CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/07/21

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02623657
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: April 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 22, 2019
• Publication Date: July 21, 1951

Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
*too' .1. ka,Jr 1/4./11X, J. Noir
21 July 1951
Copy No. e - 9
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE HOLLETIN
DOCUMENT NO
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. pir
rI DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S
NEXT REVIEW DATE. C ?AO
AUTH;HRjO-
OAT
REVIEWER
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
ET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
TOP ET
SUMMARY
GENERAL
US-Philippine treaty of. alliance suggested (page 3)0
. Current views on European Army concept (page 3)0
o �Opposition to admissiom of Greece and Turkey in NATO continues
(page 4).
. Comment on the
NEAR EAST
siration of King Abdullah (page 5).
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
6. Britain wants US to withhold Iranian aid (nage rh
3.3(h)(2)
EASTERN EUROPE
8. Yugoslays fear possible consequeAces of Wesern support of Italian
claims to Trieste (page 8).
WESTERN EUROPE
3.3(h)(2)
LATIN AlVIERICA
100 Brazilian GMel of Staff to discuss military matters with UN and US
officials (page 9)�
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
3.5(c)
1.
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
TeiP CRET
GENERAL
US-Philippine treaty of alliance suggesteth
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
In the opinion of US Ambassador Cowen, a
bilateral US-Philippine pact of alliance would
help substantially to allay unfavorable Philippine
reaction to the draft Japanese peace treaty.
Such an arrangement would quiet philippine fears over the resurgence of
Japanese military power and serve as a "face-saver" in the current
uproar over the peace treaty.
qammerito Although popular protest continues
against the reparations clause in the Japanese peace treaty, the Philippine
Government, evidently realizing that the US is adamant on the reparations
issue, is now directing its criticisms against the inadeq4ate security
provisions of the treaty. President Quirino told his Council of State
on 17 july that adequate controls to safeguard Philippine security are
more important than reparations, and that, since the treaty fails to
provide sufficient guarantees, it is therefore unacceptable to the Philippines.
If the government can turn public attention toward the security problem
and subsequently negotiate a US-Philippine alliance, it will have neatly
resolved the dilemma created by its extravagant public demands for
reparations.
Current views Luaarsmagalluay__ concept
3.3(h)(2)
The Italian representative to the NATO council
of deputies expresses skepticism that an
effective European Army can be formed.,
The Netherlands Foreign Minister states
that his government is still unconvinced that
such an army is desirable.
The Italian representative believes thai the
French view a European Army primarily as a
means of insuring French hegemony over
Germany and Italy and that national differences
would prevent real progress toward European
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
Ttz-R 2CRET
3.5(c)
integration in any field unless the US constantly participated as the "honest
broker." The Dutch Minister remains "very skeptical" of the Army's
success and the sincerity of present German cooperation.
Cornmet: The views of the Italian representative
go beyond those expressed to date by the Italian Government. The Nether-
lands is not represented at the European Army Confeience, and its opposition
stems from dislike and distrust of French leadership on the continent and,
to a lesser extent, the fear of a rebirth of German power.
The Frelfeh have recently shown new enthusiasm
for their original proposal for a European Army Which was designed. to
avoid the re-establishment of a German national- army and particularly
of the German General Staff. The Germans appear willing to accept the
European Army idea, once German donditions -- chiefly in regard to size
of units -- are met. The Italians support the French propOsal in principle,
only if the implementation of the European force does not delay Western
defense.
The UK remains cool to the European Army
concept, but probary will accept a compromise of the proposals recently
made at the Petersberg and Paris talks. In the event of UK approval and
adherence to the concept of a European Army, as well as more evident US
interest to counterbalance France and t e-rmany, the Dutch will be more
ready to participate in the discussions for organizing the Army.
General Eisenhower believes that the solution
of the problem of European defense is impossible until the German problem
is solved; and states that the tim has come to pre qs for immediate action.
. Opposition to admissipn of Greese and Turkey in NATO continues
3.3(h)(2)
In the NATO deputies' discussion of 16 July,
the Netherlands and Portugal supported the
Norwegian position against the admission of
Greece and Turkey to NATO. The Netherlands
pointed out that to admit Greece and Turkey would be to lose the homogeneity
of the present regional group in NATO and to change it into a purely military
alliance.
TOP 2ECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
It11-1 RET
3.5(c)
Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands agreed
with other NATO countries On the military necessity fLr using Greek and
Turkish tro6ps in the Mediterranean, but reiterated their suggestion for
a regional alliance tied to NATO through "reciprocal obligations, in effect
through a military Raison.
Comment The crux of the difficulty is the
requirement for unanimous NATO agreement on the admission of new
members. The small NATO countries are heartened in their opposition
by the reluctant attitude of France, whose final decision awaits the
formation of a government. The UK's agreement with the US msition
probably can serve as the opening wedge to achieve favorable action on
the admission of Greece and Turkey.
NEAR EAST
4. Commerktl. on the assassination of King Abdullah
The assassination of King Abdullah of jordan,
by a terrorist reportedly in contact with the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
removes a resolutely abti-Communist2 prie-Western ruler from the Arab world.
