CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/03/02

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02682857
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: March 18, 2019
• Document Release Date: March 28, 2019
• Publication Date: March 2, 1951

go
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
TOP ET
3.5(c)
2 March 1951
Copy No. C. -q
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
*DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.X
I ' tifiCLA.SSIFIED
CHANCED TO: TS S C
NEXT REV:EW DATE: Z__Q.600 _
RUTH: H7I
DATE)2 rfIra REVIEWER:
Place of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Tlfri) Sfeig6
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
RET
SUMMARY
GENERAL
NEAR EAST
WESTERN EUROPE
3. US-Iceland defense negotiations progressing (page 4).
4. C(leven's resignation an anti-Communist stopgap (page 5).
5. West German Socialists will take "popular" neutralization
line (page 5).
LATIN AMERICA
6. Chilean Communists may attempt demonstrations (page 6).
7. Brazilian Foreign Minister promises full cooperation with
US (page 7).
-2
TO CRET
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
T SECI[E T
GENERAL
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
NEAR EAST
3.3(h)(2)
-3
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
3.5(c)
,Approved for Release: � 2� 019/03/14 CO2682857
Tce � slit-i-
WESTERN EUROPE
3. US-Iceland defense negotiations progressing:
Icelandic Government leaders will
agree to stationing a peacetime
NATO force of 3900 in Iceland,
according to Foreign Minister
Benediktsson, who is now negotia-
ting an agreement for the island's
defense. Iceland wishes to retain the right to authorize any increase
that might be deemed necess,ary by NATO; it does not wish that
Icelanders initially be included in the force. Furthermore, it de-
sires to include a provision allowing for termination of the agree-
ment after six months' consultation, with an additional six months
for evacuation. The form of the agreement is also undetermined
because the government refuses to accept certain provisions if
they are to be made public; the US Minister assumes that it will
be possible to work out an agreement for submission to the parlia-
ment which would give the government general over-all authority.
Comment: Iceland's acceptance
of foreign troops in peacetime would constitute the greatest de-
parture from its traditional isolationism since signing the North
Atlantic Treaty. Even if the government stresses that the foreign
4
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
RET
force is primarily for the security of the Keflavik Airport, such an
agreement will be hotly debated in the parliament, and it is only the
public's increased sensitivity to Iceland's vulnerability in the absence
of any armed forces of its own which makes such an agreement pos-
sible.
4. Pleven's resignation an anti-Communist stopgap:
According to a report from the US Embassy in
Paris, ex-Premier Pleven prevailed on. Presi-
dent Auriol to accept the Government's resig-
nation as an anti-Communist maneuver. By
not risking a second vote of confidence, Pleven avoided a dissolution
of the Assembly and thus postponed at least temporarily the calling
of elections under the present electoral law, which favors the Com-
munist Party.
Comment: In this way, Pleven has side-stepped
the constitutional provision requiring the formation of an all-party
caretaker government following a dissolution. He also has given the
Assembly another chances to work out a new electoral law, and thus
limit Communist effectiveness in the coming 1951 elections. The
problem of electoral reform, however, will aggravate the serious
difficulties involved in forming another government on the basis of
the present Assembly.
5. West German Socialists will take 'popular" neutralization line:
West German Socialist leader Schumacher
reportedly has told his party colleagues
that in the campaigns for forthcoming im-
portant elections in the Laender the Socialist Party will take the
"popular line" that unification and neutralization of East and West
Germany, with essential safeguards, are theoretically possible.
Schumacher is, however, said to be personally convinced that the
5
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
�
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
proposed conference of Foreign Ministers will not produce a uni-
fied Germany but will, on the contrary, lead only to intensified
efforts to integrate West Germany into the North Atlantic defense
system.
Comment: The Socialist Party does not
believe in the practicability of a neutral Germany and is not openly
advocating neutrality. However, by acknowledging the theoretical
possibility of "neutralization" (i.e., neutrality imposed by the big
powers), the Socialists hope to win the electoral support of those
West Germans who fear closer association with the West. This tac-
tic could produce a degree of neutrality sentiment unfavorable to
US interests.
LATIN AMERICA
6. Chilean Communists may attempt demonstrations:
The Communist Party of Chile will reportedly
attempt a demonstration against US Assistant
Secretary Miller when he arrives' in Santiago
to attend the UN ECOSOC meeting now in ses-
sion.
3.5(c)
Comment: Assistant Secretary Miller is
scheduled to be in Santiago March 5-7. The Communists can be ex-
pected to use his visit as a springboard for propaganda and agitation
against the coming Inter-American Meeting of Foreign Ministers
and in support of any Soviet propaganda condemning "US exploita-
tion of Latin America" at the current UN ECOSOC meeting. Con-
tinuing labor unrest in Chile favors Communist a� itation at this time,
A Communist
demonstration denouncing the US and French roles in ECOSOC
occurred on 22 February and was promptly suppressed.
-6
TOP2E6RET
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
.Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
Unto 1
7. Brazilian Foreign Minister promises full cooperation with US:
Foreign Minister Neves da Fontoura has
told US Assistant Secretary of State Miller
that he accepts fully the US point of view
regarding proposals for the coming meet-
ing of Inter-American Foreign Ministers and has promised that
there will be np differences between Brazil and the US at the meet-
ing. Neves also indicated his desire that Brazil send one division
to Korea, but emphasized the need to prepare public opinion for such
a move. Meanwhile, other Brazilian officials, in discussing economic
cooperation, applied "terrific pressure" on Mr. Miller to make a
public statement that 500 million dollars would be forthcoming to
Comment: This report of the Foreign
Minister's statements is more ontimistic about the nrospects of
Brazilian cooperation The pres-
sure for a loan of 500 million dollars confirms previous informa-
tion indicating that Brazil's cooperation will be on a quid pro quo
basis.
This is the first indication that Brazil
would like to send a division to Korea. Only a few months ago,
Brazilian military officials and former Foreign Minister Fernandes
asserted that Brazil could not meet the requirements of the Unified
Command for troops sent to Korea.
7
Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 CO2682857
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)