CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T01146A001000190001-1
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RIPPUB
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S
Document Page Count: 
21
Document Creation Date: 
December 16, 2016
Document Release Date: 
November 10, 2004
Sequence Number: 
1
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Publication Date: 
June 9, 1952
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REPORT
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Approved RQp;Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01`1A001000190001-1 SECRET 25X1 25X1 9 Tune 1952 / OCI No. 6415 Copy No. 2 6 7 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DIA and DOS review(s) completed. This digest of significant reports has been prepared primarily for the internal use of the Central Intelligence Agency. It does not represent a complete coverage of all current reports re- ceived. Comments represent the immediate views of the Office of Current Intelligence. SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/047n : - 9T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved F%&Release 2005/04/22: CIA-RDP79T011A&A001000190001-1 T IS MATERIAL CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE LAWS, TITLE 18, USC, SECS.793 AND 794, THE TRANSMISSION OR REVELATION OF WHICH IN"ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. EASTERN EUROPE I_ Czechoslovakia attempts to overcome worker shortage in the Ostrava eav n us ryccomex4 The fifth brigade of Prague workers in two weeks let on 3 June for Ostrava, the center of Czech heavy industry in Moravia. More workers are scheduled to go there from Prague shortly. On 2 June, Rude Pravo published an editorial stressing Ostrava's importance as tie "key raw material and technical base of the new Socialist epoch," and calling` attention to the serious shortage of skilled manpower in the area. It asked regional committees and youth organizations in all parts of Czechoslovakia to send their best workers and technicians to Ostrava. F_ I Comment: A continuing shortage of industrial raw mater aps, especially coal and raw steel, has led the Czech press and radio to carry on an intensive campaign to re- cruit labor for the industrial centers of Northern Bohemia and Moravia. Major stress has been placed onrefuting the stigma attached to recruitment for "volunteer labor brigades" and on countering the habit of plant managers to assign their worst workers to such brigades as punishment. 2. Czech Minister of Light Industries complains of the failure~`o ie scrap metal collection drive: ois male-k, zech Minister o g n us r es, complained over Prague Radio on 5 June of the failure of the scrap metal collect- ion drive, which by the end of April had reached only about 50 percent of the quota, set at about twice that for last year. Malek stated that huge quantities of scrap exist and blamed the shortage on local political administrations who failed to establish collection centers as required by the Czech Government. 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved Fc elease 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79TO11 1001000190001-1 SECRET . Comment- the scrap metal a.very plan for 1951 called for-810,000 tons of iron and 46,000 tons of non=ferrous metals. It is known that-sorap metal of all sorts is in very short supply in industrial warehouses and that the Czech Center for Mat- erial Supply has issued stringent restrictions on. `its use by industrial enterprises. On the other hands in April the Czech trade delegation in West Germany suddenly dropped its demands for German delivery of 25,000 tons of scrap, stating that Czecho- slovakia was able to import the scrap from an unnamed source. In view of this and of Malek?s claim of the existence of "huge quantities of scrap," it is possible that the short- age in Czech industry is due to administrative failure rather than to an actual lack of scrap metal in the country. 3. Hungarian Ministr, criticized for bauxite production failure-. sca ng a or a n e Hungarian ommun s - pe on a..~.. rd.m way - - - - Mining for the failure of the bauxite mines to meet their quotas for the first quarter of 1952.. In view of the importance of Hungarian bauxite to Soviet planning, the US Legation in Budapest believes that serious repercussions against the Ministry are likely. It notes that a delegation of Soviet production experts visited u for several mmonthe Comment-0 All bauxite mines in Hungary are owned by a join ~ungariann-Soviet corporation and almost half of their production goes to the USSR. Hungary accounted for more than one-third of the Soviet Orbit's total bauxite production in 1950. 4. New Rumanian judicial cyst m resembles that of USSR: The Rumanian Grand National Assem establish a "unified court system" correspond with the ad,mini ,tratiye of the country. y as passe ITTS-T-0 which is intended to and economic divisions .Comment o The new Rumanian court organization ap- proximates at of a Soviet Republic. 