soviet Foreign Policy will have Little
Fie
Imact_,oil I ians. T og is i s c os g speech., on Apri , to
oL is_ Party Congress in Rome furnished a long explanation of Soviet
foreign policy. He said that two recent factors had rendered it '
"imperative" for the Italian Communist Party to regard the international
situation as increasingly "alarming",, First was the manner in which
the 'Western powers, directed by American imperialism" had "placed, new
reservations" to every Soviet proposal at the Paris conference, thereby
precluding any agreement and frustrating the prevention of a new
world war,. Second, "new words of war, new acts of provocation towards
extension of war in the Far East" ; had made it "indispensable" to'pprevent
Italy from being dragged into the vortex of a war of extermination.".
25X1 COMMENT: Togliatti's first point, alleging
western obstructionism at the meeting of the Big Four deputies, was
presumably largely for the record and not expected to be taken seriously
by most Italians. His remarks about threats of war emanating from
the Far East could have added real impetus to the fears already
prevalent in Italy. These remarks
will largely lose their impact on a ians now a neral MacArthur
has been removed from command-of the Far East forces.
"C" Communist Defectionists Maltreatedd On 10 April Magnani and
Cucchi, a ers of the Communist efectionist movement which was
in.augurated in January, were beaten up in Ferrara, a "red" center
of northern Italy, Communist thugs are suspected. Cucchi escaped
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with superficial injuries, but Magnani was taken to a hospital, where
he is expected to remain for at least ten days. The two men were
attacked following a conference with other former Communists, 25X1
COMMENT: This attack on the leaders
or the Communist e ec ionist movement will increase fear of reprisals
among potential defectors and impede large-scale, defections. The
fact that the Communists are increasing their fear propaganda, designed
to affect the Communist mass, suggests that they consider the Magnani-
Cucchi movement to have a real potential for attracting not only intel-
lectuals, but workers= as well,
UMuABNT: According to an AP report of 1 March allegedly emanating
rot m 1respopsible officials" in Washingtonp.Franco informed US
Ambassador Griffis that, if the US provided military equipment to
the Spanish Army; he would be willing to send troops beyond the
Pyrenees to.participate in the defense of western Europe. More recent
press reports from diplomatic sources in Washington stated that Franco
also told Griffis that if the US agreed to abilateral military pact,
he would accept the commitments of a NATO member, that is, in the
event of attack on a NATO member Spain would provide full military
assistance,
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'ICELAND.. .Defense Negotiations being Finalized, Iceland's Foreign
n s te e r hopes o g e C a n i n e an par y ea ers a approval of a final
draft of the US-Iceland defense agreement this week, He later intends
to make public, by. presentation to the Althing, only the short basic
agreement which specifies broadly that Keflavik Airport facilities
will be made available to the armed forces of the NATO parties for
the defense of Iceland. The detailed annexes, which specify the
composition of the forces and the conctLtions under which they will
utilize Icelandic facilities. wi ll noL be made public at this time.
COP~-1ENT e Negotiations will probably
continue for at least another two week} 'since the Icelandic draft,
although resolving most of the important issues, is subject to US
approval. and probably a few minor changes. While absolute agreement,
on the duration of the pact has not been reached,
Iceland continues to insist that IM rig to
terminate unilaterally 'be embodied in some form, The Foreign Minister
feels assured of sufficient support among the non-Communist Althing
members to secure approval of the agreement, which w!11 probably
be presented in special session since the Althing has adjourned for
the summer.
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