CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T01146A001200240001-3
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
9
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
November 18, 2003
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 11, 1952
Content Type: 
REPORT
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Approved Forplease 2004/01/15: CIA-RDP79T0114WP01200240001-3 SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION US OFFICIALS ONLY 11 September 1952 OCI No. 8872 Copy No. 235 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DIGEST Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 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. State Dept. review completed SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01200240001-3 Approved For-lease 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T0114601200240001-3 SECRET THIS 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. 1. Hungary reduces surrender obligations for crops hit by peasants for corn, potatoes, sunflower seeds and forage have been reduced because of drought damage to crops. Nagy de- clared that the rumors of the return of rationing which caused a scare-buying wave last weekend were enemy propaganda and pointed to the lifting on 7 September of restrictions on the free marketing of cereals as proof of the ade uac of food supplies. 25X1 Comment: The campaign to force peasants to surrender crop quotas is still in progress, despite Nagy's reassuring speech, and the Budapest newspapers and radio have carried accounts of punishment of local and party officials who were accused of leniency toward kulaks. However, recently there have been indications that the government would appease peasant discontent by sacrificing a few overzealous local officials. recently stated that the surrender obligations of working drought- Hungarian Minister of Crop Collection Imre agy 2. New Rumanian administrative divisions discussed: The American Legation in Bucharest reports a reduction of Rumanian administrative divisions from 28 to 18 will probably facilitate centralized control by the regime. The new regions are modifications of the basic changes which were made in 1950 for the purpose of abolishing the "artificial separation" of industrial and agrarian centers and bringing all agricultural districts of the country into close contact with at least one industrial center. After two years' experience with the new breakdown, the regime had de- cided to eliminate some of the weak or small regions which burdened the state budget and "lacked both industrial centers .1, and the general facilities corresponding to the re uire- ments of a regional capital." 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/01/15: I IA-RDP79T01146A00120024(lM1Sbpt 52 Approved Folease 2004/01/15: CIA-RDP79T0114U01200240001-3 Comment: Although there has been no official announce- ment,_TY appears that Article 18 of the draft Rumanian constitution which set up these new regions may already have been put into effect. Another provision of the new consti- tution, the setting up of a Ministry of State Farms, was carried out on 13 July, five days before publication of the draft. 2 11 Sept 52 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01200240001-3 Approved For-lease 2004/01/15: CIA-RDP79T0114VA 01200240001-3 4. Chinese Communists plan "autonomous" administration for western SikaNg Province: Peiping Radio announce on ep ew- er that all minority groups in Sikang Province of Southwest China will have autonomous rights by the end of 1952. Local administrations to be set up will correspond to the ethnic distribution of the population. Homogeneous areas will have "regional national autonomous governments," and areas of mixed nationality will have "joint autonomous governments Comment: A Tibetan Autonomous Regional Government, sub- ordinate-to- the Sikang Provincial Government, was inaugurated in November 1950 and has had jurisdiction over most of Sikang 25X6 25X1 3 11 Sept 52 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01200240001-3 Approved Folease 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79701146A.001 200240001-3 I-W east of the Yangtze River. Over the past two years, in the process of taking over Tibet, the Chinese Communists have been consolidating control over the rest of Sikang, stretch- ing 400 miles west of the Yangtze River. The Peiping announce- ment that western Sikang will have an administration corre- sponding to that for eastern Sikang suggests that the Sikang Provincial. Government will now assert control over the western part of the province in fact as well as in name. Indications are that this area, traditionally under the influence of the Lhasa regime, is experiencing tighter Chinese control, under the guise of autonomy, because the Chinese do not trust their collaborators in Lhasa, 5. Peiping reports first locomotive made entirely in China: The Ssufang railway workshop near s ng ao completed the rst locomotive made entirely in China on 26 July, according to a Peiping news broadcast. The locomotive tested well, running at 75 kilometers (45 miles) an hour and pulling 3,000 tons of freighte The use of Soviet methods enabled the workers to make parts which formerly had to be imported. 25X1 Comment: The emphasis in this news item is the phrase "made en rely in China." Several large workshops in Man- churia and two in China proper, including the one at Ssufang, have produced locomotives, using imported wheels,air brakes, couplers and other specialized fittings. It is estimated that, by using a few imported parts, about 65 to 70 locomo- tives a year can be manufactured in Manchuria and China proper. Actual production is unknown, but may be less than capacity because of heavy repair and maintenance demands on China's railway workshops. 6. FQrmosa's minority parties will not enter candidates in December elections: Formosa's minority parties, the Demo- cratic oc a st Party and the Young China Party, have "given up completely" plans to enter candidates in the December elections. The last election, two years ago, was almost completely controlled by the Kuomintang through the secret police. Non-Kuomintang candidates were discriminated against.and even mistreated. 