9 June 52 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved Fo elease 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79TO11460(001000190001-1 SECRET The Rumanians have also set up a commission to draft a new constitution which undoubtedly ;will resemble more closely the Soviet Conetitution.than does thearesent basie law. 3 9 June 52 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved FRelease 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01WA001000190001-1 25X1 FAR EAST 50 Rhee may be replaci chiefs of staff. American Charge Lightner reports the rece,:pt o information that President Rhee is planning to replace all. three chiefs of staff, and to conduct an extensive shake-up of the top levels of the South Korean Army. A report that the President has directed the Army Chief of Staff to transfer six of his ranking officers suggests that Rhee is putting such a plan into effect o 25X1 Comment. Recent information has indicated that all three chiefs of staff have been alienated by Rhee?s redsaat behavior a 7. Communists plan. Pacific 00peace" conference for September Delegates from 20 Asian and. American countries, meeting it Peiping from 3 to 6 June, set the last week of September 1952 as the date for a.Communist-sponsored P?peaceP conference of 500 representatives of Pacific states. The September conference, according to Peiping?s pre- liminary statement, will call upon Pacific countries to oppose Japanese ?Bremilitarization, PO to "settle " eacefull.y49 25X1 4 9 June 52 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved Fo;,Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79TO11i 001000190001-1 SECRET 25X1 the Korean conflict, and to "solve reasonably" the conflicts in Indochina and Malaya. Peiping's pronouncements suggest that the Soviet bloc does not anticipate major developments in Korea or Southeast Asia in the next four months. They also support previous in- dications of a temporary shift of emphasis in Asian tactics awa from the use of military force. 8. American missionaries imprisoned in.China may be release : Three Catholic priests, the first er cans to be released from Chinese Communist prisons since December 1951, have arrived in Hong Kong. Since 10 May, a total'of 15 Americans, 12 of whom are priests, have been given exit permits and have left China. Comment: More than 200 missionaries, representing severalcountries are imprisoned in China. Premier Chou 25X1 En-lai told I lalmost all of them would be re ease in anout T EX wee s. Although it remains doubtful that the majority of the imprisoned missionaries will be freed by the end of June, the current releases and the sudden increase in the number 25X1 of issued exit permits are favorable signs. 9 June 52 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved ?F* elease 2005/04/22: CIA-RDP79TO1 14GA001 000190001 -1 SECRET 25X1 25X1 11. Letourneau expected to ask considerable increase in American aid next year: rend mister Resident a ourneau will _request in as ington in mid-June only a small increase in American aid for Indo- china in 1952, but will seek assurances, if not commitments, of a substantially larger contribution for 1953. Frances's total 1953 budget for Indochina operations is expected to equal about 144 billion dollars, of which.France would be "unable" to finance more than one billion. The French "presumably" expect the United States to make up the difference. Comment-. The anticipated request for 1953 reflects no increase over 1952 in the French financial effort, but a rise of nearly 300 percent in the American share. Such an increase would absorb the bulk of the additional 300 million dollars of over-all American support proposed by France early in May. 25X1 25X112. Viet Minh viewed,as war-wear -. 25X1 Viet Minh forces nave weakened by heavy losses. and are ecoming war-weary 25X1 General Salan, commander of French forces, is optimistic about the. military situation in Vietnam. 25X1 9 June 52 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79TO1146AO01000.190001-1 Approved Fo,%Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79TO1 14GA001 000190001 -1 SECRET 25X1 25X1 Comment: A deterioration in the Viet Minh position brought about by recent French clearing operations in the Tonkin delta, a continuing improvement in the French logistic position thanks to American aid, and the failure of the Viet Minh to attempt a major offensive since February may be cited as causes for this reported optimism. The Viet Minh is expected, however, to utilize the rainy season to train its forces, bring units up to strength, and stockpile supplies from China. Prior to the Viet Minh's. heavy offensive in northwestern Tonkin last September and its sustained campaign from December to February, similar reports of weakness were received. 1947 Coup Party extends grip on Thai Government machinery: The American. Embassy reports that the recently reorganized National Economic Council. is made up almost entirely of cabinet members and includes nearly all of the important Coup Party leaders in the Cabinet. 