CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/04/29

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02899762
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: April 29, 1953

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29 April 1953
Copy No.
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DC)CLIMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS,
LI DECLASSIFIED
ri
CLASa CHANGED TO: TS
NEXT E.VIEW DATE
AUTH: I IR 70-2
DAM.
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
SOVIET UNION
toe USSR seeks to regain "peace" initiative page 3).
FAR EAST
Rhee to withdraw South Korean troops if UN concludes unfavorable
armistice (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
toe French agree to repatriate Chinese Nationalist troops in Indochina
(page 4).
Thailand reluctant to aid French without UN assurances (page 5).
Cambodians reportedly plan revolt (page 5).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
Mossadeq to exploit police chief's murder politically (page 6).
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WESTERN EUROPE
8. Italy receives tempting trade offers from Orbit countries (page 7).
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SOVIET UNION
1. USSR seeks to regain "peace" initiative: 3.3(h)(2)
Ambassador Bohlen interprets Soviet Foreign
Minister Molotov's remarks on a five-power
peace pact as an attempt to buttress the Pravda
reply to President Eisenhower's 16 April speech.
The Ambassador considers Molotov's generalities an evasion of the spe-
cific points advanced by the President as a basis for settlement of world
issues.
Comment: Further evidence of sensitivity
to loss of ground in the "peace" offensive is apparent in Orbit comment
on the Pravda editorial. This material is devoted to praise of the Soviet
"initiative," and to accusations that the United States continues to seek
world domination.
Polish and Hungarian propaganda particularly
attacked the President's "unsolicited.., concern" for the East European
peoples. Subsequent declarations by Secretary Dulles and Under Secre-
tary Smith were cited as being in "striking contrast" to Eisenhower's
peace appeals.
The Hungarian and Austrian Communist press
selected isolated Western reactions to support the theme that the West
should seize every opportunity to take concrete measures in answer to
the Soviet "peace" offers.
FAR EAST
2. Rhee to withdraw South Korean troops if UN concludes unfavorable
armistice: 3.3(h)(2)
President Rhee
is preparing to withdraw. South Korean troops
3.3(h)(2)
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from the UN Command if and when the UN agrees to any cease-fire
which allows the Chinese to remain south of the Yalu, and to publicize
the fact.
The instructions further stated that South
Korean forces would fight on alone, "win or lose," if necessary.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. French agree to repatriate Chinese Nationalist troops in Indochina:
Taipei authorities are to be informed by the 3.3(h)(2)
French Embassy that France is willing to
permit the repatriation to Formosa of some
30,000 Chinese Nationalists interned in Indo-
china. The Chinese must provide sea trans-
port, and the movement, which must be com-
pleted by the end of May because of the weather,
must be in secret.
On 26 April the French commander in Indochina
told Admiral Radford that he had no objection to the plan. The admiral
intimated to the American Charge in Saigon that his command might be
able to provide shipping.
Comment; These internees, who sought
refuge in Indochina in late 1949, have been the subject of protracted
negotiations between Paris and Taipei. Some 262700 of them are
officially classified as soldiers and approximately half of these are
believed to be physically fit for immediate military service.
The French have been reluctant to repatriate
them for fear of antagonizing Peiping. This attitude is apparently
reflected in the demand for secrecy in moving such a large group.
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4. Thailand reluctant to aid French without UN assurances:
The Thai Foreign Minister, in reply to a 3.3(h)(2)
French request, said his government would
permit the evacuation of French and Laotian
officials through Thailand. He was disinclined
to favor the movement of supplies on the basis of the French request
alone, but stated that he was certain Thailand would "willingly cooperate"
if it were under United Nations auspices.
He noted that participation in a UN effort
would give Thailand assurance of American support in case of Viet
Minh aggression.
Comment: The French reportedly have asked
Bangkok for the use of two air bases in northeast Thailand to supply
their forces in Laos.
The Thai Prime Minister had previously
expressed to the American Ambassador his "disappointment" at
French failure to place the Viet Minh aggression against Laos before
the United Nations,
5. Cambodians reportedly plan revolt:
The Cambodian King and his government are 3.3(h)(2)
actively plotting to lead an open revolt against
the French within 15 days unless the "demands
of the King are granted,"
General Salan requested the American Charge
in Saigon to ask Secretary Dulles to intervene with the King, who is now
in Tokyo en route home, and to point out the extreme danger of the
contemplated action.
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Comment: Resentment against the French
among Cambodian officials and the public has been increasing recently
and plans for an uprising may exist. Despite the King's recent demands
that the French grant greater autonomy, it seems unlikely that he would
lend his indispensable support to a general uprising.
French authorities in Indochina have circulated
reports in Cambodia that the United States deplores the King's anti-French
statements.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
6. Mossadeq to exploit police chief's murder politically:
Iranian police have compiled 1,200 pages of
evidence involving prominent politicians in
the murder of General Afshartus, police chief
of Tehran, Foreign Minister Fatemi told
Ambassador Henderson on 26 April. Those involved, all political
opponents of Prime Minister Mossadeq, include Mullah Kashani,
Deputies Baghai and Qanatabadi, and several retired army officers.
According to Fatemi, Afshartus was seized
and drugged while trying to arrange an understanding between Mossadeq
and Baghai. Kashani's son allegedly drove the unconscious Afshartus to
a cave, where he was strangled a few days later.
Comment: The incident will probably be fully
exploited by Mossadeq in an effort to destroy his opposition. Thirty-six
persons, including Kashani's son, reportedly have already been arrested.
Generals Zahedi and Hejazi, previously implicated in a plot to overthrow
Mossadeq, are being sought.
Outbursts of violence cap be expected, par-
ticularly if charges are pressed against Kashani and Baghai, who have
a strong following in the bazaars.
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7.
WESTERN EUROPE
8. Italy receives tempting trade offers from Orbit countries:
The Italian delegate to the meetings of the Un.3(h)(2)
Economic Commission for Europe states that
the Soviet representative has offered to renew
the 1952 trade agreement, which gave Italy
In addition the Soviet official suggested that the
USSR might supply other commodities desired by Italy in exchange for
cargo ships, tug boats, and cranes, all of which are International List II
Items. The Czech representative also offered prospects of a considerable
Increase in trade provided embargoed items are included.
The Italian delegate believes that "unfortunate"
political repercussions in Italy would follow any refusal by his govern-
ment to consider these and other Orbit trade offers.
Comment: The Italian Government is under
considerable pressure from businessmen and the Communists to permit
increased trade with Orbit countries. The Soviet and Satellite offers may
become an important issue in the present electoral campaign, especially
because of continued high unemployment in the industries involved.
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