The end of Abdullah's influence will most immediately and directly, affect
the British, whf rely on the British-trained, officered, and financed Arab
Legion (the army of Jordan) as the only competent and dependare Arab
army in the Near East. The coriusteni and possible disorders which may
result can only benefit the anti-Western elements in the Near East-
The sixty-nine year old king had many enemies
both in the neighboring Arab states and in Jordan. Distrust and resentment
of him stemmed from his apparent willingness to try to sign a treaty with
Israel and from his sporadic attempts, in conjunction with his nephew, the
Regent of Iraq, to establish a Greater Syria, consisting of Jordan, Iraq,
�and Syria.
The former Mufti, currently in Leba,non, is
strongly anti-British. He had attempted to set up an independent Arab
government in Palestine after the creation a Israel and has violently opposed
- 5 -
for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
r .
bi" 'RET
the incorporation of the major part of Arab Palestine into Jordan.
Riad al-Solh, the former Prime Minister a
ebanon who was assassinated in Amman on 16 July, was a contributor
to the former Mufti's funds. Unconfirmed rumors that a carload of
Lebanse gunmen had been stopped at the Syrian border on their way to
Jordan to avenge the death of Solh suggest the additional possibility of a
connection between the two assassinations.
3.5(c)
Prince Nail, the king's 'Second son, has
been named temporary regent. Abdullah's eldest son Tallal, the heir
apparent, is currently undergoing treatment in a mental institution in
Switzerland. Under the terms of the constitution Tana]." s mental condition
precludes his becoming monarch, and his fifteen year old son Hussein
accordingly is the legal successor. 3.3(h)(2)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
3.5(c)
rApproved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
ti.,SEURET
pritain wants US to withhold Iranian aid;
including the proposed gt5
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
The British Ambassador in Washington has
informed the Department of State that his
government assumes the US will withheld
assistance of any kind to Iran at this time,
�illion dollar Export-Import Bank loan,
Comment: The Foreign Office has held
consistently that British and US interests in the Iranian situation are
essentially the same, and that the US therefore ought fully to support
British efforts to penalize irresponsible Iranian behavior. The Foreign
Office has also been considering a trade embargo against Iran, but so
far *aye have been no indications that the US would be asked to participate
in such action.
3.3(h)(2)
-7
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
11 0-SECRET
3.5(c)
-
EASTERN EUROPE
cs o Western u ort of Italia
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
Yugoslavia has protested to the US� British
and French povernments agent the Western
policy for the return of TrestLE to Italy. The
Yugoslav Government has warned the Western
Powers that this policy seriously weakens Yugoslavia's international,
position and encourages LtalIa irredentists who are raow cal.lng for the
retu all of Trieste as well as the YugosRav cities of Pola� Istria and
even1 ahrtitian. ports. The Foreign Office official who made the representa-
tions to US Ambassador Allen stated that Moscow, through the Comraunist
Partie t taly� Greece ad Austria, is making every effort tp prevent
. a rapprochement between Yugo lavia and these countries.
Comment; The recent Western reaffirmation
of the Manch 1948 tripartite declaration was made to allay the current
Italian agitaon over Trieste which was aroused by the refusal of the Allied
Military Government to recognize Italian jurisdiction over Trieste courts.
Yugoslav leaders are taking a serious view of the current Italian agitation
Over the issue, pr bably because it coin.cides with Italian demands for a
rev ion. of the military clauses of the Italian Peace Treaty.
WESTERN EUROPE
33(h)(2)
- 8 -
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
3.5(c)
�
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
-1-&1" 'RET
a
3.5(c)
Comment a The Yugoslays have already
expressed opposition to the proposal, and, in the face of increasing
Italian pressure for revision, will undoubtedly protest ,more forcefully.
Although the French at first opposed revision, a Frengh Foreign Office
spokesman has just proposed UN General Assembly action as a means of
circumventing the inevitable Soviet veto in the Security Council.
LATIN AMEEI CA
3.3(h)(2)
to discuss militar matters with UN and US officials:
Brazilian Foreign Minister Neves da Ford:1311ra
has informed the US Ambassador that the
purpose af. General Gots Monteiro's visit
to the US is to discuss( the position of
Brazil's armed forces in relation to the UN and the US. Neves made it
clear that discussion of these points would inevitably bring forward the
question of equipment for the Brazilian armed forces.
The Foreign Minister also stated that the
general had no other instructions than those in the military field and that
matters Involving investment of US capital in Brazil and receipt of petr leum
.equipment "are in my field."
Comment: General GLAS MerratiO'ro. Chief of
the Armed Forces General Staff,' arrives in New York on 23 Iuly for a
series of talks with UN offictaIS 'in New York and US officials in Washington.
It is quite likely that as these conversatjons proceed Gels Monteiro will
bring up such economic matters as the question of oil refinery and factory
equipment -- as indicated by the US Ambassador.
- 9 -
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2623657
3.5(c)