CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/05/02

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02899765
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: May 2, 1953

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2 May 1953
Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO. .1!
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
DECLASSSED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE.
AUTH: HR 70-44
DATEMe. r
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
SOVIET UNION
1. Soviet ambassador seeks clarification of US intentions (page 3).
2. Molotov receives Yugoslav diplomat (page 3).
FAR EAST
3. Ambassador Briggs says South Korean people would support
armistice (nage 41
4.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
5. United States pictured as opposing Cambodian demands for greater
Independence (page 5).
6. French officials foresee satisfactory end to Cambodian negotiations
(page 5).
7 French foreign minister explains his opposition to Laotian appeal
to UN (page 6).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
8. Britain discouraged by Egyptian attitude in defense talks (page 6).
9. Israel wants Palestine problem linked to Anglo-Egyptian talks
(page 7).
WESTERN EUROPE
10. Adenauer expected to press for definitive Bundesrat vote on EDC
(page 7).
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SOVIET UNION
1. Soviet ambassador seeks clarification of US intentions:
During a courtesy call by Ambassador Dillon 3.3(h)(2)
in Paris, Soviet Ambassador Pavlov, speaking
of President Eisenhower's speech, said that it
appeared that Secretary Dulles did not agree
with President Eisenhower and that "this created a difficult situation."
He emphasized that the fundamental question was whether the United
States accepted the possibility of co-existence based on the choice by
all countries of their own form of government without outside interference.
Commenting that the future of the world lay in
the hands of the Amerioan and Soviet people, Pavlov stated that no other
country had any real importance. When questioned regarding China's
role, Pavlov said China has a "lot of people" but "does not compare"
in importance with the United States and the USSR.
2.. Molotov receives Yugoslav diplomat:
Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov received the
Yugoslav charge on 29 April for a courtesy
visit. It was the first time since the 1948
break in relations that a Yugoslav representa-
een received or any purpose by the Soviet foreign minister.
According to the Yugoslav charge, the only
remark of significance was Molotov's offer to include Yugoslavia as a
nation sharing the desire for world peace.
Comment: Yugoslav leaders have indicated
they would not accept any Soviet gestures of reconciliation unless they
were accompanied by concrete steps toward a reversal of Soviet and
Satellite policy toward Yugoslavia.
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FAR EAST
Ambassador Briggs says South Korean people would support armistice:
4.
In contrast to adamant government opposition 3.3(h)(2)
to a cease-fire, the majority of the South Korean
people are passive and war-weary and would�
accept an armistice "honestly described as a
step toward peace," Ambassador Briggs reports.
He states that wartime hardships and economic
insecurity override any desire for unification, but that the present offi-
cial attitude prevents an expression of popular opposition.
Comment: Officially inspired opposition to
an armistice, probably designed to secure major American guarantees,
has implied that South Korean troops will be ordered northward if the UN
concludes an unfavorable armistice. Statements attributed to South
Korean Army Chief of Staff Paek Sun-yop, however, stressing the army's
inability to hold the battle line without continued American material aid
and supporting units, suggest that South Korean military officials are
taking a more realistic view.
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SOUTHEAST ASIA
5. United States pictured as opposing Cambodian demands for greater
independence:
The French high commissioner in Phnom
has been telling members of the royal family
and others that the United States has officially
denounced the Cambodian king's demands for
u onomy, according to the American charge. Representatives
of the palace have questioned the embassy on the veracity of the high
commissioner's assertions.
The charge points to the danger of the United
States being put in a position of apparently opposing Cambodian desires
for a fuller degree of independence within the French Union.
Comment: The high commissioner's distorted
presentation of American views will tend to confirm an opinion widely
held in Asia that the United States supports French colonialism.
6. French officials foresee satisfactory end to Cambodian negotiations:
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French Cambodian negotiations now in progress
in Paris will probably end in a settlement
acceptable to the Cambodians, according to
French officials in Saigon. The French diplo-
matic counselor stated that a formula was under consideration which
would permit Cambodia a greater degree of military and judicial
authority, but that economic concessions were "more difficult."
Comment: The current demands of the king
and other Cambodian spokesmen go far beyond such limited concessions
as the French are apparently contemplating; and there is little chance
that these will satisfy the Cambodians in their present mood.
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7. French foreign minister explains his opposition to Laotian appeal to UN:
In explaining to Ambassador Dillon his oppos3.3(h)(2)
tion to a Laotian appeal to the UN, French
Foreign Minister Bidault stated his stand was
based on fear that France would not be treated
ary in th UN. tie admitted that Premier Mayer, President Auriol,
and Minister for Associated States Letourneau favor an appeal.
8.
Dillon has learned 3.3(h)(2)
that Bidault's stand may be due also to his apprehension that a UN appeal
would damage French prestige in the French Union and set a precedent
for UN jurisdiction on North African questions.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
Britain discouraged by Egyptian attitude in defense talks
� -
Egypt has confronted the British negotiators
with a reversal of attitude on the establishment
of technical subcommittees to discuss British
withdrawal from the Suez Canal base. Accord-
ing to the British Embassy in Cairo, no progress was made during the
first days of the talks.
Egypt insists that "complete Egyptianization"
of the base and the right to determine the nationality of foreign tech-
nicians be recognized in the terms of reference of the subcommittee.
General Robertson, a British delegate, has
told Ambassador Caffery he will be most discouraged if this stand
proves to be more than a tactical maneuver.
Comment There is no indication whether
this apparent change in attitude at the conference table represents a
tactic or an unyielding position. Britain will not accept exclusively
Egyptian control of the base. '
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9. Israel wants Palestine problem linked to Anglo-Egyptian talks:
Israel believes that a Palestine settlement ca0.3(h)(2)
be achieved if the United States promises to help
Egypt reach a favorable agreement with Britain
in return for an Egyptian settlement with Israel.
This opinion was voiced by Israeli UN delegate
Rafael in New York, who suggested that the first step in this direction
should be an American declaration regarding the importance of a Palestine
settlement. This could then be followed by appropriate diplomatic action.
Israeli Ambassador Eban later similarly suggested
to Ambassador Lodge at the UN that the two problems be linked. He recom-
mended that Secretary Dulles when in Cairo make clear that the United
States expects a settlement between Egypt and Israel on the basis of direct
negotiations.
Comment: Any effort to tie Arab-Israeli peace
settlements to the Anglo-Egyptian negotiations over the Suez Canal zone
would seriously endanger the talks and would have unfavorable repercus-
sions throughout the Arab world.
WESTERN EUROPE
10. Adenauer expected to press for definitive Bundesrat vote on EDC:
West German Government officials generally
believe that Chancellor Adenauer will make
another effort to secure a showdown vote on
the Bonn and Paris treaties in the Bundesrat.
The US High Commission believes that this can be accomplished only if
the present Bundesrat delegation from Lower Saxony is replaced by one
favorable to the government, since there is now little prospect of changes
in Reinhold Maier's Baden-Wuerttemberg delegation.
If Adenauer is unable to effect changes in the
Bundesrat, he may be obliged again to ask President Heuss to promul-
gate the treaties without upper house action, or to ask the Constitutional
Court for a prior advisory opinion on the treaties' legality.
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Comment: There is still a possibility that
Reinhold Maier will assent to an early vote. Otherwise he will face
severe criticism from his party colleagues at the Free Democratic
Party convention next month.
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