CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/04/19

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02733116
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: March 18, 2019
• Document Release Date: March 28, 2019
• Publication Date: April 19, 1951

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000, v*.ird
RET
19 April 1951
Copy No. e-T
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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ECtA,,.1,i ;140.
NO CI.IANGE IN CLASS. y
Li DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO; TS � e
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
ALITH:h e24,10
DATE! 7 REVIEWER 3.5(c)..
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
FAR EAST
1. Viet Minh military preparations in northwest Tonkin (page 3).
SOUTH ASIA
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Iranian Prime Minister plans strong measures (page 4).
4. "Unhealthy" political situation reported in Tripoli, North Africa
(page 5).
EASTERN EUROPE
5. Soviet twin-jet bombers observed in Poland and East Gegmany
(page 5).
6. US information program faces elimination in Poland (page 6).
WESTERN EUROPE
7. Austrians concerned over signs of increasing Soviet aggression
(Page 7).
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FAR. EAST
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Viet Minh military pre arations in northt..TonkiLu..3.3(h)(2)
The Assistant US Delilitary Attache in Indochina
reports that French forces have reoccupied cer-
tain,strategic,posts in the Tonkin delta area
that had been seized by the Viet Minh two weeks
ago and have repulsed Viet-Minh attacks of varying strength in other parts
Of the delta. Meanwhile, Viet Minh forces in the rugged mountain country
some 150 miles to the northwest have been preparing to attack the French-
held post of Laichau, The Attache states that French.officials believe
this operation is intended as a "face-saving" venture to compensate for
the failure of recent-Viet Minh attacks the -delta. The Chinese Com-
munist battalion that entered Indochina above Laichau two weeks ago is
apparently still occupying the post of Phongtho arid vicinity, but the At-
tache sees no indications that a large-scale invasion is imminent.
Comment: The post of Laichau is significant
only as the focus of converging trails and as a barrier to a.hostile in-
vasion launched from Yunnan Orovince, China. It is located in a country
of dense forests and 10, 000-fclot mountain peaks and inhabited by primi-
tive Thai tribesmen of anti- Viet Minh and anti-Chinese sentiments -- fac-
tors that would not facilitate a large-scale .Chinese Communist invasion
in this area. Although the Chinese force at Phongtho has been reliably
identified as Communist, the French have interpreted the situation as
being only "a little bit more than a frontier affair," The French conten-
tion that the Viet Minh is planning action against Laichau for face-Saving
purposes is the latest of several different theories attempting to explain
enemy activity in this area.
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SOUTH AKA�
TOPSECRET
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NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Iranian Prime Minister plans strong measures:
Prior to receiving a vote of confidence from
Parliament's lower house on 17 April, Prime
Minister Hussein Ala informed US Ambassa-
dor Grady that the situation in Iran was im-
proving and that, if his appointment were confirmed by the lower house
he would undertake strong measures to suppress the increasingly open
activities of the pro-Soviet Tudeh Party. Ala said he was concerned
about UK action in the present crisis and stated that the Shah also felt
that the UK was not only undermining the present government but the
Shah as well. In this connection, Ala pressed strongly his belief that
no UK frigates should be sent to Abadan.
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jLComment� Although the vote a confidence increases
the stability of the government, Alats optimism is not echoed by other
reports from Iran which state that the situation continues to be critical.
Despite the imposition of martial law in the southern oil fields, the
appeals of various political leaders (including National Front member
Mulla Kashani) to the strikers to return to -work and the reported agree-
ment by many strikers to do so, the _majority of workers reportedly 3.3(h)(2),
remain out, AOC officials report that "absenteeism" has spread to
company labor at the Abadan airport
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4. "Unhealthy" political situation reported in Tripoli. North Africa:
In a 17_April report, US Consul Lynch in Tri-
poli described the local political situation as
"mast. unhealthy. " He commented that while
the new Tripolitanian Government probably
contains the best available persons, there is no effective political or-
ganization. The most determined opposition group is led by Bechir Bey
Saadawi, who is reportedly bang subsidized by Egypt and whose "line"
coincides with that of the local Communists, Saadawi has engaged in
rabble-rousing inflammatory speeches against the US, in which he as-
serted that the "imperialistic Americans" are preparing to exploit Libya
as an airbase.