7 9 June 52% Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved F **Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01t*1 A001000190001-1 25X1 Meanwhile, it is reported that the Minister of Industries has resigned in disgust over Coup Party corruption and inter- ference with the administration of his department. He is said to have made reconsideration of his resignation conditional upon a promise of Coup Party non-interference with his work. The Embassy comments that these are the latest incidents of a long process by which the Coup Party has eliminated al- most, all of the capable government servants and replaced them with its greedy cbhortsa regarded as civil wa,ro The 1`ellow-traveling Burma orkers an Peasants Party has called for the repeal of the High 16. Burmese fellow-travelers insist Communist insurrection be Treason Act, which provides for capital punishment of poli- tical prisoners o The party argubs that the Communist uprising in Burma is civil war, not rebellion, and therefore that all captured or surrendered personnel should be treated as prisoners of ware Comment. Burmese Government leaders have publicly reject mmunist peace feelers and the army is conducting its most intensive anti-Communist.campaign since early 1950. However, during the whale insurrection, no Communists are known to have been executed under the Nigh Treason Act SECRET 8 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved Far?Release 2005/04/22: MPA001000190001-1 SECRET 25X1 17. French firm awarded contract to drill for oil in 25X1 I .;central Afghanistan. Political considerations were reportedly the deciding factor, since the King felt thata French com- pany would be less objectionable to the USSR than an American one. awarded a contract to drill or oil at Sar-i-Pul in north- The American Embassy believes that it will be at least 25X1 six months before drilling begins. 25X1 Comment: The USSR would find French exploration for oil less than one hundred miles from the Soviet border almost as distasteful as American. The presence of any Westerners in the area might invoke a Soviet protest or demand for rights in other parts of Afghanistan. The USSR is already negotiating for the installation of oil'storage tanks on the outskirts of Kabul, and has-'informally offered the Afghan Government assistance in drilling test holes. SECRET 9 June 52 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved Fd%Release 200/MT CIA-RDP79TO111 001000190001-1 WESTERN EUROPE 20, East Germans reportedly centralize control in "inner cabinet"'- 25X1 an astGerman nner cabinet" with top East German Communist Waiter Ulbridt as chair- man-has been organized directly under the Soviet Control Com- mission to "coordinate measures for the protection of the German Democratic Republic." Werner Eggerath9 State Secretary for Coordination and Control, is a member of the group. The first orders issued by the cabinet were reportedly to put the People's Police under Deputy Minister of Interior Johannes Warnke 9 and to start the recruitment of labor gangs for con- 25X1 structing barriers along the zonal border. Comment: Premier Grotewohl announced last week the establish mentve economic coordinating agencies in East Germany. Eggerath?s announced appointment as head of one of these agencies 9 plus his elevation from the presidency of,Thuringia to cabinet rank 9 probably gives him extensive powers of control o The emphasis on economic coordination suggests that heavier armaments pro- duction is envisaged for East German remilitarization, The reported consolidation of control in the hands of an may be in preparation for granting the government ostensible full sovereignty. "inner cabinet" of the most reliable and efficient Communist 25X1 21. Heavy weapons issued to East German Alert Police-. The issue of Sov et weapon t t ?e~ Est`? an~~n der o ce HVA) units has been confirmed, each unit receiving four 128=mm mortars 9 twelve 45-mm antitank guns, twelve 76-m m field guns, and four 76-mm antiaircraft guns. Two units have also received 2,000 Soviet-model 1944 carbines, and a third has received an unknown number of T=34 tanks. a similar 25X1 issue of heavy weapons nas Deem Mae to reur o er units, 25X1 American military observers in Europe comment that the geo- graphical spread of the units known to have received heavy weapons suggests that all 24 units may be being so equipped. They note that there has been no significant increase in the personnel or the scope or intensity of training, and that the HVA is still dependent on the Soviet forces for logistical support. SECRET 11 9 June 52 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved Fo telease 20fT51UJ : CIA-RDP79TO1146dk001000190001-1 , CommentThe issuance ?. of heavy -weapons and::reliable reports accelerated recruiting add to evidence that HVA ex- pansion may be imminent. The Free German Youth, a Communist youth organization, is the source of the most reliable recruits. 228 Communist China in arrears onpayments due to East Germany The gist erman a ne approve an appropriation on 22 May o nearly 3:9 million marks (approximately ten million dollars, at the official rate of exchane) to the DIA (German Import-Export 25X1 Corporation) s appropriation was required because of "failure. 