CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/07/03

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02872228
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: July 3, 1953

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US OFFICIALS ONLY
Copy No. 87
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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AUTH: FIR 70-214
DATE, !it/REVIEWER
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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TOP S ET
SECU NFORMAT1ON
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Comment on departure of Soviet diplomats (page 3).
FAR EAST
2. Possible Rhee successor criticizes American armistice efforts
(page 3).
3. South Korean ambassador proposes pact similar to US-japan
security treaty (page 4).
4. Chiang Kai-shek to refrain from public support of Rhee's position
(page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
(
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EASTERN EUROPE
1.4e...�./.. American embassy considers reports of Czech resistance
exaggerated (page 6).
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GENERAL
1. Comment on departure of Soviet diplomats:
The recall during the past few weeks of
numerous high-ranking Soviet diplomats, including Vyshinsky and
the ambassadors to London, Paris and Washington, suggests that
high-level talks may soon be held in Moscow on outstanding interna-
tional issues. The talks would probably cover the current difficulties
in East Germany and Eastern Europe, Korea and other Far Eastern
subjects, Balkan policy, and general tactics for breaking Western
solidarity.
There are indications that the Kremlin
still desires a Korean armistice followed by a Far Eastern political
conference. The USSR will probably make every effort to exploit
US-UK-French differences over such problems as the status of For-
mosa and the recognition -of and UN membership for Commuriik China.
The simultaneous presence in the USSR of
the Soviet representatives to Turkey, Iran, Greece, and Yugoslavia
suggests that discussions on Balkan nolicv may also be scheduled.
FAR EAST
2. Possible Rhee successor criticizes American armistice efforts:
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In a private mid-June conversation with 3.3(h)(2)
American officials in Pusan, Yi Pomsok
severely criticized American willingness
to conclude an armistice and said he believed
that the Communist "peace offensive" in Korea was a cover for further
aggression,
Yi stated that the early Same mass demonstra-
tions were "genuine expressions of the popular will" and added that
Rhee was "duty bound" to respect the people's demands which on the
truce question coincided with the government's position.
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Comment: Yi, who is now in the United
States, holds no official position in the South Korean government,
but is generally considered to be second only to Rhee in political
power. His observations on public sentiment conflict with reports
from Ambassador Briggs; the fact that he makes them tends to show
the unanimity with which most articulate Korean leaders oppose a
truce. The mere replacement of Rhee, therefore, would not neces-
sarily change South Korean opposition.
3. South Korean ambassador proposes pact similar to US-Japan security
treaty:
3
Comment: Yang was
informed by his government that it was seeking a mutual security
pact with the United States, presumably to bind the United States to
Immediate armed defense of South Korea in case of a future attack.
Yang may have learned that such a treaty is now out of the question
and that Rhee must settle for a more general commitment.
The US-Japan security treaty authorizes
American forces to be stationed "in and about" Japan to "contribute
to the maintenance" of Far Eastern peace and security, but it con-
tains no automatic commitment for the United States to defend Japan.
4. Chiang Kai-shek to refrain from public support of Rheets position:
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3.3(h)(2)
Chiang Kai-shek told the American ambas- 3.3(h)(2)
sador in Taipei on 1 July that he had refrained
from publicly supporting Syngman Rhee's posi-
tion, despite Chinese Nationalist and South
Korean pressure on him to do so, because he believed it "most impor-
tant" to preserve American-South Korean solidarity.
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TSDP'S
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The generalissimo said that any future state-
ment on his part would emphasize that it is vital for the United States
and South Korea to remain on good terms and that he favors a security
pact between the two countries. He added that Rhee would be "unreason-
able" to ask for more than such a pact.
Comment: Chiang's silence has probably
been motivated by a desire not to harm his own relations with the United
States. He is believed to oppose a Korean truce on the grounds that
Nationalist prospects for recovering the mainland depend on expanded
hostilities. Rhee almost certainly believes that the great volume of
Nationalist comment favoring his position reflects Chiang's private views.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
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EASTERN EUROPE
6. American embassy considers reports of Czech resistance exaggerated:
The American embassy in Prague considers 3.3(h)(2)
that Western newspaper reports have exagger-
ated the seriousness of the present conditions
in Czechoslovakia. While rumors of much un-
rest iTi-ivuoravia continue, the embassy has no reports of overt acts or
organized passive resistance. Moreover, embassy officers who were
in Pilsen on 27,28 and 29 June found the situation normal and saw no
evidence that a Soviet MVD division had been brought in.
The embassy believes the recent stringent
labor measures adopted by the government are the result of long-
standing economic difficulties, particularly absenteeism. These
difficulties have been aggravated by the sullen mood of the population
resulting from the currency reform on 30 May.
Comment: Similar sensational reports of
violence in Poland and Hungary, as an aftermath of the East German
riots, are not confirmed by observations of US officials in the area.
Popular unrest is widespread, but the only evidence that any Satellite
government has taken extraordinary precautions against possible up-
risings was a security police alert in Czechoslovakia on 18 June,
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