CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/08/08

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02872253
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
7
Document Creation Date: 
July 15, 2019
Document Release Date: 
July 22, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
August 8, 1953
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15677517].pdf207.62 KB
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Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872253, TOPS E7' SE INFORMATION rfrr 8 August 1953 3.3(h)(2) Copy No. `-4 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO. NO :0! IANGE IN ! (H�;.,..!;:") TO: 'TS ;too 70i,fr D2 !IREVIEWER: Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 3.5(c) 3.5(c) TOPS ET SEC INFORMATION Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872253 Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872253 SECURITY INFO 3.5(c) SUMMARY FAR EAST 'Recall of ambassadors suggests Chinese Communist policy review (page 3). SOUTHEAST ASIA 2. Viet Minh reportedly intends to capture Luang Prabang late this year (page 3). SOUTH ASIA 3. Comment on reported Soviet agreement to negotiate barter deal with India (page 4)0 4. NEAR EAST - AFRICA 3.3(h)(2) 5. Saudi Arabia reported considering diplomatic break with Britain (page 5). WESTERN EUROPE West German officials comment on Soviet note (page 6). French government reaction to Soviet note pessimistic and cautious (page 6). * * * * -2 TOET 8 Aug 53 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872253 --- , Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872253 1 *.re SECURITY INFORMATION 3.5(c) FAR EAST 1. Recall of ambassadors suggests Chinese Communist policy review: Radio broadcasts from Peiping reveal that Chinese Communist ambassadors to the USSR, Poland, Bulgaria, East Germany, North Korea and Outer Mon- golia are all absent from their posts. The whereabouts of the ambassadors to Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the Viet Minh is not known. Of the Chinese envoys to Orbit countries, only the ambassador to Rumania is known to be at his post. Comment: This recall of Peiping's envoys to Soviet bloc states began with the return to Peiping of the ambassador to the USSR just before Stalin's death last March. It suggests that the Chinese Communist leadership has been con- ducting a lengthy review of its policies toward other Orbit states, including the USSR, in the light of developments since early March. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2. Viet Minh reportedly intends to capture Luang Prabang late this year: that Viet Minh plans for Laos include the capture of Luang PraPang, the royal capital, during the last quarter this year. Comment: possible Viet Minh plans for an expected attack this fall. The enemy has maintained several battalions In the general area and in late July reportedly was planning to reconnoiter the city's defenses. French strength there now amounts to three battalions. 3 TOy,8-ET 8 Aug 53 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872253 Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872253 Noop,1 L,t�r, I SECURITY INFORMATION 3.5(c) The French on 7 August announced the second clash within 10 days between their troops and guerrillas believed to be on reconnaissance missions near Luang Prabang. Plans for an attack against the capital would not preclude addi- tional offensives against other important objectives in Laos and Tonkin. SOUTH ASIA 3. Comment on reported Soviet agreement to negotiate barter deal with India: 4. The proposed three-year Soviet-Indian barter agreement providing for the exchange of unspecified amounts of Soviet wheat for Indian products could be used by the Soviet Union as an indication of its interest in the well-being of backward nations. The Indian government, meanwhile, probably views such an exchange as a means of showing its neutrality, saving dollar and sterling exchange, and demonstrating its fore- sight to the Indian people. On the basis of past Soviet agreements with India and Afghanistan, it is not likely that the final agreement will be for as long as three years or that it will be fully implemented. NEAR EAST - AFRICA 4 8 Aug 53 3. 3.5(c) 3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872253 'Approved for Release: 2019/07/10 CO2872253 Nome 11 ' 1 SECURITY INFORMATION 5. Saudi Arabia reported considering diplomatic break with Britainr Saudi Arabia is considering breaking diplo- matic relations with Britain because of British stubbornness on the Buraimi ques- tion. told a US embassy repre- sentative that the possibility of a break was being discussed by King Ibn Saud and the Foreign Ministry. The American charge in Jidda, in report- ing this, observed that by furnishing this information to the embassy, the Saudi government may hope for a stronger American attitude to- ward Britain. The charge does, however, believe that the Saudi government may be exploring more drastic methods of solving the issue than those presently employed. 5 1-15y5E6E