CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/05/20

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02901114
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: May 20, 1953

for Release: 2019/06/26 CO2901114,
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SECU INFORMATION
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20 May 1953
Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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DAT E.12.1)
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SECUR INFORMATION
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
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CURITY INFORMATION
3.5(c)
SUMMARY
SOVIET UNION
I. Comment on appointment of new Soviet charge in Yugoslavia
(page 3).
FAR EAST
Comment on prospects for new Japanese government (page 3).
3. Decline in Chinese Communist agricultural output foreseen
(page 4).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
4. Thailand to appeal to UN on Communist threat (page 4).
to,51" Li Mi reportedly seeking to return to Burma (page 5).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
6. Egyptian army supplies of ammunition and gasoline limited
(page 6).
WESTERN EUROPE
lige/West German populace seen standing firm against Moscow's
unity overtures (page 6).
8. Belgian EDC ratification seen unlikely before fall (page 7).
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3.5(c)
3.5(c)
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SE ITY INFORMATION
3.5(c)
SOVIET UNION
1. Comment on appointment of new Soviet charge in Yugoslavia:
The appointment of S. P. Kirsanov as new
Soviet charge in Yugoslavia may foreshadow a Soviet effort to
resume normal diplomatic relations. Kirsanov was minister to
Bulgaria from August 1945 to late 1947 and ambassador there until
March 1948. He was chief of the Southeastern European department
of the Soviet Foreign Ministry from March 1949 to August 1952.
It is unlikely that the USSR would go so far
as to offer to reestablish closer economic and cultural! relations,
which could have serious repercussions throughout the Orbit.
Probably realizing that Yugoslavia would reject any such attempts,
the USSR is more likely to indulge in tactics designed to undermine
Yugoslav relations with the West.
FAR EAST
2. Comment on prospects for new Japanese government:
The loss of control by Prime Minister
Yoshida's Liberal Party of the top parliamentary positions in the
Diet and the party's minority position in the Diet's standing commit-
tees emphasize the weakness of Yoshida's position as newly re,
elected Japanese premier.
Yoshida is expected to seek the support of
the Progressive Party in forming the new government, or failing
this, to gain its cooperation from outside the cabinet. Business
and financial interests have been exerting strong pressure for a
rapprochement between the Liberals and the Progressives in the
interests of a stabilized political scene.
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3.5(c)
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SECUBdTY INFORMATION
3.5(c)
Should Yoshida and Shigemitsu, the leader
of the Progressives, fail to agree on terms for cooperation, it is
possible that one or more of the factions within, the Progressives
could be weaned away from their party to give Yoshida a tenuous
working majority. In any event, the government seems destined
for a short and stormy life.
3. Decline in Chinese Communist agricultural output foreseen:
A decline in wheat production this year
was predicted by Peiping in a 17 May
broadcast which stated that poor weather
had affected crops throughout China.
Comment: Wheat and other winter grains,
due for harvesting soon, FOrilITE5 25 to 30 percent of China's
total crops. Adverse weather also may have affected crops planted
in the spring.
Although an increase of nine percent in
grain production was planned for 1953, this report indicates that
production may fall below the 1952 level. Peiping has reiterated
the need for bumper crops to provide revenues and exports to
support an expanded industrial construction program.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
4. Thailand to appeal to UN on Communist threat:
Premier Phibun told Ambassador Stanton
on 19 May that he and his cabinet have
decided to place before the UN the threat
posed to Thailand by the Communist
invasion of Laos. Drafting of the resolution is now under way.
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TOISE IC