CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/04/10

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02893545
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: April 10, 1953

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SECU INFORMATION
10 April
Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLAS
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2:10
1953
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
SOVIET UNION
trade (page 3).
Orbit has "genuine need for Wester:3.3(h)(2)
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Direction of Viet Minh spring offensive may be changed (page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
o Mossadeq's control weakens in Iranian-Soviet border area (page 5).
. Iraq allegedly supporting plot against Syria (page 5).
5. Israel still intends to push UN discussion of anti-Semitism (page 6).
6. Britain refuses to exclude MEDO from defense talks with Egypt (page 7).
7. Serious dispute developing between Turkish President and Prime
Minister (page 7).
EASTERN EUROPE
8. Set light bombers reported in Polish Air Force (page 8).
WESTERN EUROPE
Russians propose new air corridor to Berlin (page 8).
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Minh
SOVIET UNION
3.3(h)(2)
Orbit has "genuine need for Western tracte:'
3.3(h
Comment: This overstatement of the signifi-
cance of East-West trade to the Soviet Orbit is in itself an indication of
the success of Orbit trade propaganda. Such trade is important to certain
sectors of the Orbit economy and to its planned expansion, but not to its
survival.
While the new Soviet Government may make
some trade concessions as a part of its "peace offensive," the trend in
the Orbit toward increased economic self-sufficiency is expected to con-
tinue as it has since the war, with East-West trade assuming to an even
greater degree the character of a political weapon.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Direction of Viet Minh spring offensive may be changed:
)(2)
the
may have changed its spring offensive
plans. Latest information indicates that the
southward movement of at least one Viet Minh
division toward the Sam Neua area of Laos has
stopriled. This suggests that Na San, the French stronghold in western
Tonkin, may be the main objective (see map, page 4).
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army officer plot to overthrow his government. Shishakli said the
plan is to seize northeastern Syria and the city of Aleppo, establish-
ing a "Free State of Syria." This state would later be ruled by the
Iraqi regent, who will lose his position when King Feisal is crowned
on 2 May.,
Comment: Iraq has long been interested
in a union with Syria under the Hashemite family now ruling in Iraq
and Jordan, but there has been little indication of recent activity in
this direction.
Protection of his regime against the
plotting of Syrian politicians and army officers has been a chief
concern of Shishakli. The latest conspiracy was broken up last
December.
5. Israel still intends to push UN discussion of anti-Semitism:
Israel still intends to discuss Soviet anti-
3.3(h)(2)
Semitism in the UN despite Soviet efforts
to dissuade it from doing so, according to
Israeli delegate Rafael.
He stated that the Israeli discussion will
emphasize that the release of the doctors does not exonerate the Soviet
Union for its anti-Semitic actions and that further relaxation of Soviet
hostility toward Jews is desirable.
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Rafael said that Soviet ambassadors in
several East European countries had gone out of their way to be cordial
to Israeli diplomats.
Comment: While Israel hopes for resump-
tion of diplomatic relations and relaxation of Soviet restrictions on
Jewish emigration, its emotional involvement may becloud its judgment
on how to achieve these objectives.
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6. Britain refuses to exclude MEDO from defense talks with Egypt:
The British Foreign Office has instructed it3.3(h)(2)
Embassy in Cairo to inform the Egyptian
Foreign Minister that no agreement can be
signed until a satisfactory understanding is
reached on all five points of the British proposal on the Suez. These
points, which include Egyptian participation in a Middle East defense
organization, may be discussed in any order the Egyptians desire.
The Embassy is to warn the Egyptian Govern-
ment that the temper of British public opinion makes it imperative that
any announcement of the start of negotiations be phrased generally and
not suggest that the talks are concerned only with British evacuation.
Comment: This reply to the Egyptian sug-
gestion that MEDO be excluded from the agenda for defense talks is a
repetition of the approach rejected by Cairo on 30 March.
7. Serious dispute developing between Turkish President and Prime Minister:
The opposition of Turkish President Bayar 3.3(h)(2)
extensive cabinet changes proposed by Prime
Minister Menderes has created a crisis
Both Bayar and Menderes claim final authority
to approve cabinet changes. A compromise arranged by Democratic Party
leaders provided for the President to accept three cabinet changes. The
question of final authority was not resolved, however, and neither the
constitution nor custom clearly defines either one's prerogatives.
Comment: The details and extent of the dis-
pute are not known. Continued disagreements between the President and
the Prime Minister; the two most important members of the Democratic
Party, would create a schism within the party and interfere with the
smoothly-operating administration of government.
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