4 11 Sept 52 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01200240001-3 Approved FoR (ease 2004/01/15: CIA-RDP79T011 6D01200240001-3 SECRET However, some members of the Democratic Socialist Party, who are also members of the Kuomintang, may run in the elections in order to protect their government positions. Comment: Non-Kuomintang Party members have been very ineffective in the government. The Kuomintang has found that the presence of non-party members in the government protects it against criticism as a "one-party" regime. NEAR EAST - AFRICA 7 Ambassador Caffery analyzes Egyptian situation: Ambassa- dor-Ca ery believes triat 11a gyp an overnmen as probably entered a period of relative stability and that its domination by the military is likely to continue until the elections promised for January and possibly longer. He warns that the military group will be so occupied with the complex internal situation during the next few months that it will probably do nothing about external issues, like MEDO or the Anglo- Egyptian question. Caffery believes that the Egyptian officer clique wants a "general working alliance" with the United States but not with Great Britain. Egyptian reserve toward the British arises partly from nationalism in the army, where there is much sentiment for "evacuation before negotiations." At present, he states, the Egyptian military has no interest whatever in even talking with the British; he adds. that it would be unwise for the United States at this time to try to associate Britain in any talks with the Nagib government. The Ambassador warns, nevertheless, that the Egyptian military may be unable to control the forces it has released and that it may change its present objectives. Such possi- bilities may be decreased, he adds, by a constructive United States approach, particularly in the technical assistance Moroccan official protests France's conduct of Morocco's foreign relations: The Moroccan ran z r as the highest o cia in e aghzen, the Sultan's government, presided over a meeting on 4 September of Residency and Maghzen officials called by the French Resident General to discuss 5 11 Sept 52 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T01146A001200240001-3 Approved Folease 2004/01/15: CIA-RDP79T0116001200240001-3 the recent World Court decision upholding American treaty rights in Morocco. the 25X1 Grand Vizir told the Resident during this meeting that since France had not consulted the Maghzen about taking the case to court, the Resident alone should solve the problems created by the decision. 25X1 Comment: French action in holding a joint meeting of Moroccan and French officials is unprecedented. In view of a possible UN discussion of France's methods of control in Morocco, this meeting probably is an attempt to belie France's direct administration. The Grand Vizir voiced the major Moroccan complaint against France -- unilateral conduct of the country's foreign relations without consultation. with its chief of state. The statement also lends credence to the report from another source that the Sultan will soon petition the International Court of Justice to force France to abide by the Treaty of Fez, which established the French protectorate in 1912, in the conduct of Moroccan foreign affairs. 9. Tunisian nationalists prefer present political impasse to a mortgaged u urea In commenting on the Beys rejection of renc proposals for reforms, which his letter to the President of the h Republic reportedly contained, I Istated that continuation of the present impasse wi a reach "for years" would be preferable to the offered reforms which would implant France more deeply in Tunisia and thus mortgage the birthright?of future generations. They also stated that no counterproposals were made because the Resident General submitted the program on a "take it or leave it" basis. Moreover, if the French desire to know what the Tunisians would accept, they can read the Bey's 1951 speech from the throne and the Chenik note of 31 October 1951, t move therefore is up to France. Comment. Tunisian desires for self-government were implici n the throne message of 15 May 1951 as well as explicit in Prime Minister Chenik's demands for a "homoge- neous administration" on 31 October 1951. The protocols of the French drafted legislation, which were submitted to the Bey last July, indicate no relaxation of French control, although the organs for its maintenance were revamped. 6 11 Sept 52 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T01146A001200240001-3 v z Approved Fo,R lease 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T011 01200240001-3 SECRET loo Soviet officials in Vienna shun trade talks with Austrians: Austrian Foreign Minister Gruber has informed the American Embassy that Soviet Political Adviser Kudryavtsev, whom he met at the Vienna Trade Fair, professed no knowledge of an Austrian note offering to open trade negotiations. Neither he nor any other Soviet official showed any desire to talk about possible Austro-Soviet trade. The Austrian Foreign Ministry interprets this as evidence that its note thwarted Soviet plans for an intensive propaganda barrage on behalf of East-West trade. If this barrage should later materialize, the Austrians believe that release of the Austrian note will "demolish" the Soviet position. Comment: It is too early to determine the probable Soviet reaction to the Austrian note. The Austrian Foreign Ministry, which disregarded American objections in making the offer, is anxious to demonstrate that its action has had favorable conse- quences. 110 Argentine armored unit moved from Buenos Aires to north- eastern prow nce: The 8th Cavalry Tan Regiment-, one o the principal armored units stationed near Buenos Aires, has reportedly been moved north from Campo de Mayo to either the Province of Entre Rios or the Province of Corrientes. The exact purpose of thi ent is not known. I 5--" Comment: The troop movement may reflect Peron's knowledge of reports that a revolt involving civilians and some army personnel is scheduled to begin in unnamed provinces this month. Brigadier General Filomeno Velazco, a former governor of Corrientes, has been reported to be a leader in plans for an army coup. Whether this attempt is to be part of the revolt reportedly planned for this month is not known. Peron's suspi- cion of the general was indicated at the recent conference of governors where Velazco was charged with corruption during his governorship. 25X1 25X1 7 11 Sept 52 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01200240001-3 12 Approved Fc r l elease 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T011 6 001200240001-3 25X1 8 11 Sept 52 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T01146AO01200240001-3