25X1 I Comment: This appropriation to the Import-Export Corporation suppor s recent reports that the Chinese are in arrears on their payments to Eaat German exporters. The unpaid balance due from China, as well as the disappointing quality of imports from China, has prolonged the negotiations for a new Sino-East German agree- ment covering 1952 trade. Althouth.the USSR is said to be bringing pressure on. the East Gershs to sign such a pact and negotiations have been underway for several months, no agreement has been announced, . 238 Adenauer optimistic on early West German ratification of treaties: Chancellor ennauer believes that the growing support of coalition partners will ensure ratification of the EDC treaty and the contractual agreement before the summer recess of Parliament. The recess, however, will have to be postponed until August, 25X1 the Constitutional Court issue will first have to be settled and the government's position in the Senate strengthened. Furthermore, ` `:?Senate approval of the agreement is an "indispensable prerequisite" for early ratification. Comment- West. German ratification might be delayed by such possi eeVelopments as Allied-Russian unity discussions, the eruption of the Saar issue, or attempts by coalition groups to indulge in last-minute log=rolling. 248 MIGa154ype aircraft overfly West Germany. Two M]IG-15mtype a i:rc on 4 June overflew es an territory in the Maierhof vicinity of the GermanCzechoslovak border area. The 12 9 June 52 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 25X1 Approved FOrr.Release 20MZff: CIA-RDP79T011 001000190001-1 25X1 planes headed in an easterly direction, turned north at Maierhof, approximately 60 miles northeast of Munich and 50 miles inside Germany, circled over Weiden, 15 miles from the border, at 1000 feet, turned west and disappeared into Czechoslovakia. The air- craft markings were described as a "half-filled red circle "\ I Comment; Although the overflight may represent an inten- tional bor- er violation, it is more probable that the aircraft became lost while on a training mission and, after orientation at Weiden, returned to Czechoslovakia. A Czech airfield, approxi- mately mately 80 miles east of Maierhof, is known to be capable of handling high-performance aircraft. 26. Czech delegates withdraw visa applications for Paris peace meet inga a zec ore gn Office- as withdrawn I_Ts_____appIIcaT ion 9 June 52 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146A001000190001-1 Approved Fir Release 20ff: CIA-RDP79T01i'A001000190001-1 25X1 Confer- for 15 French visas for delegates to the "International scheduled ence on the Peaceful Solution of the German to-be held from 13 to 15 June in Panris, accordin to inform tion bass E m received from the French ------------- t from ? a Couracil will be Comment : This report coinci es Prague ~YorldPeace ~~a plenary session held in Berlin from 1 to 5 July. The Paris meeting may have been cancelled or merged with the Berlin iof closehave,created demonstrations culminating in the an atmosphere that is not conducive to Communist meetings in Paris. The :Council agenda for the Berlin meeting calls for discussion the peaceful solution of the German and Japanese problems- the immediate cessation of theT w in is agendaesuggestshthatmfurtherrpressure and the fight for peace. reementso will be exerted against the ratification of the Germany agreements. 27. Dutch strongly o pose appointment of Juin as SACEUR: The ce to ra~r can Embassy 11 11 Secre ary enera o t e -ffu--Fc-" ore gn itle would be for Mast rshalrJuinifeven .officials in The Hague that retained over-all command.- though France should General obtain Ridgway the He said that the Netherlan~st~se o"most anxious" ther countriestonathed the closer military association wit Continent, as opposed to the NATO powers, which the Dutch feel would be the effect of JuinPs owithin suchstruga for development power would place between the Germany Netherlands France and at the same time weaken Its link with the United States and Great Britain. General added that the appointment of Juin as support of the The Secretary e r is SACEUR would certainly weakene atr com it when mun ty C om European Defense ; Comment: Distrust of Faenshf?ra Dutchi~e~~ct~~ce?toisend was one~~he important rea discussions until an official delegate to the Defense Community rf for theto NettheherClands' last fall. This same fear was also etbasis insistence on obtaining a British defense munityo SECRET 14 9 June 52 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146A001000190001-1 25X6 Approved FRelease 20Mh 2-: CIA-RDP79TOI1 001000190001-1 LATIN AMERICA 29, Argentina has reportedly prepared a crystal coffin for Senora a Peron: crystal coffin has been prepared for Senora e Peron, in accordance with a plan to emulate the USSR and . display her in the same manner that Lenin is displayed, according to US Embassy sources in Santiago, Chile. The plan is based on the opinion that Peron is losing political strength and that if Evita, after death, can be raised to the emotional plane of a national saint, a revolution may be temporarily avoided. Many believe that the majority of the alleged plots against Peron are:Peronista-planned for the purpose of permitting a 25X1 display of his invincibilit Comment: It is quite possible that Peron has widely publicizea fictitious plots in order to strengthen security measures against the numerous small groups reported to be plotting independently against him. Consequently, a strong at- tempt to oust the government could result in considerable chaos 25X1 and bloodshed. Senora de Peron?s physical condition is now extremely critical. 