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Comment: For some time,. the opportunistic
Saadawi, who has effective connections in Egypt, has been a consistent
and vocal critic of the present government in Tripolitania. US dif-
ficulties in acquiring land for enlarging its facilities at Wheelu.s Field
(5 miles east of Tripoli) have provided him with a pretext for his anti-
American propaganda. He has likewise exploited for propaganda purposes
the recent dissatisfaction and confusion created in Tripolitania in con-
nection with the formation of a Libyan state (of which Tripolitania is a
part).
EASTERN EUROPE
5. Soviet twin- et bombers observed in Poland and East German
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)fl 14 April seven 3.3(h)(2)
Soviet "Type 27" twin-jet bombers were sighted
On the Soviet-occupied airfield at Brzeg, in
southern Poland, The US Air Force comments
that these planes may be enroute to East Ger-
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many, possibly to join units of the 80th Bomber
Corps of the Soviet 24th Air Army. It further
suggests that the planes may remain at Brze
temporarily to participate in the May Day air show over Warsaw. P 3 3(h)(2)
observed twin-jet aircraft
flying north of Berlin on 6, 7 and 9 April
- 5 -
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,Comment: The "Type 27" is believed to be the
first jet bomber produced in numbers by the USSR. Its combat radius
Is estimated at about 500 nautical miles, with a bomb, load of 4400 poundi.
It represents a considerable improvement in range and capacity over
the conventional bombers now bei erated b
uro e.
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6. US information program elimination � �
The US Embassy in Warsaw reports that the 3.3(h)(2)
Polish Security Police have threatened serious
reprisals if USIEgs Polish librarian does not
surrender a complete list of the library's pat-
rons for an official investigation to begin on 18 April. The list of 839
borrowers includes many of Poland's outstanding professional, religi-
ous, scientific and former political leaders who have maintained library
membership as a means of continuing intellectual relations with the
West. The Security Police agent who approached the Polish USIE li-
brarian stated that the US information program in Poland would probably
be completely eliminated within six months. The US Ambassador, who
has taken precautions to safeguard the list, notes that if it fell into the
hands of the Security Police, the careers and possibly the lives of the
individuals concerned would be placed in the gravest jeopardy.
Comment: This is the most drastic step that
the Polish Government has taken against USIE so far and indicates the
government's intention to sever all intellectual and cultural contacts
, between Poland and the West. Since the first of the year, the Security
Police have engaged in a sporadic, but ineffective, campaign of 'harass-
ment against USIE patrons. With respect to Soviet Orbit countries, USIE
Is still able to conduct a curtailed form of activity in the USSR, Poland
and Hungary.
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Eit;rtra
WESTERN EUROPE
Austrians :
Austrian Minister of the Interior Helmer has 33(h)(2)
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informed the US Legation in Vienna of his fears
that the LISSR is quietly building up Soviet troop
strength in Austria, and he cited a number of
recent indications as proof of this build-up. Helmer appeared particu-
larly disturbed, however, by the recent wave of Soviet abductions and
is convinced that a "vigorous reaction" by the Austrian Government is
required to prevent the demoralization of the eastern zone population
and the security forces.
Comment: Helmer's statements about a Soviet
troop build-up, which are not confirmed, may represent an attempt to
alert US officials to the seriousness of the situation in which he finds
himself vis-a-vis the Soviet Occupation element as a result of his recent
sweeping dismissal of Communists from the Austrian police force.
Nevertheless, Austrian alarm over growing Soviet intransigence and its
consequences for Austrian control of the eastern zone is sincere.
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