CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/01/06

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02050111
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: January 6, 1953

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6 January 1953
opy NO. 58
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Madame Pandit seeks Arab support for Communist China's
admission to UN (page 3).
2. Polish official suggests Britain mediate US-Soviet differences
(page 3).
FAR EAST
3. Northward move of Chinese Communist troops reported (page 4).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
4. Burmese leaders consider abandoning strict neutrality (page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
5. Soviet official exerting pressure against Iranian nationalization
of Caspian fisheries (page 5).
6. Prominent Lebanese seek to prevent withdrawal of Point IV
program (page 5).
WESTERN EUROPE
7. Austrian Foreign Minister eager for new treaty approach (page 6).
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GENERAL
1. Madame Pandit seeks Arab support for Communist China's ad-,
mission to UN:
The American Embassy in Beirut has
heard that Madame Pandit, who is tour-
ing the Near East, is urging Arab countries
to support Communist China's admission
to the United Nations. Her argument allegedly is that a China
friendly to the Arab-Asian bloc would exercise the veto power in
Its favor.
Comment: Madame Pandit may actually
be seekingsupportfor an Arab-Asian approach to the UN on this
matter. The Arab states have to date displayed no great interest,
however, and a joint approach in the near future seems improbable.
2. Polish official suggests Britain mediate US-Soviet differences:
A Polish Foreign Ministry official informed
the British Ambassador in Warsaw that
only Britain was now in a position to mediate
between the Soviet Union and the United
States. The Polish official declared that more importance should
be attached to Stalin's reply to Reston's questions, and inquired
whether Prime Minister Churchill's visit to the US had been affected
by this interview.
The British Ambassador concluded that
the approach was Soviet-inspired in order to give the impression
that the USSR would welcome a mediation effort by Churchill.
Comment: The Polish official may
simply have been probing for information on Churchill's mission.
The approach, however, could be the beginning of a new Soviet
diplomatic maneuver designed to promote disagreement between
the US and Britain.
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FAR EAST
3. Northward move of Chinese Communist troops reported:
Some 20,000 troops stationed in the Hupeh
Military District left Hankow for the north
on 20 November,
a Chinese Communist motor regiment left the city for the
northeast on 25 November.
No Chinese Communist army has been
noted departing from Korea during this period.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
4. Burmese leaders consider abandoning strict neutrality:
the Burmese cabinet now believes its
policy of neutrality may be futile. Home
Defense Minister Ba Swe and Minister
of Industry Kyaw Nyein share his concern over the threat of
communism and agree to the necessity of requesting American
aid in the event of a Chinese Communist invasion.
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Comment: This report is the strongest
indication to date of a fundamental change in the thinking of top
Burmese policy makers. The three officials dominate the Burmese
Government, and all have heretofore been strong advocates of
strict neutrality.
�
NEAR EAST AFRICA
5. Soviet official exerting pressure against Iranian nationalization of
Caspian fisheries:
The Soviet managing-director of the Soviet-
Iranian Fisheries in October directed that
Iranian employees overheard discussing the
proposed nationalization of the industry be
discharged, Two Iranian en-
gineers are being paid by the management to make speeches againgt
nationalization among fishery workers.
Comment: This is the first report indicating
that Moscow is making indirect efforts to prevent nationalization.
A report in December indicated that another Soviet tactic to guard
against Iranian nationalization of the fisheries might be to negotiate
a new short-term agreement.
6. Prominent Lebanese seek to prevent withdrawal of Point IV program:
Many prominent Lebanese have assured
the American Embassy in Beirut of their
determination to prevent the withdrawal
of the Point IV aid from Lebanon on 15
January. They are aroused by the approaching deadline, fixed
because of Lebanese lack of cooperation and particularly because
of the Foreign Minister's efforts to end the program.
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Comment: The Lebanese President may
issue a last-minute statement to forestall complete withdrawal of
Point IV aid. Nevertheless, the fact that pro-West Lebanese have
shown such complete misunderstanding of an antagonism toward the
program underscores the difficulties it faces in the area.
WESTERN EUROPE
7. Austrian Fobeign Minister eager for new treaty approach:
Foreign Minister Gruber believes the
time is right to call for a new meeting
of the Austrian treaty deputies. Despite
the probable failure of such a meeting,
he considers that it would pave the way for a Foreign Ministers'
discussion' v.t which Russian terms for a settlement might be
ascertained.
Gruber states that he is pleased with
the outcome of the recent UN debate and with his private dis�
cussions with Gromyko. He report, Gromyko indicated that
the Trieste question is not "really a bar to further negotiations
on Austria,"
Comment: With the Austrian elections
only two months away, Gruber's expressed optimism may stem
from a desire on the part of the government to impress the elec-
torate with intensive efforts to obtain a state treaty..
The latest Soviet note sent on 27 September
made new negotiations contingent on withdrawal of the short treaty
draft and left it clear that discussions would have to include the
question of Trieste. The Russians have long held that an Austrian
settlement is dependent on Western fulfillment of treaty obligations
with respect to Trieste.
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