DAILY SUMMARY - 1946/09/07

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Daily Summary Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02036436
• Document Creation Date: September 11, 2018

Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2036436
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2036436
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2036436
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018
P SEC
GENERAL
r7 SEP 194g
172
a tial British reinforcement in Iraq�US Consulate Basra has
ned from reliable sources that the regular British garrison at
Basra, comprising 12,000 Indian and 3,000 British troops, is being
reinforced by 12,000 Indian troops. A total of 6,500 men, in motorized,
re-equipped and self-contained units, have already arrived; the balance
which will begin to arrive in mid-September, may include paratroopers.
The Consulate adds that plans have been drawn up for the use of all
units as airborne troops and the entire force is organized to permit
rapid and great expansion.
The Consulate comments that the British are recreating in Iraq
a force capable of quick action on a scale far in excess of that required
for the occupation of nuzistan (the oil field and refinery area near
Basra), The Consulate believes that this force will move into Iran upon
the arrival of the remaining reinforcements and completion of plans.
� 2. US falters elevation of Uallgatt2.--Acting Secretary Clayton has
instructed US Legation Cairo to inform the UK Embassy that, regardless
of the present state of Anglo-Egyptian negotiations, an exchange of US
and Egyptian Ambassadors and elimination of British precedence should
be effected immediately (see Daily Summary of 5 September, item 2).
3, mbassadors State Department
Ss confidentially informed US Mission New Delhi that the US is prepared
to exchange Ambassadors with the Government of India, if India should so
request. The initiative must, however, come from India.
4, Tito may jajtem If US for file but not a_anes�Marshal Tito has
told US Ambassador Patterson that he does not in principle object to
indemnity to families of victims (of the downed planes) to show good will
and to help toward good relations," but that he does not accept "respon-
sibility for the accident." Tito also disapproved' payment of indemnity
for the planes, because such action would demonstrate that "Yugoslavia
has not the right to protect its territory from unauthorized incursions."
5. Possible settlement .otEttiz.m.tri France and Corsica�US Charge Key
reports that the First Secretary of the French Embassy at Rome has in-
dicated confidentially that France would probably offer no objection to
the temporary settlement of 25,000 Jewish refugees in Corsica and might
Document No. 0 2,4)
NO CHANGE in Class. 0
DECLASSIFIED
s. CHANGED TO: TS
DDA Memo, 4 Apr 77
th; DDA REG. 77/1763
Approved for Release: 201006/05-00ifil.408--- By/ Ott
� Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2036436
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018
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TIAL
even agree to accept this number permanently on the mainland. Key
suggests that Corsica might offer a solution to the difficulties encoun-
tered in the proposed plan to send 25,000 refugees to Italy.
8. Azores memorandum to be s ed on 7 Se tember--US Embassy Lisbon
repo erm un ers regar ing the Azores will
be signed on 7 September in the War Minister's presence. Acting
Secretary Clayton, however, has informed the Embassy that he does not
approve its proposal to turn over gratis the surplus property desired by
Portugal.
EUROPE -AFRICA
7. USSR: Third a e demobilization believed corn leted--The US War
Departmen' ry el gence s�� eves t stage three of
the Soviet Armed Forces demobilization was completed on 1 September.
Total Soviet strength is now estimated at 4,500,000 with Ground Forces
at 3,150,000, Air Forces at 550,000, Navy at 300,000, and MVD at 500,000.
'oepo' 8. GREECE: Irregularities in le1_2_2yslt_!s2Rr_'ted--US Ambassador MacVeagh
iT reports that a preliminary study of observers' reports on the
1 September plebiscite reveals a "substantial" number of irregularities,
in many instances condoned by responsible Government officials, including
flagrant misconduct of the secrecy of ballotin%and coercion and intimida-
tion of voters. Some evidence also exists that a "considerable" number
of potential leftist and centrist voters were kept from the polls by "police
restraint."
9. AUS'rRIA:P a a la.nm.gaa&x_.urs./_m_m_ul ti nationalization law--The
State Department has been informed that Foreign Minister Gruber has
suggested that (a) the promulgation of the Austrian nationalization law be
delayed; (b) the Western Powers issue a joint definition of German assets
in their zones excluding cases of forced transfer; and (c) the nationaliza-
tion law be amended to exempt UN property and pre-Anschluss German
assets. Acting Secretary Clayton has informed US Embassy Paris that
US fails to see how Gruber's proposal would reduce Austrian difficulties
In the Soviet zone.
�
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2036436
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2036436
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018
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TOP
FAR EAST
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10. JAPAN: SCAP ur es a;' sroval of 1947 food Ir am--SCAP strongly
recommends approval in its present orm of the 1 7 Japanese food
program, now under discussion in Washington. The minimum require-
ment for the 1947 food year in Japan is set at 2,200,000 metric tons of
food in rice equivalents, which will provide an average daily consump-
tion level of 1550 calories per person and a reasonable supplementary
ration to workers in essential industries. SCAP feels that Japan will
be unable to continue the planned political, social, educational, indus-
trial and commercial recovery programs unless it is permitted the
minimum level of nutritional vitality required for an all-out National,
Labor program.
Mjatinunx josIxtyglx--SCAP also urges that the Far
Eastern Commission establish assured minimum industrial levels for
Japan as soon as possible because the Japanese industrial situation is
most precarious."
THE AMERICAS
11. CHUM: misers offered_W British firm--.4ccording to the Chief of
the US Navallission -..,lantiago, a representative of Vickers Armstrong
Barrows has presented to the Commander in Chief of the Chilean Navy
plans and srecifications of three light cruisers and has offered to build
them for the Chilean Navy on "convenient" financial terms,
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41PMWAO
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2036436