9 June 52 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 i Approved Foh&elease 2005/MRE'IA-RDP79T0114WO01000190001-1 25X1 314 Bolivian president's views on nationalization reported: Press ent Paz Estenssoro favors the eory of nationalization of mines, but realizes that local technicians are not qualified to operate them efficiently. In contrast, Vice President Siles and Minister of Mines Lechin favor outright nationalization. Paz recognizes that Lechin is troublesome and therefore is deciding the best way to deal with him in the near future. Despite the resentment of certain army officers, Paz believes that he must rebuild the army as a force against the armed miners who are loyal to Lechin and whom he considers to be a menace to the government. Comment: A government monopoly on all mineral exports was decreed on 3 June. The official Banco Minero will be the sole exporter of minerals, and producers will be paid only in bolivianos. In the meantime a commission has been named to study nationalization of the "big three" tin mines and. to report its findings within 120 days. Juan Lechin has accused Paz of temporizing on the issue of nationalization and has threatened to lead a revolt against Paz if the latter does-not act shortly. The new export monopoly may be in response to these threats. 16 9 June 52 25X1A Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved For Relea2005/04/22: CIA-RDP79T01146A001W190001-1 TOP SECRET 9 June 1952 CIA No. 49682 Copy No. 46 TOP SECRET SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST Not for dissemination outside O/CI and O/NE. Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY This digest of significant reports has been prepared primarily for the internal use of the Office of Current Intelligence. It does not represent a complete coverage of all current reports in CIA or in the Office of Current Intelligence. Comments represent the immediate views of the Office of Current Intelligence. TOP SECRET Approved For Release 20U5/U4/22 : - 46AO01 000190001 -1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Rele, 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO0 0190001-1 THIS MATERIAL CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN TIM MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE LAWS, TITLE 18, USC9 SECS, 793 AND 794, THE TRANSMISSION OR REVELATION OF WHICH IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY L4W. NEAR EAST - AFRICA 25X1 2. Little progress being made in Sudanese-Egyptian talks: Little progress is e ng ma a in t o current tat s n lexan ria between a Sudanese delegation and Egyptian officials. The Egyptian Prime Minister has emphasized that recognition of Farouk?s title as King of the Sudan would be subject to Sudanese self-determination. The Sudanese have stated that they do not like either the Egyptian constitution for the Sudan or the one recently introduced into 25X6 the Legislative Assembly by the British Governor General. 1 9 June 52 Approved For Release 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01000190001-1 Approved For Releape 2005/04/22 : CIA-RDP79T01146A00`160190001-1 TOP SECRET Comment: The major concession that the Sudanese could gain from Britain would be the setting of a definite and early date for full independence. 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/04/22: Cl -RDP79T01146A0010?0UOO 1-$2 "~1CLASSIFIED when bAP ed RgFeae*t20 /@ 4/tP SG#AtIRf3PTTf$'~Y 6 ~l 6 ~CRf~~I or ried when filled in form is detached from controlled document. CONTROL AND COVER SHEET FOR TOP SECRET DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION SOURCE O DOC. NO. DOC. DATE COPY NO. NUMBER OF PAGES NUMBER OF ATTACHMENTS REGISTRY CIA CONTROL NO. DATE DOCUMENT RECEIVED LOGGED BY ATTENTION: This form will be placed on top of and attached to each Top Secret document received by the Central Intelligence Agency or classified Top Secret within the CIA and will remain attached to the document until such time as it is downgraded, destroyed, or transmitted outside of CIA. Access to Top Secret matter is limited to Top Secret Control personnel and those individuals whose official duties relate to the matter. Top Secret Control Officers who receive and/or release the attached Top Secret material will sign this form and indicate period of custody in the left-hand columns provided. Each individual who sees the Top Secret document will sign and indicate the date of handling in the right-hand columns. REFERRED TO RECEIVED RELEASED SEEN BY OFFICE SIGNATURE DATE TIME DATE TIME SIGNATURE OFFICE/DIV. DATE NOTICE OF DETACHMENT: When this form is detached from Top Secret material it shall be completed In the appropriate spaces below and transmitted to Central Top Secret Control for record. DOWNGRADED DESTROYED DISPATCHED (OUTSIDE CIA) TO BY (Signature) TO BY (Signature) WITNESSED BY (Signature) BY (Signature) OFFICE A pft1/ed For ? 's 2005/04/22: CI ~~UP79T011 6AO01000190001-1 DATE FORM 26 u8E PREVIOUS EDITIONS. 8-73 TOP SECRET