CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/06/06

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02929521
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
July 15, 2019
Document Release Date: 
July 22, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
June 6, 1953
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15671765].pdf227.97 KB
Body: 
/7-1VM/140);;;;23mved for Release: dr? SECU INFORMATION 1* 04/ /05 �# /// 6 June 1953 3.5(c) 00 00 rJ ff //' CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN /_,I 00 0,���..... DOCUMENT NO 5 -,-,!.., fy o� .f. NO CHANCE IN CLASS. j I -; DECIASSTIED j4d, el200/ CLASE. CHANC:ED TO: TS S el NE X 1-1L ViL"..--ki4 DA"( E: ADUATTEN� (2FiFti17:*. REVIEWER; Office of Current Intelligence Copy No. 67 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY /07/7117,1(A TOPS RET SEC INFORMATION / Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521 Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521 Nsoil SECMPJTY INFORMATION 3.5(c) SUMMARY SOVIET UNION L10�....�� Malenkov associate reportedly appointed to All-Union Secretariat (page 3). 2. Unusual communications change in Eastern Europe (page 3). SOUTHEAST ASIA 3. Thai military leaders favor early appeal to UN on Laos (page 4). NEAR EAST - AFRICA 4. Terrorists believed responsible for recent Israeli attacks on Jordan (page 4). WESTERN EUROPE Leftward swing in French Assembly seen closer (page 5). LATIN AMERICA 6. Argentine-Soviet trade talks to resume in Buenos Aires (page 6). * * * * - 2 - T ClrE T 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521 Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521 f or, r�r,i. - RITY INFORMATION 3.5(c) SOVIET UNION 1. Malenkov associate reportedly appointed to All-Union Secretariat: P, Ponomaren 0.3(h)(2) has been appointed to the All-Union Secretariat in place of S. D. Ignatiev, who was dismissed on 7 April for his connection with the incident of the doctors' plot. Comment: This reported appointment would support the thesis that Malenkov retains control over the appointments of top-level personnel. Ponomarenko was a member of the secretariat and minister of agricultural procurement until the reorganization after Stalin's death in March. He was then appointed head of the newly created Ministry of Culture, which controls all propaganda media, and an alternate member of the party presidium. He was associated with Malenkov in the 1943 committee charged with re-establishing Soviet control in the areas liberated from the German occupation, and his appointment to the secre- tariat following Zhdanov's death in August 1948 was the first of several apparently sponsored by Malenkov. 2. Unusual communications change in Eastern Europe: Comment No disciplinary action or severe security measures apparently resulted from the defection of the first Polish pilot, although pilots at a base in northern Poland were subse- quently not allowed within twenty miles of the Baltic coast. - 3 - TOP;EC�T 3.3(h )(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521 Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521 -1 kJr r.iii CURITY INFORAl ION 3.5(c) As a result of the 20 May defection, however, it is probable that more stringent security measures will be adopted and the political reliability of Polish air force personnel re-evaluated. SOUTHEAST ASIA 3. Thai military leaders favor early appeal to UN on Laos: French For Min Thai military leaders in late May unanimously Paris-London opposed Premier Phibun's proposal to postpone 26 May 53 indefinitely presentation of the Laos situation CANOE to the UN, according to the British charge in �1)--/s7/44-.3. Bangkok. They reportedly feared that such action would result in suspension of American arms shipments. Police Director General Phao took the position, moreover, that it would be better to appeal to the UN now, before more active Chinese Communist intervention in Southeast Asia would cause Peiping to consider such an appeal as provocative. Comment: It is believed that the Thai may postpone presenting the Laotian problem to the UN until the French government crisis has been resolved. The extent of American military support has always been a paramount consideration of Thai military leaders in formu- lating their policies in the cold war. Phao's reported attitude is a clear indication of how the Thai would waver in the face of serious Chinese Com- munist pressure. NEAR EAST - AFRICA 4. Terrorists believed responsible for recent Israeli attacks on Jordan: The British ambassador in Amman believes t3.3(h)(2) 26 May attacks on Jordanian frontier villages were committed by members of the outlawed -4- TOSEC P 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521 'Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521 - 1 lJt O.IcIVL., 1 Napo URITY INFORMATION `MINN, 3.5(c) Israeli terrorist Stern gang. His belief is based on conclusions reached by Glubb Pasha, British head of the Arab Legion, who conducted a thor- ough investigation in Jordan and talked with the British service attaches stationed in Tel Aviv. Comment: American consul general Tyler in Jerusalem previously reported an official Israeli investigation indicated that Israeli terrorists might be trying to precipitate war between Israel and jordan. These elements, not amenable to government control, have long pressed for an expansion of Israeli territory and have been aided in their activities by Tel Aviv's tendency to blame border incidents on the Arabs. WESTERN EUROPE 5. Leftward swing in French Assembly seen closer: The American embassy in Paris believes that3.3(h)(2) the failure of Mendes-France to win the premier- ship indicates that further search during the pres- ent crisis will again have to be directed toward the right center, probably enlarged to include a substantial number of Gaullists. Nevertheless, the embassy concludes, the time of fundamental change in orientation to a left-center majority in the as- sembly is closer than had been thought. A program capable of attracting the rank and file of the Socialists and center party deputies now exists for the first time. Its salient elements would include austerity, redistri- bution of the economic burden, and emphasis on investment. Foreign affairs were a prominent factor but EDC played only a minor role. Special consideration was given to Indochina, which will remain in the forefront of assembly discussions at least until the current crisis is resolved. Comment: Should the assembly reject Bidault, who is Auriol's current choice, as seems more likely now because of Radical Socialist pique over his refusal to support Mendes-France, ex- Premier Edgar Faure has a good chance to be invested. He favors much the same domestic economic program as Mendes-France, and while likewise - 5 - TOySEET 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521 ,Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521 tsixii *we SEC1kITY INFORMATION 3.5(c) "soft" on the Indochina question, escapes the liability of the latter's earlier outspoken stand on withdrawal. LATIN AMERICA 6. Argentine-Soviet trade talks to resume in Buenos Aires: Foreign Minister Remorino has informed Ambassador Nufer in Buenos Aires that a Soviet mission to complete details on Argentine-USSR trade talks is expected s or y. e propose agreement calls for Argentina to export $100,000,000 worth of hides, wool and fats in exchange for Soviet railroad wheels, rails and other manufactures. 3.3(h)(2) Remorino asked Nufer to assure Washington that no political provision will be included and no materials considered strategic by the United States will be exported by Argentina. Comment: Remorino's assurances are especially significant since President Peron is believed to be con- sidering renewing overtures to improve relations with Washington. Argentina and the USSR, which have had no direct trade since 1947, began talks in Buenos Aires last October, according to communications intelligence. Argentina, however, does have trade agreements with the. Satellites. If this agreement is on an annual basis, Argentina would probably find it difficult to export such large quantities. The Soviet Union could supply the categories it has agreed to export by drawing on Satellite sources. 6 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2929521