CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/03/26

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02692612
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: May 24, 2019
• Document Release Date: May 30, 2019
• Publication Date: March 26, 1952

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26 March 1952
Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
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Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SECURITY INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
SOVIET UNION
1. Soviet position on German elections and frontiers reaffirmed
(page 3).
FAR EAST
2, French High Commissioner disturbed over situation in Cambodia
(page 3).
3. Burmese Communists propose joint action against Chinese
Nationalists (page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. British Ambassador pessimistic over Anglo-Egyptian situation
(page 4).
5. Egyptian Prime Minister repeats request for Turkish intervention
(page 5).
EASTERN EUROPE
6. Attempt to remedy inadequacy of fuel storage facilities in
Bulgaria (page 5).
WESTERN EUROPE
7. Some hope seen for Saar settlement (page 6).
8. Italy protests to Britain and United States regarding Trieste
problem (page 7).
9. New wave of Communist-promoted strikes damaging Italian
economy (page 7).
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SOVIET UNION
1. Soviet position on German elections and frontiers reaffirmed:
Upon receipt of the Western answer to the
Soviet proposal for a German peace treaty,
Soviet Foreign Minister Vishinsky reaffirmed
Soviet opposition to a UN-sponsored investi-
gation of electoral conditions in East Germany.
The Soviet Foreign Minister reiterated to the
American Charge that the USSR considered membership in the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization incompatible with the principles of the UN,
but maintained that it was not unnatural for a sovereign state to have its
own defense forces.
With regard to the question of German frontiers,
Vishinsky said that contrary to the interpretation contained in the United
States' note, the Potsdam Conference had finally defined the Polish and
German frontiers.
FAR EAST
2. French High Commissioner disturbed over situation in Cambodia;
Acting High Commissioner Gautier has told
American Minister Heath that he is extremely
disturbed over what he considers a deteriorating
political and security situation in Cambodia.
The French official cited the anti-French attitude of the Democratic Party
cabinet, the King's "timidity," and the recent defection to the rebels of
two widely popular and politically influential Cambodian leaders.
Heath considers the situation "disquieting but
not immediately dangerous" and attributes most of the French troubles
in Cambodia to lack of a friendly approach and the persistence of "a
martinet old-line colonial" attitude on the part of French officialdom.
Comment: Opposition to French hegemony
among Cambodian leaders, heretofore relatively quiescent, has become
increasingly active as the authority and competence of the Cambodian
Government have been strengthened.
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3. Burmese Communists propose joint action against Chinese Nationalists:
Representatives of the Burma Communist Party
are reliably reported to have met with anofficial
of the Burmese Government to consider a pro-
posal by the party for joining forces to combat
the Chinese Nationalists in northeastern Burma. While the results of this
meeting are unknown, another is expected to take place soon to obtain a
joint Government, Karen and Communist agreement, presumably also
directed at the Nationalists.
Comment: Another source recently reported
a Communist decision to propose such joint action to Premier Nu, but
indicated that Nu would reject it and continue his insistence upon a com-
plete Communist surrender.
On the other hand,the inclusion of a number of
extreme leftists in the reorganized Burmese cabinet indicates that such
approaches would at least be carefully considered.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4, British Ambassador pessimistic over Anglo-Egyptian situation:
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According to the British Ambassador in Cairo,
Anglo-Egyptian relations have deteriorated so
drastically that the Western proposal for a
Middle East Command can no longer be con-
sidered useful in solving the dispute.
The Ambassador intends to suggest to his
government in London that the early removal of the British military
headquarters from Egypt be considered. He will also recommend that
further study be given to the possibility of establishing a sizable British
garrison at Gaza, in Palestine.
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Comment: The recent views of the British
and American Ambassadors in Cairo emphasize the continuing divergence
of outlook between Egypt and Britain. Until one side or the other compro-
mises � and there is no evidence to date that either is ready to do so --
genuine negotiations are impossible.
5. Egyptian Prime Minister repeats request for Turkish intervention:
The Egyptian Prime Minister has again asked
for Turkish intervention in reaching an under-
standing with Britain.
the Prime Minister urged
that Turkey encourage the British to issue a
declaration of their point of view in order to show their good will and desire
to open negotiations.
