CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/11/23

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02018014
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: June 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: June 27, 2019
• Publication Date: November 23, 1952

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SECUfY INFORMATION
23 November 1952
uopy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
Office of Current Intelligence
DOCUMENT NO. '37
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
0 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO:
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: H 70-2
DATE)
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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Taw,
REVIEWER:
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SECU Y INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
FAR EAST
1. Communist China seeks general trade agreement with Ceylon
(page 3).
SOUTH ASIA
2. Pakistan postpones consideration of withdrawal from the
Commonwealth (page 3).
3. Attempt to assassinate Afghan King reported (page 4).
4.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
EASTERN EUROPE
5. Fields reportedly returned to Prague as witnesses page 5).
6. Yugoslavia regards Albanian revolution possible next year (page 6).
WESTERN EUROPE
7. Rothensee shiplift reportedly back in operation (page 6).
8. Pinay government seen determined to oust Communists (page 7).
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IET
FAR EAST
Communist China seeks general trade agreement with Ceylon:
Comment: In support of its campaign
to promote opposition to American sponsored restrictions on trade
with China, Peiping has already negotiated a sale of 80, 000 tons
of rice in exchange for which the Colombo government agreed not
to block exports of rubber to China. The above is the first reliable
evidence that Ceylonese and Chinese Communist representatives
have carried on extensive discussions looking toward a, general
trade agreement between the two countries.
A general trade agreement would be a
major success in Peiping's campaign, since it would be the first
to be concluded between China and any government not under
Soviet influence.
SOUTH ASIA.
2. Pakistan postpones consideration of withdrawal from the Common-
wealth:
The Pakistani Cabinet has decided to
postpone consideration of Pakistan's
withdrawal from the Commonwealth in
the hope of being invited to �articipate
'n th iddle East Defense Or anization,
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the govern-
ment will reconsider the question of withdrawal if nothing comes 3.3(h)(2)
of any invitation to join MEDO.
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Comment: Pakistan is unlikely to
withdraw from the Commonwealth in the near future since the
benefits it now obtains from membership outweigh those to be
gained by withdrawal.
The government, recognizing an opportuni-
ty to obtain defense supplies and equipment, without immediate
likelihood of its employment in the defense of the Middle East, may
be using the threat of withdrawal to override criticism of the
British plan for its inclusion by nations such as India, Turkey, and
France and to ensure that the projected invitation is actually de-
livered.
3. Attempt to assassinate Afghan King reported:
Five men attempted to assassinate King
Zahir Shah while he was on a recent hunting
trip in central Afghanistan, \
Three
e men were killed by the king's entourage, but two escaped.
Comment: There is no evidence that
this and an earlier attack on the king's life, rumored to have
occurred in mid-August, were planned by organized opposition
groups. The above may have been a spontaneous effort by central
Afghan Hazara tribesmen, who have been kept in a state of sub-
jection by the Kabul regime.
The oligarchy which rules Afghanistan
is composed mainly of the king's relatives. It wolild not be
seriously disorganized by the king's death, though it might un-
dertake certain changes in government personnel and policies to
allay or suppress the opposition evidenced by an assassination.
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4.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
EASTERN EUROPE
5. Fields reportedly returned to Pragtie as witnesses:
oel Field,
his wife, and his brother Herman were
brought to Prague under strong guard
on 18 October in preparation for the current trial of Czech Com-
munist, leaders. They were returned at the request of President
Gottwald at the Moscow Party Congress, where the decision to
hold the trial was made.
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the Fields' testi-
mony will be used mainly to compromise American policy in Europe
and to discredit Slansky's appointees in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
who have confessed that they were in contact with Noel Field during
and following the war.
Comment: The Fields disappeared
successively in 1949 and rumors have persisted that they were taken
to Lublianka prison in Moscow.
6. Yugoslavia regards Albanian revoiution possible next year:
jYugoslav authorities
feel a revolution can be successfully "pro-
voked" in Albania next year.
Comment:
representatives of Tito recently presented to Albanian
exile-leaders in Yugoslavia a plan to incorporate Albania into Yugo-
slavia. This is inconsistent with other recent reports that overtures
by the Yugoslays to Albanian exiles in the West, in which they pro-
mise to respect the independence of Albania, have met with some
success.
WESTERN EUROPE
Rothensee shiplift reportedly back in operation:
According to a report from German
-authorities, the Rothensee shiplift has
been handling vessels of the East German
Inland Waterway Services for some time,
and 42 East Zone ships have already passed through the lift.
American officials in Bonn believe that this may foreshadow a
reopening of the lift to Western shipping in the near future.
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Comment: Soviet officials within the
last week informed High Commissioner Donnelly that, in consider-
ation of his request, steps have been taken to speed the repairs
at Rothensee and that he would be advised when the lift is put into
operation.
8. Pinay government seen determined to oust Communists:
The French Cabinet is considering a
draft bill for dismissal from state employ
of all members of the Communist Party
and front organizations. The bill is
not expected to be submitted to the 'National Assembly for some
time.
Comment: Despite continuing efforts
to transfer known Communists to positions not involving national
security, they are believed to be still strong enough in the nation-
alized transportation and communication industries to tie up
these organizations in an emergency.
The cabinet has not yet decided whether
the measure should apply to all 962, 000 members of the civil
service or only to its senior members and to the directors of
nationalized industries.
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