CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/06/06

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02733135
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
March 18, 2019
Document Release Date: 
March 28, 2019
Publication Date: 
June 6, 1951
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15587382].pdf225.94 KB
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3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  w U1-1 J.  , 6 June 1951  Copy No. el  CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN  146  DOCUMENT NO.  NO CHANGE IN CLAt3c3.  f- 1 DECLASSIFIED  CLASS, CHANGED TO.. "I 3  NEXT REVIEW DATE..  11EVIEWER..  HR 7  DKr  Office of Current Intelligence  CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY  3.5(c)  3.5(c)  3.5(c)  3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  ;Cr1 Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  SUMMARY  FAR EAST  New Communist jet aircraft reported in Korean theatre (page 3).   NEAR EAST  4. British hope to enlarge scope of oil negotiations (page 4),  EASTERN EUROPE  5. No unusual Soviet military activity in the Balkans noted by Yugoslays  (page 5).  WESTERN EUROPE  6. Sharing of Western economic aid to Yugoslavia still unresolved age. 6).  - 2 -  3.5(c)  3.3(h)(2)  3.5(c)  TOP RET  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  TOP SECflET  3.5(c)  FAR EAST  1. New Communist let aircraft reported in Korean theatre;  A recent Air Force operational summary 3.3(h)(2)  includes a delayed report of a 10 May sight- ing by a B-26 pilot of an enemy twin-jet  fighter in northwestern Korea. The UN  pilot "definitely identified" the enemy fighter as very similar to the  German ME-262 (which bears the superffcial characteristics of the  Soviet Type 8 jet). While inferior gunnery seemed to negate the pos- sibility of air-borne radar, the enemy aircraft may have been vectored  in by ground control. FEAF speculates that this third sighting of an  enemy twin-jet aircraft may indicate the presence of a new type air- craft in Korea "for combat testing, possibly with a view to adaptation  for use as an all-weather night fighter."  Comment: While no confirmation of the  type or performance of these new aircraft has been received, it is  probable that the USSR is conducting operational tests of newer types  of jet aircraft along the Sino-Korean border. Additionallyjthere have  been two sightings of enemy jet aircraft of an unidentified type believed  to be Type 15 Soviet fighters.  - 3  3.3(h)(2)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  3.5(c)  pproved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  T 'ClIET   3.5(c)  Comment: While the ROK Government has  publicly pledged itself to achieve overall unification of Korea and expul- sion of all Communists, the continuing flurry of rumors concerning a  UN "cease fire" at the 38th Parallel has greatly upset the ROK Govern- ment and may have forced a softening of their unification policy.  3.. Swedish Ambassador cites Communist China's vulnerabilities:  The Swedish Ambassador to Communist China  has stated that (a) China's military and in- dustrial potential has been "greatly overrated"  by Western nations; (b) the Chinese Communists  are in "critical need" of shipping and a "very  effective squeeze" could be placed on China if UN members agreed not  to permit their ships to call at Chinese ports; and (c) Communist materiel  losses in Korea are more important than their cisualties, as the Soviets  would "affix conditions" for resupply of equipment.  Comment: Although the Ambassador seems to  give too little weight to China's manpower resources, his opinion regarding  the effectiveness of a shipping embargo in "squeezing" Communist China  is supported by figures which show that most of the ships calling at China's  ports are Western flag vessels. Regarding Soviet conditions for replen- ishing materiel losses in Korea, there are indications that such materiel  has been and will be supplied on a cash or barter basis.  NEAR EAST  4. British hope to enlarge scope of oil negotiati rts.  In reporting the British decision to send  representatives of the Anglo-Iranian Oil  Company (AIOC) to Iran to meet with the  Oil Commission, US Embassy London states  that the Foreign Office envisages an effort to identify and clarify the  problems involved in nationalization before proceeding to definite  - 4 -  3.3(h)(2)  3.3(h)(2)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  TO? -SECRET  3.5(c)  proposals. In this way the British hope to wean Iran away from its narrow  attitude that any discussion must be within the framework of the nationali- zation law.  Comment: The British decision was made in  answer to the Iranian aide memoire handed to an AIOC representative  on 30 May which outlined Iranian plans for implementing the nationaliza- tion law and which requested that AIOC comment on the plan within five  days. Although Iranian Premier Mossadeq's reiterated willingness to  receive company representatives suggests that the Iranians realize the  magnitude of their problem and desire AIOC cooperation, the Foreign  Office hopes that it will be able to weaken Mossadeq's determination to  nationalize the oil industry seems unlikely to be realized. The arrival  of the British mission, however, should pr vide Mossadeq with an ex- cuse to postpone hasty action in implementing the law.  EASTERN EUROPE  5. o unusual Soviet military activity in the Balkans noted by Yugoslays:  Yugoslav officials have informed Embassy  Belgrade that they are convinced there are  no Soviet troop units in Bulgaria. They  also do not believe that a Soviet armored  division has arrived in Constanta, Rumanian Black Sea port.  Comment: The Yugoslav statement, as  well as recent information frOm Western diplomats, tends to refute  reports of unusual Soviet military activity in the Balkans. Recent re- ports of the arrival of Soviet troop units in northeastern Bulgaria   have also been largely refuted   Constanta is known to be headquarters for the estimated 30,000  Soviet troops in Rumania and is an important port of entry for Soviet  equipment destined for the Balkan Satellites.  �  3.3(h)(2)  3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135  CRET  WESTERN EUROPE  6. Sharing of Western economic aid to Yugoslavia still unresolved:  UK Foreign Secretary Morrison, in an  interview with US Ambassador Gifford and  the chief US delegate to the US-UK-France  talks on economic aid to Yugoslavia, stated  that Chancellor of the Exchequer Gaitskill insists that the UK cannot  provide the full 25 percent share being urged by the US. Morrison  also expressed concern lest UK agreement to the 25 percent share set  a precedent. He agreed, however, that official notification to the US  of the maximum British contribution should be speedily forthcoming and  agreement reached at the earliest possible opportunity.  Comment: The three countries have  reached substantial agreement on the many vexing problems involved  in the program for meeting Yugoslavia's substantial trade deficit and  they hope to coordinate this program with a $200 million investment  loan from the International Bank. Throughout the talks, however, the  UK Treasury has apparently remained unimpressed by Foreign Office  reminders of the�urgency of the Yugoslav situation, probably owing  to a preoccupation with the UK's own economic difficulties. The UK  decision will determine the share accepted by the French, who insist  that their share shall not be more than half that of the British.  6  3.5(c)  3.3(h)(2)  3.5(c)  Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2733135