The Prime Minister added that he would dissolve
Parliament but would not hold elections within two months, as is required
by the constitution. The Ambassador concluded that Egypt would be with-
out a parliament for a year.
Comment: Egypt's repeated appeal to Turkey
underscores the sense of urgency now felt in Cairo. Egypt, unwilling to
make concessions, continues to ask for British gestures. While Turkey
would like to see the Anglo-Egyptian dispute settled, there is no evidence
that it is yet ready to become involved, even as a mediator.
Since this conversation was held, new elections
have been scheduled for 18 May; however, it is still possible for the King
and his Prime Minister to suspend the constitution and rule by decree.
EASTERN EUROPE
. Attempt to remedy inadequacy of fuel storage facilities in Bulgaria:
Tolbukhin requested that Sofia immediately
make arrangements "to have four tanks sunk
temporarily," stating that "otherwise we will
return the fuel."
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Comment:
Tolbukhin has become one of the major centers of Bulgarian
Air Force activities. A fighter division, three regiments probably sub-
ordinate to it, and an airfield servicing unit are known to be located there.
Bulgaria has received increasing quantities of
petroleum products from Rumania and the USSR during the past year, and
the problem of finding adequate storage facilities has been a continuing
one. There have been construction of
underground tank facilities in various parts of Bulgaria, and there is
evidence to indicate that measures might have been taken to expand tem-
porary storage facilities.
WESTERN EUROPE
7. Some hope seen for Saar settlement:
American representatives in France and
West Germany, commenting on the 20 March
talks between leading French, German, and
Saar officials, believe that future negotiations
may result in a settlement of the Saar issue,
or at least a temporary truce. They observe,
however, that the recent tug-of-war over
interpretations of the "agreement" announced
after the talks indicates that there was no real
meeting of minds.
Although US High Commissioner McCloy notes
that heated French-German arguments over the Saar usually subside in a
few days, he warns that the Social Democrats are likely to raise the issue
in the Bundestag as well as in the Council of Europe's forthcoming As-
sembly meeting.
American officials in Paris emphasize the
Importance, in the present dispute, of the French fear that the Germans
are stressing the need for free elections in the hope of obtaining a new
government which would repudiate France's favored economic position
in the territory.
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8. Italy protests to Britain and United States regarding Trieste problem:
Italian Premier de Gasperi has forwarded to
British Foreign Secretary Eden several
"suggestions" for "improving" the situation
in the Free Territory of Trieste. The first
is that Britain restate its support of Italy's
claim to the territory, and that the British
statement refer to the "essentially Italian
character of Trieste." He also suggests that
elections in Trieste be announced for 25 May,
a position in which he is supported by the US
Embassy in Rome. De Gasperi further proposes
that the United States, British and Italian Govern-
ments discuss the future status of Zone A.
In Trieste Italian officials continue to agitate
against the Allied Military Government. The neo-Fascists, who helped
spark the demonstrations, are generally pleased with the furor they have
created. The Communists, having protested against the Allied Military
Government's "brutality and undemocratic policy," are "keeping clear
and playing a waiting game."
Comment: The most serious aspect of the
Trieste disturbances is that they show the extent to which the Italian
Government has yielded to nationalist and neo-Fascist, influences in
encouraging the disorders. American observers expect little change in
the Italian attitude in view of the forthcoming local and national elections.
9. New wave of Communist-promoted strikes damaging Italian economy:
A new wave of strikes throughout Italy promoted
by the Communist-dominated General Confederation
of Labor is having serious economic repercussions.
American Embassy officials in Rome believe
that the non-Communist labor unions are having
difficulty restraining their members from supporting these work stoppages.
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Most of the current trouble is in the mechanical,
metallurgical, mining, chemical, and ceramics industries. The strikes
seem to be following a carefully planned pattern, taking place in different
industries on different days,
Comment: Labor unrest in Italy, besides slowing
down the defense production program, is also likely to jeopardize the chances
of the present government parties in the coming spring elections in the south.
The Communist-promoted "chain-reaction"
pattern of strikes began over a month ago after the Fiat factory in Turin
fired a number of employees for engaging in political activity while at work.
The rising dissatisfaction among factory workers over the discrepancy
between wages and prices has made it easy for Communist agitators to
Induce many non-Communists to join in the strikes.
Correction to Current Intelligence Bulletin
page 6 to read/
Please change the first sentence of item 6,
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