CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/04/04

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02014428
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: March 18, 2019
• Document Release Date: March 28, 2019
• Publication Date: April 4, 1951

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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BUL
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CIAANGE IN CLASS.
I ; EKICLASSIFED
CLAn. CHANGED TO: TS ja
NEXT REVIEW DATE: iGgEol
Copy No., ei
AUTI-1144-1R
DATE1 g. el __11REVIEWER:
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Alba
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SUMMARY
FAR EAST
2. Cabinet discussions continue in IndoA,Naja. (page 3).
NEAR EAST
4. Current Egyptian position on the Anglo-Egyptian treaty issue less
extreme (page 4).
EASTERN EUROPE
WESTERN EUROPE
6. Italian Communists might modify their public stand against NATO
(page 6).
7. Madrid students protest streetcar fare policy (page 7).
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2.
Cabinet discussions continue in LI nesia:
Premier-designate Sartono of the Indonesnh)(2)
National Party is continuing discussions
with the Masjumi (a Moslem Party and the
major element in the former government)
and with the other parties that supported the former government in an
attempt to discover a basis on which to form a coalition cabinet. The
question at issue is whether the Indonesian Nationalist Party will modify'
certain of its leftist policies with a view to enabling' the Masjumi, the
majority party in Parliament, to agree to participate in a new govern-
ment. If these two parties cannot reach an agreement, the Indonesian
Nationalist Party may fall back on a cabinet based on a broad party
grouping, excluding the Socialist and Communist parties and the Masjumi.
Comment: A cabinet formed by the Indo-
nesian Nationalist Party without the relatively conservative influence of
the Masjumi may lead to either a highly unstable or a leftist government
in Indonesia. Responsible Masjumi leaders are aware of this danger,
however, and are therefore believed to be willing to make considerable
concessions to the Indonesian Nationalists.
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NEAR EAST
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4. Current Egyptian position on the Anglo-Egyptian treat issue less extreme:
In a recent discussion with Assistant Sec-
retary of State McGhee in Cairo, Egyptian
Foreir Minister Salaheddin reviewed
Egypt s position regarding the Anglo-
Egyptian treaty issue. In the clearest exposition to date of the Egyptian
side of the controversy, Salaheddin stated that (a) Egypt would admit
litritish forces in wartime but not in peacetime, (b) the evacuation of
� British troops from the Suez Canal base should take place with a year
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TOP SECRET
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Jo eighteen mon , o Netihe trammg oi 1U,00L20,000
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Egyptian combat troops and 400 pilots to take over the defense job from
the UK, and (c) the UK should evacuate the Sudan in two or three years,
since the Sudan issue is inextricably tied to the question of British
evacuation of Egypt. Salaheddin also contended that the Middle Eastern
countries should have the first word regarding the defense of their own
territories. He asserted that Egypt would maintain the Suez base until
it was needed by the UK in wartime and that the final result would de
pend to a large extent upon- the amount of military and economic aid given
Middle Eastern countries.
.Comment: An Egyptian position as out-
lined above by Salaheddin with no further concessions reduces the pros-
pect for success in the Anglo-Egyptian treaty discussions. Two aspects
of the Egyptian position � which is held both by the government and the
general populace -- are unrealistic (a) Egypt cannot adequately maintain
the Suez Canal base, and (b) the majority of thi? Sudanese political parties,
while wishing for independence, oppose any kind of association under the
Egyptian Crown.
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- WESTERN EUROPE
6. it911213..s.,91a.m,,n21 ht modif their public staid against Am;
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In a recent statement, Pietro Nenni, leader
of the philo -Communist Italian Socialists)
termed the Atlantic Treaty "a necessity
under present conditions" and pleaded merely for "more cautious Italian
participation" in the treaty organization. Nennils changed attitude to-
ward the NATO is regarded in some quarters as part of a new Communist
"peace" offensive that will be further elaborated at the Communist Party
congress opening in Rome ,3 April.
Comment: This is the first indication
that the Italian extreme left may be considering an abatement of its attacks
against NATO. Such a development/Could be part of the Communist
tactic of confusing and dividing pro-Western forces in Italy. On the other
1
hand, the Communists may realize that their policy of opposingNATO
has failed to hinder effective Italian participation in Western efense
planning. Italian Communist attempts to stage political stri es in the
past, for example, in connection with Eisenhower's recent visit to Italy,
were not particularly successful.
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Midricl_s_tpleattpilotest streetcar fare policy:
quietly and
Some 1,000 University of Madrid students
are reported to have attempted to march
to the City Hall on 2 April ostensibly in
order to protest against restrictions on the
use of their streetcar passes. Some of the
demonstrators voiced their discontent with
the high cost of living. Following the arrest
of three leaders, the students dispersed
p serious injuries were reported.
Comment: On and 24 February, a simi-
lar protest by University of Barcelona students heralded the city-wide
streetcar boycott and gen3ral strike which had Barcelona in a turmoil
during the first two weeks of March. At this time, it was predicted that
the success of the Barcelona demonstrations and the apparently concilia,
tory attitude of the government might encourage Spaniards elsewhere to
voice their discontent against increasing economic hardships. The
calling of a cabinet meeting to consider the cost of living problem reveals
the government's growing apprehension that such incidents might spread.
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