CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/07/21

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02872243
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: July 21, 1953

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APproved for Release: 2019/07/10
#17 ivA TOP
CURITY INFORMATION
21 Suly 1953
Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO-.
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Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
.3.5(c)
TOPS ET
SE INFORMATION
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3.5(c)
3.5(c)
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SECURITY INFORMATION
3.5(c)
SUMMARY
FAR EAST
33(h)(2)
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Cambodia asks France to transfer all powers before negotiations
(page 3).
3. Viet Minh commander reportedly planning offensive in central
Vietnam (page 4).
EASTERN EUROPE
4. Yugoslavia may renew demands for political commitments during
Washington talks (page 4).
WESTERN EUROPE
Austro-Soviet agreement recognizes principles of long draft
Austrian treaty (page 5).
6. Italian Communists reportedly plan demonstrations against any
"reactionary" government (page 6).
* * * *
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CRET
3.5(c)
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1.
FAR EAST
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Cambodia asks France to transfer all powers before negotiations:
3.3
(h)(2)
The Cambodian reply to the French offer of 3.3(h)(2)
3 July consisted of 60 specific demands and
in effect asks France to agree to transfer
all its remaining powers and services in
advance of negotiations. According to a French official in Paris,
the French government is prepared to grant the Cambodian demands
"when they have been fully defined and clarified," except for one
which would give the king control over both French and Cambodian
troops. The officer stated, moreover, that there is strong sentiment
in the French government for withdrawing all troops and "leaving
Cambodia to its own devices."
Comment: The French high commissioner
in Cambodia has observed that the king's demand for top military
authority in Cambodia should not prove an insurmountable problem,
since he could be delegated nominal command by the French commanding
general.
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The king has not asked for the withdrawal
of French forces. The French are obliged to maintain security in
Cambodia to protect their own flank in Cochinchina.
3. Viet Minh commander reportedly planning offensive in central
Vietnam:
the Viet
Minh commander in =et, Vo Nguyen Giap,
is now on an inspection tour of central Annam,
and intends to open a campaign there.
3.3(h)(2)
Comment: There are only light concentrations
of Viet Minh and French troops in this area and no Viet Minh movements
to it from major bases in Tonkin have been reported. The French, how-
ever, have several important coastal installations and many small posts
In Annam, and it is possible that the Viet Minh is preparing intensified
action of a local nature.
EASTERN EUROPE
4. Yugoslavia may renew demands for political commitments during
Washington talks:
The American embassy in Rome considers
that Yugoslavia's refusal to agree to the
establishment of a joint Yugoslav-Greek-
Turkish military staff during the recent
foreign ministers' conference in Athens reflects a high-level politi-
cal reversal of the Yugoslav military staff position, possibly for
bargaining purposes in Washington.
Yugoslavia had given no evidence during
June military meetings that political commitments were regarded
as a precondition for continued military planning. Its representa-
tives at the more recent Athens foreign ministers' meeting, however,
reportedly resented Turkish reluctance to offer a categorical politi-
cal commitment that an attack against any one of the Balkan pact
members should be regarded as an attack against all three.
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T(Et E T
3.3(h)(2)
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The commander in chief of the southern
European forces of NATO believes that planning as envisaged in
the recent military staff talks may be impossible in the absence
of a tripartite military staff.
Comment: While Tito continues to resist
any direct association with NATO, he appears to be increasingly
anxious to obtain some kind of mutual defense commitment from
Greece and Turkey on the one hand and from the United States,
Britain and France on the other.
The current Yugoslav tactic may be to delay
joint planning until these commitments are forthcoming. It is possible,
therefore, that Yugoslavia plans to use this tactic in the military talks
to be held in Washington later in the summer.
WESTERN EUROPE
5. Austro-Soviet agreement recognizes principles of long draft Austrian
treaty:
The Austrian Foreign Ministry has confirmetP(h)(2)
the signature on 17 July of a contract with the
Soviet Union transferring the unfinished Ybbs-
Persenbeug hydroelectric project to Austrian
control. The contract stipulates that the payment for the project be
Included in the general settlement under Article 35 of the long draft
of the Austrian state treaty.
Comment: Austrian-Soviet negotiations on
the Ybbs-Persenbeug project, a Soviet plant hitherto classed as a for-
mer German asset, have been under way since early June. The Austrians
had promised, however, that no agreement with the USSR would be con-
cluded without Allied approval.
Article 35 of the long draft treaty deals with
the disposition of the extensive Soviet-held former German assets in
Austria and contains terms tremendously advantageous to the USSR.
Allied officials have feared that Austrian agreement to any part of this
might seriously impede their efforts to negotiate better terms.
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6. Italian Communists reportedly plan demonstrations against any
"reactionary" government:
The Italian Communist Party will "fight it
physically" if the Christian Democrats
establish a reactionary government, ac-
cording to Trieste Communist Party
secretary Vidali.
He told a party meeting that as a result
of the changed situation in Italy since the 7-8 June national elec-
tions, a "great battle" is imminent between the people and the
government, and the labor unions are preparing for it. The Trieste
Communist Party, he added, must be ready to take to the streets
along with the Italian Communists.
Comment: In view of the leftward trend
in the Italian elections, parliamentary approval of the new all-
Christian Democratic cabinet might be used by the Communists
as an excuse for street demonstrations.
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3.3(h)(2)
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