CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1958/11/18

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06531976
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 27, 2020
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2020
• Publication Date: November 18, 1958

2020/01/23
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18 November 1958
Copy No. C bU
CENTRAL
TELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
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I. THE COMMUNIST BLOC
Berlin Situation
Western officials in Berlin and Paris feel the situation
in Berlin is not one of immediate danger, although the long-
term dangers remain undiminished. The US Mission in
Berlin does not. see in the detention of American military
vehicles on 14 November either the beginning of a blockade
,or the actual implementation of Khrushchev's threats con-
cerning Berlin. The mission considers that the first sign
of such implementation would be the abolition of the Soviet
Kommandatura in Berlin or the turnover: of one or more
-access controls to the East Germans. Premier Grotewohl's
statement on 17 November that he would be "abroad" on 13
December supports a report that East Germany and the
� USSR will negotiate in Moscow in December concerning a
transfer of Soviet quadripartite functions to the East Ger-
mans.
Harassment of allied access to Berlin is likely to
continue, however, and Soviet authorities have insisted they
have the right to inspect covered allied vehicles en route
- to or from West Berlin.
� Top French Foreign Ministry officials believe there
is no limit to the potential seriousness of the Berlin situa-
tiOn or the extent to which Moscow may be prepared to go.
Paris is backing a strong show of unity among the NATO
'countries and has expressed a willingness to take a larger
� � share in an airlift than it did in 1948.
On 17 November, Pravda reiterated Khrushchev's con-
tention that the allies have forfeited their right to stay in
� Berlin and further asserted that the ,allied position did not
� rest on Germany's unconditional surrender, as maintained by
the West, but on the Potsdam Agreement which, it declared,
had been voided by allied actions.
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18 Nov 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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Pagel
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O
West Berlin officials, while publicly dismissing Khru-
shchev's threats as a "bluff," are privately concerned at the
possible long-term effects on West Berlin of a period of tension.
They feel that while in 1948 Berliners had little to lose, West
Berlin's present prosperity may have undermined the readiness
to undergo another blockade. In this situation, cWest
mayor reluctantly believes that the acceptance of East Ger-
mans at control points as agents of the USSR represents the
best alternative, although West German officials fear that
any policy which could be interpreted as a retreat by the
West would lead to public unrest in West Berlin.
"
18 Nov 58 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2
Approved for Release: 2020/01/23 C06531976