CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/01/29

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02900515
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: January 29, 1953

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SEC INFORMATION
29 Tanuary 1953 3.5(c)
Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
- NO CHANGE.
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO:
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
ALIOATTH.: 70-2
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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TY INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Italian Defense Minister reportedly to visit Egypt next month
(page 3).
SOVIET UNION
2. Uranium metallurgical plant in Siberia indicated operative
(page 3).
FAR EAST
3, North Korean Air Force noted in twin-jet bomber training
(page 4).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
4. First Vietnamese elections seen as progress toward democracy
(page 4).
5,
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
6. Israeli Foreign Minister believes Israeli-Syrian border accord
likely (page 5).
7. Israel undertaking "active" defense along Jordanian border (page 6).
WESTERN EUROPE
8. Comment on Soviet note on Austrian treaty (page 7).
9. East German security controls may extend entirely around
Berlin (page 7).
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GENERAL
1. Italian Defense Minister reportedly to visit Egypt next month:
Italian Defense Minister Pacciardi
has accepted an invitation from Prime
Minister Nagib to visit Egypt early in
February
Pacciardi will be accompanied by four or five high-ranking
general staff officers.
Comment: Egypt's desire to strengthen
its bargaining position with Great Britain and the United States on
the question of Middle East defense would explain such a move to
establish closer relations with Italy.
SOVIET UNION
2. Uranium-metallurgical plant in Siberia indicated operative:
Comment:
uranium metallurgical plant has been under construction at
Novosibirsk in western Siberia.
a
the plant was in operation by late October. It tends to support
estimates that production of fissionable materials began in this
area before the end of 1952.
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The other known major atomic energy
complex is in the Urals and went into operation between 1948
and 1951.
FAR EAST
3. North Korean Air Force noted in twin-jet bomber training:
On 27 January 18 IL-28's took part
in local training flights from Kungchuling,
Manchuria,
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Comment: This is the first observed
training activity at the Kungcl�iiiirrig air base, recently associated
only with the North Korean Air Force. It is a further indication
that the latter is the recipient of the IL-28 aircraft ferried to
Kungchuling from the Soviet Union in the past three months.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
4. First Vietmmese elections seen as progress toward democracy:
The-American Consul in Hanoi describes
the general reaction to the 25 January
elections in Tonkin as one of cautious
optimism that they might mark the first
of many slow steps toward democracy. His own preliminary con-
clusion was that they may have far more validity than was expected,
and may eventually represent a "solid blow" against the Viet Minh.
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Comment: Vietnam's first elections,
although restricted to the selection of municipal councilors,
have aroused considerable popular interest and have established
a group of officials whose wishes the government cannot readily
ignore. Results in Hanoi indicate overwhelming support for
strongly nationalistic candidates who have been critical of the
French-oriented government of Premier Tam.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
6. Israeli Foreign Minister believes Israeli-Syrian border accord
likely:
The Israeli Foreign Minister believes
that current Israeli-Syrian boundary
discussions will result in an agreement.
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He told the American Ambassador in Tel Aviv that the Israeli
Cabinet has approved in principle a proposal for liquidating
the demilitarized zone between the two countries, even though
It entails giving up some territory.
Comment: The Syrian dictator,
Colonel Shishakli, is also interested in reaching a settlement,
although he may become more difficult as the negotiations
progress. On the other hand, Jordan, because of its border
difficulties with Israel, may endeavor to prevent any Israeli-
Syrian agreement by exploiting popular Arab opposition to
direct negotiations with Israel.
7. Israel undertaking "active'
defense along jordanian border:
The Israeli defense force is under-
taking an "active" defense along the
jordanian frontier,
stated that Israeli forces will attempt
to prevent the infiltration of Arabs froyn Jordan and make the
jordanians aware of the seriousness of the infiltration problem.
The American Army Attache believes
that this may result in Israeli raids into Jordan, thus increas-
ing tension in the area.
Comment: There have been previous
indications from Amman and Tel Aviv that Israeli-Jordanian
relations have sharply deteriorated in the last two weeks.
Israel's aggressiveness in this area
contrasts with its current approaches to Syria. This suggests
that Israel may be interested in settling its northern frontier
problems while maintaining an unyielding attitude in the central
area, where frontier arrangements are more complex and less
satisfactory to Israel.
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WESTERN EUROPE
8. Comment on Soviet note on Austrian treaty
The Soviet note of 27 January, demanding
withdrawal of the abridged treaty as a condition for four-power
negotiations, is an attempt to shift to the Western powers responsi-
bility for failure to conclude an Austrian, treaty.
By not specifically mentioning the ques-
tions of denazification, demilitarization and Trieste, the note
suggests Soviet awareness of British, French, and Austrian
willingness to negotiate on the basis of the old draft treaty instead
of the abridged treaty.
Previous developments indicate that the
Austrian, French, and probably the British Governments will
exert strong pressure on the United States to accept the Soviet
condition so as to avoid blame for obstructing a resumption of
negotiations.
9. East German security controls may extend entirely around Berlin:
A� merican officials in Berlin believe that
the East German Government may soon
establish a "blocked strip" around the
entire city, similar to
rating East Germany and the Federal Republic.
the East Germans plan to close shops, restau-
rants, and all "trade enterprises" in the vicinity of the city-zonal
border. Refugees report that some shops within one kilometer of
the US sector-zonal border have already been closed.
the strin sena
Comment: This is the first reliable
indication of such East German intentions.
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Although evidence still indicates that
an intra-city barrier will be established, the East Germans
may allow some controlled intersector traffic to continue, at
the same time placing similar controls on traffic between East
Berlin and the Soviet Zone. This method might achieve the
stopping the flow of refugees
without running into the practical difficulties of corn.-
arricading the sector boundary within the city.
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