CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1954/04/11

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02870933
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: August 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2019
• Publication Date: April 11, 1954

pproved for Release: 2019/08/02 CO2870933
11 April 1954
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO. ,ar
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 2acv3
AUTH: HR 70-2
DA TE: /2/4,9_ REVIEWER:
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
e-,1)
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
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SUMMARY
FAR EAST
1. Japanese leaders show increasing good will toward Orbit (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Magsaysay's leadership in Philippines challenged by ultranationalist
senator (page 3).
3. Viet Minh improves artillery positions at Dien Bien Phu (page 4).
4. Chinese apparently plan to increase flow of aid into northwest Tonkin
(page 5).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
5. Arab states will boycott any general discussion of Palestine issue
In UN (page 5).
WESTERN EUROPE
6. French government plans early announcement of EDC debate (page 6).
LATIN AMERICA
7. Plot to assassinate Argentine president reported (page 7).
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FAR EAST
Japanese leaders show increasing _good will toward Orbit:
Comment: The Japanese Foreign Ministry
on 8 April announced that individual Soviet traders will now be permitted
to enter Japan. According to the press, the ministry has also decided
to allow representatives of the fishing industry to visit the USSR to nego-
tiate on fishing operations in the North Pacific.
Because of the decline in the Japanese economy,
the desire for trade is believed to be the primary motive for improving
relations with the Orbit.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Magsaysay's leadership in Philippines challenged by ultranationalist
senator:
By aggressively attacking Philippine military
and trade agreements with the United States,
the ultranationalist Senator Claro Recto has
had some success in his efforts to wrest con-
trol of both foreign and domestic policy from President Magsaysay,
Recto is
clearly trying to "immobilize American influence," and believe that a
"major effort" may be required to regain the ground lost, thus far.
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Magsaysay has said that he intends to
force an early showdown with the senator, and he is confident of
victory, if he fails to reassert
his leadership, the United States can expect the "sharpest kind of
bargaining" on the base and trade agreements, including threats
of outright abrogation.
Comment: Magsaysay depended heavily
on Recto for support in his election campaign last fall and repeatedly
deferred to him in the early weeks of his administration. Although
the president was reliably reported in mid-February to be aware of
the danger to his policies presented by Recto's bid for leadership of
the Nacionalista Party, he has not yet demonstrated the political skill
required to counter the senator's efforts.
3. Viet Minh improves artillery positions at Dien Bien Phu2
stated that the Viet Minh now has 15 new
artillery positions from which it can place
direct fire on both the main French defenses
and the southern strong point at Dien Bien
Phu. He believes that the enemy may be able
to withdraw its guns into the hillsides in the
face of air or artillery attacks.
the
C-119 transports flown by American contract pilots are encountering
accurate fire from 37mm antiaircraft guns, of which they estimate
there are six or eight in the Dien Bien Phu area.
Comment: The Viet Minh now appears to
be preparing a third major attack.
Previous estimates have placed the number
of 37mm guns between 30 and 100.
4
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4. Chinese apparently plan to increase flow of aid into northwest Tonkin:
tne uninese uommunists nave re-
quested the Viet Minh to strengthen imme-
diately the bridge over a tributary of the
Red River near Lao Kay. At present the
bridge has a 5-ton capacity, and the Chinese want it strengthened to
handle up to 25-ton loads.
Comment:
the great bulk of Chinese supplies has been arriving via Pinh-hsiang,
200 air miles east of Lao Kay.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
5. Arab states will boycott any general discussion of Palestine issue in UN:
Lebanon will walk out of the UN Security
Council if the Arab-Israeli incidents are
to be discussed as whole rather than each
incident on its merits, according to Iraqi
prime minister Jamali, jamali told Ambas-
sador Berry in Baghdad that this decision had
been approved at the recent Arab League meet-
ing in Cairo, and that there would be a general
Arab walkout as a public manifestation of lack
of confidence in the West.
Comment: These items corroborate press
reports that the Arabs are planning a walkout. Malik was noncomittal
on the subject when queried by the press.
5
TOP SECRET
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WESTERN EUROPE
6. French government plans early announcement of EDC debate:
French NATO representative Alpha,nd told
Ambassador Dillon on 8 April that he expects
Premier Laniel to announce on 15 April a
decision to ask for debate. Alphand said
that the Socialists have agreed to call a party
congress on EDC after American and British
assurances regarding the defense community are made public and after
the French cabinet has stated that it will attempt to negotiate an agree-
ment on "democratic control" with the other EDC countries. These nego-
tiations, however, must be completed before the Socialist congress
convenes.
4 'V .1. WA.
Comment: The EDC foreign ministers'
meeting scheduled for 30 March was postponed indefinitely at France's
request, and there is little likelihood that the Socialists' demand for
"democratic control" of EDC can be met in the near future. Bidault
hopes to satisfy them by promising that their condition will be met in
two or three years.
In view of Secretary Dulles' planned visit
to Paris, the French government may further delay announcement of
a date for the debate in order to avoid the charge of American pressure.
6
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LATIN AMERICA
7. Plot to assassinate Argentine president reported:
Approximately 160 active and inactive
Argentine army and navy officers, in-
cluding some senior officers, have been
arrested since 5 April on charges of
plotting to assassinate President Peron,
Most of those arrested were navy officers, but also
incLuaea were several from Peron's trusted army unit in Buenos Aires.
Comment: With few exceptions, the armed
forces, totaling 184,000, are reported loyal to Peron and capable of
controlling any opposition. Few elements opposed to the present regime
are believed to have escaped the extensive purge of the military which
followed the abortive revolt in 1951 led by the anti-American Menendez.
Plotting since that time has largely involved inactive military personnel
and exiles in Uruguay.
7
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