CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/12/30

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02020910
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: December 30, 1953

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DOCUMEAT NO.
NO CHANCE IN CLASS.
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS $ C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 20 0_2_
AUTFI: Fill 70
DATE:
(Ntt
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
:
REVIEWER
for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2020910 -
-T-O-P�SEERET
30 December 1953
Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
84
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SUMMARY
FAR EAST
India favors release of Korean prtsoners prior to reconvening of
General Assembly (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
French plan to retake Thalthek (page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Renewed Anglo-Egyptian talks unproductive (page 5).
5. Moroccan bombing produces critical situation (page 5).
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FAR EAST
1.
2. India favors release of Korean prisoners prior, to reconvening of General
Assembly:
Indian UN delegate Krishna Menon told
Ambassador Allen on 27 December that his
government believes a phased evacuation of
the Korean prisoners from the demilitarized
zone could begin on 23 January, thus making it unnecessary for the UN
to discuss their disposition.
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Menon also said that his government intends
to have Madame Pandit seek to recall the UN General Assembly on 9
February. The purpose of the session would be to give the Indian govern-
ment an opportunity to report on the armistice and to obtain directives
for any further action.
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Comment: Menon's observation apparently
represents India's present position. Prime Minister Nehru in a speech
on 23 December had suggested that the prisoners might be held beyond
the deadline if further detention seemed necessary to reach a settlement.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. French plan to retake Thakhek:
According to Commissioner General Dejean,
General Navarre plans to reoccupy Thakhek,
the Mekong River post in central Laos aban-
doned last week. Dejean told the American
charg�n 28 December that five parachute
battalions are being flown from the Tonkin
delta to augment French forces in the Thakhek
area which already approximate in numbers
the eight-battalion Viet Minh attack force.
The previous day General Navarre had said
that he was not unduly worried over the Viet Minh push to the Mekong,
but admitted it might throw his offensive plan somewhat off schedule.
Comment: The Viet Minh forces in central
Laos and Annam are believed inadequate to repulse a determined French
effort to retake Thakhek.
The major Viet Minh military threat is posed
by the forces in northwest Tonkin, now the equivalent of at least two
divisions. These units could invade northern Laos or, as the French
expect, attack the 12 French battalions at Dien Bien Phu in northwest
Tonkin. The American military attach�n Saigon reports increasing
indications of an attack on the latter objective.
The Viet Minh advance into central Laos was
apparently designed to force a dispersal of French reserves from the
vital delta area and thus prevent any French build-up that might threaten
its base areas.
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NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4.
Renewed Anglo-Egyptian talks unproductive:
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At an informal talk with British negotiators
on 26 December, the Egyptians were even
firmer than on 22 December regarding con-
cessions on the questions of availability of
the Suez base and of uniforms
for British technicians, according to
British ambassador Stevenson. As a result of the meeting, Stevenson
is now "even gloomier than before" on prospects for a settlement.
The Egyptians reportedly stated that the
Suez base could become available automatically only in the event of
an attack on an Arab state, and they would make no concessions what-
ever on the question of uniforms.
Comment: Before the meeting, Vice
Premier Nasr had told American embassy officials that Egypt would
not make any new concessions. He had indicated that the present talks
are being held merely because the regime "needs a little more time to
prepare for the consequences of a break with Britain."
The Anglo-Egyptian talks which were sus-
pended on 21 October were reopened informally on 22 December follow-
ing Ambassador Stevenson's return from London.
5. Moroccan bombing produces critical situation:
Comment: The Christmas eve bombings
which resulted in the death of 12 Europeans and five Moroccans, was
the most serious act of terrorism in Morocco since the deposition of
the sultan last August. Previous terrorist activity had been restricted
for the most part to attacks against individual pro-French Moroccans.
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