CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/03/18

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02050137
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: March 18, 1953

-.����
- Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050137r
TOP 5lRE1.
/ SEC&TiNFORMATION PIFE
18 March 1953 '40
3.5(c)
Copy No. b U
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
0 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: 70-2
DATE.
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
REVIEWER:
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
/ A SEC RET
ECOP INFORMATION
A
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 002050137
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050137
1 N-11I.
Nee
SECURITY INFORMATION
SUMMARY
FAR EAST
1.
Murphy notes increasing Japanese trade deficit (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2,
French Union forces vulnerable to Viet Minh attack on Laos (page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3.
Plans for redeployment of British Middle East troops hit snag
(page 4).
EASTERN
EUROPE
4,
collapse of Communist Albania may be
3.3(h)(2)
imminent (page 4).
2
3.5(c)
TOPSECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050137
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050137
void 1�..,k INA:. 1
URITY INFORMATION
3.5(c)
FAR EAST
1. Murphy notes increasing Japanese trade deficit:
Ambassador Murphy reports that Japan's 3.3(h)(2)
trade deficit, which amounted to $756,000,000
in 1952, may reach a billion dollars this year.
He adds that if the special receipts resulting
from the Korean war should decrease, the situation would become
"grave." He recommends an immediate comprehensive American
procurement and loan program to strengthen the economy and induce
japanese promotion of sound economic and fiscal policies.
Comment: The basic political instability
which resulted in the fall of the Yoshida government on 14 March has
been an important factor in preventing the adoption of constructive
fiscal policies and austerity measures.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. French Union forces vulnerable to Viet Minh attack on Laos:
The French commander in Tonkin is reliably 3.3(h)(2)
reported to have returned recently from northern
Laos with a "very poor impression" of that area's
defensive possibilities.
The informant, a high French official, stated
that a Viet Minh offensive in Laos would present both military and politi-
cal problems. The Vietnamese would not favor using Vietnam National
Army troops in Laos, while the deployment of French Union forces out-
side the Tonkin delta would dangerously weaken that area's defenses.
Comment:
anticipating an early Viet Minh attack on northern Laos.
Such a campaign might be limited and intended to divert attention from
a major effort in the Tonkin delta.
- 3 -
3.3(h)(2)
TO
CRET
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050137
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050137
*of� 1 kir All .1
SECURITY INFORMATION
3.5(c)
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Plans for redeployment of British Middle East troops hit snag:
The British War Office reports that for the
present it cannot plan to transfer the 25th
Armored Brigade from the Suez Canal to
Jordan. The Jordanian Prime Minister has
Informed the British that as he will not be a
mem er of the new government to be formed in two months when King �
Hussein ascends the throne he does not wish to make any commitments.
4.
Comment: Since the Anglo-Egyptian defense
talks are expected to start soon, Britain must have firm plans for
evacuating its forces from the Suez Canal zone.
EASTERN EUROPE
collapse of Communist Albania may be
imminent:
Comment: While reports of a general
intensification of security measures in Albania probably are true,
there has been no evidence to suggest that Communist control has
weakened or that there is any significant challenge to that control
at this time.
- 4
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
Approved for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2050137
3.5(c)