DAILY SUMMARY - 1946/08/09

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Daily Summary Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01068509
• Document Creation Date: September 11, 2018

Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068509
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff - 30 August 2018
TOttrif
GENERAL
INTIM!
9 AUG 1946
148
al,22Egramelirtew or Black Sea Straits --Achesonhas been
informed by the Soviet Embassy that the USSR, pursuant to the Berlin
- Big Three Agreement, has submitted a note to Turkey proposing re-
view of the Montreux Convention governing the Black Sea Straits. The
Soviet note, delivered on 7 August, points out to Turkey that during the
past war the Straits Convention did not prevent Germany and her allies
from using the Straits for military purposes against the USSR and other
Allied states. The Soviet Goverment accordingly proposes a new
regime for the Straits, based on (a) open passage through the Straits at
all times for merchant ships of all countries; (b) open passage at all
times for passage of warships of 'Black Sea powers; (alio passage
through the Straits of warships of non-Black Sea powers, except for
special cases; (d) restriction of responsibility for the Straits mime to
Turkey and the other Black Sea powers; (e) joint organization by Turkey
and the USSR of the defense of the Straits.
US Ambassador Wilson in Ankara, in reporting on the note, states
that the joint defense clause does not appear, according to the British, to
"have alarmed the Turks unduly." The Turks appear to be 'encouraged
by the fact that the USSR notified the US and UK of its action.
2. Brats_ h r9_nerted ,sendiag _LLOSits:a..ab_at troops to Abadan area--US Charge
Baghdad reports that a "Britishlipid) c relations officer, who is in posi-
tion to know," has stated that the British are sending to the Basra area
15,000 combat troops from India, rather than the brigade of 3,000 or
' 4,000 previously reported. The Charge comments that the British have
hoped, by describing the new troops as replacements for a "few thousand
men," to confuse and mollify public opinion. ,
3 BgedeLviolation of air cle4ance weements denied--In commenting on
a recent report of apparent Soviet violations of flight clearance Agree-
ments (see Daily SUMMIT of 2_ August, item 4), General Clay states that
the frequent "unscheduled" Soviet nights across. US Zone Germany in
recent months have been cleared by telephone with the .appropriate US
authorities, and that Soviet authorities have been "very cooperative" in
granting clearance for unscheduied US flights over the Soviet Zone.
4 Lebanon rady to sign air transjort agreement with US--US Minister
Wadsworth reports the Lebanese are williag to - the bilateral air
�
Document Ne. . 4)1!4t
c6i0
NO CHANGE in Class. 0
E] DECLASSIFIED
Class. CHANGED TO: TS
DDA Memo, 4 Apr 77
tAuth: DDA REG. 77/1763
41% 1 1
Date: 1 MAR 107R BY1 (-)"
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 C01068509
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068509
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff - 30 August 2018
transport agreement with the US and are very anxious to conclude the
agreement not later, than 10 August. The proposed agreement is virtually
identical with that signed by the US and Egypt on 15 !nue.
EUROPE -AFRICA
5 USSR: ysi.eit.s for Soviet chasing agents-.-US Embassy Moscow reports
that three Soviet citizens who had sought US visas as Soviet Purchasing
COIMMISSION1 officials now desire to visit the US as individual purchasing .
agents to deal directly with American firms. The Embassy believes that
granting the visas would enable the Soviet Government to circumvent the
current US effort to effect the early liquidation of the Commission's
operations, and therefore suggests that the visas not be issued.'
6. AUSTRIA: Jewish refugees to UK Zone--Clark reports that, in order to
assist in caring for the great number of Jewish refugees arriving in US
Zone Austria from the east (see Daily Summary of 5 August, item 4),
the UK Commander in Austria has agreed to take 1,500 refugees for
"temporary storage" in the UK Zone.
7. HUNGARY: Communist-fixed exchange rate disadvantageous to West--
US Minister Schoenfeld in Budapest reports that with the present Gov-
ernment-prescribed prices, there is a wide disparity between the-pur-
chasing power of the forint (the new Hungarian currency) and the official
foreign exchange rate. A member of the Government has admitted
privately to Schoenfeld that the Hungarian Communists planned the tow
exchange rates for western currencies in order to force barter arrange-
ments between Hungary and the Western Powers.
� FAR EAST
8, 1NDOCMNA: Tension mounting between French and Viet Nam--US Consul
Hanoi reports'that tension is increasing between the French and Viet
Namese as a result of the ambushing of a French motor convoy on 3
August. The Consul believes that there is danger of an open break, fol-
lowed by anarchy. The French admit that ultimate pacification of -the
country would be a "long, bitter operation?'
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068509
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068509
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff - 30 August 2018
THE AMERICAS
0: Post-election reaction omiimous--According to US Ambassador
Thurston, rising public resentment against political and economic devel-
opments is assuming dangerous proportions. Ninety percent of the Army
is reported to be dissatisfied with election results and the cost of living,
and might join a revolt. The attempts of the PRI (Government party) to
discredit the opposition have brought on increased agitation, and the US
Civil Attache has received reports of assertions that President-elect
Aleman may not live to take office. There are rumors that a military
man would be named provisional president should Alen= be assassi-
nated or the elections nullified.
10. GUATEMALA: Reported plans for border incident�The Guatemalan
Foreign Minister has Wormed US Ambassador Kyle that he has "unde-
niable evidence" of military movements in Nicaragua and Honduras
toward the Guatemalan frontier designed to create a border incident
which will result in the overthrow of the Guatemalan Government. The
President Of Costa Rica has informed the Guatemalan Minister to that
country that he had been approached to join in the move. "
The Minister expressed confidence that Guatemala could defend
Its frontiers, but he feared that the state of unrest would be seized upon
by dissident army and political elements, supported by funds from Nica-
ragua and Honduras, to effect a coup against the Government.
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO1068509