CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/02/25

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02050125
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: February 25, 1953

Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125.
A
0
1
t#e
-e4
$NO C NGE SS. X
/ DOCINT NION.ct.p,
0 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NDEAXTTE
3.5(c)RIEVIEW DATE:
WIN: R 70-2
REVIEWER:
3.5(c) ot
/
0 Office of Current Intelligence
I4 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
3.5(c)
/
/4
/
I4Z,
/ A 1OP S INFORMATIONL rff//111 / #17A
TOP SEC T
SECURI ORMATION
77
..j
25 February 1953 f/
3.5(c) e/
ej
ej
ef
Copy No. 3.5(c) e
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125
ir'CSECRET
3.5(c)
SUMMARY
GENERAL
1.
FAR EAST
2. Soviet four-engine bombers arrive at Peiping (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. Burmese Communist penetration of Li Mrs forces alleged
by Rangoon official (page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Shah of Iran reportedly yields to Mossadeq (page 5).
5. Israel urges US not to delay Middle East defense preparations
(page 5).
EASTERN EUROPE
6. Hungarian economic situation seen deteriorating (page 6).
* * * *
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
TOP ET
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125
3.5(c)
_ Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125
rCyJECRET
3.5(c)
1.
GENERAL
FAR EAST
2. Soviet four-engine bombers arrive at Peiping
Ten Soviet TU-4 medium bombers, accompa-
nied by two C-47 transports, arrived at
Peiping from Irkutsk on 20 and 21 February.
TU-4's have not previously been observed in
China.
Comment: The TU-4 is a piston-type four-
engine medium bomber believed to be a copy of the American B-29.
Its combat radius is 1230 nautical miles with a 10-ton bomb load or
1700 nautical miles with five tons.
- 3 -
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
TOP CRET
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125
rop ET
3.5(c)
The arrival of these bombers and
accompanying transports follows the flight pattern noted in
previous transfers of Soviet aircraft to the Chinese Communist
Air Force.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. Burmese Communist penetration of Li Mi's forces alleged by
Rangoon official
A Burmese War Office spokesman,
reiterating charges of Chinese Com-
munist penetration of Li Mi's National-
ist forces in Burma, claims evidence
that Burmese Communists as well have
infilt ted the Nationalists and in even greater numbers. In ad-
dition, rebellious Karen forces have been heavily infiltrated by
Burmese Communists, and all three groups are now allied against
the government.
The War Office estimates Nationalist
strength in Burma at 18,000 men and believes that they are under
the effective control of Li Mi.
Comment Burmese Communist infiltra-
tion of both Nationalists ancnarens, if it resulted in large-scale
coordinated military efforts, would seriously strain government
forces, which have been hard pressed to conduct a concerted cam-
paign against even one insurgent group.
The number of Nationalists in Burma is
believed to be far below 18,000, and there is evidence that Li Mi
does not control the bulk of these forces.
4
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125
TOP SECRET
3.5(c)
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Shah of Iran reportedly yields to Mossadeq:
Minister of Court Ala told Ambassador 3.3(h)(2)
Henderson on 23 February that Prime
Minister Mossadeq had promised not to
press his grievances against the Shah
for the time being.
The Shah reportedly promised to make
it clear that the army must take its orders from Mossadeq. He
agreed to stop seeing persons known to be critical of the Prime
Minister, and to discuss the problem of distributing crown lands
to peasant tenants, one of the issues raised by Mossadeq.
Comment: The Shah's reported capitu-
lation came after several tense days during which Mossadeq
threatened to resign and publicly to denounce the Shah.
The Prime Minister's apparently suc-
cessful maneuvers were designed primarily to strengthen his own
position, possibly in anticipation of a breakdown in the current oil
talks. Mossadeq's success also demonstrates to opposition elements
that he still maintains control.
5. Israel urges US not to delay Middle East defense preparations:
Prime Minister Ben-Gurion of Israel
as suggested to Ambassador Davis
hat in the absence of peace in the Near
East, the United States should make
arrangements with individual countries, relying primarily on
Turkey and Israel.
Ben-Gurion emphasized the contribu-
tion which Israel could make. He made a plea for early con-
sideration of an Israeli request for military aid from the United
States and hoped that American support of Israel would be in-
creased.
- 5 -
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
�...,Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125
ECRET
3.5(c)
Comment: Israel's present anxiety to
push Middle East defense plans probably stems in part from its
concern over the recent diplomatic break with the Soviet Union.
The imminence of Anglo-Egyptian talks over the Suez base and
Middle East defense issues may also have inspired the current
approach.
The Ben-Gurion government has feared
that its interests might be neglected in the course of Western
efforts to establish a Middle East defense system with the Arab
states. Arab hostility has prevented any Western consideration
that Israel might become a founding member of a regional defense
organization.
EASTERN EUROPE
6. Hungarian economic situation seen deteriorating:
The American Legation in Budapest
reports indications that Hungary's
economic situation is worsening. The
deterioration is underscored by heavy
dustries and agriculture.
The Legation anticipates a further de-
cline in the standard of living, a "greater gulf" between the
people and the regime, and increased use of terror tactics.
The Legation predicts that important areas of industry and
agriculture will continue to fall below their Five Year Plan
targets.
6 -
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050125