CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/05/22

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02901116
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: May 22, 1953

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SECUR INFORMATION
22 May 1953
Copy No. 0
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
FAR EAST
veVLarge shipment of Soviet trucks to southern China reported
(page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
Comment on scheduled meeting to implement Arab Collective
Security Pact (page 3).
3. Egypt reportedly takes special measures to protect foreign
of community (Daze 4).
WESTERN EUROPE
5.'U1bricht leadership held confirmed in East Germany (page 5).
vV French oppose any relaxation of Czech overflight prohibition
(page 5).
* * * *
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INFORMATION
FAR EAST
1. Large shipment of Soviet trucks to southern China reported:
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3500 Soviet military vehicles were assigned to
the East, South-central, and Southwest China
military areas following their delivery from the
Soviet Union between February and April. The Southwest China military
area received the largest number, 1500.
Comment: A lack of modern truck transport
facilities has been a weakness of the military forces in South and South-
west China. A delivery of this size would considerably increase Chinese
Communist capabilities for supplying the Viet Minh, particularly from
areas in Southwest China not fully served by railroads.
There have been recent reports of an extensive
road-building program along the Yunnan border near Burma and Indochina.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
2. Comment on scheduled meeting to implement Arab Collective Security
Pact:
The Lebanese announcement of 20 May that the
Arab chiefs of staff will meet in Damascus on 25 June to implement the
Arab Collective Security Pact is a severe blow to Western plans for the
Middle East Defense Organization.
The pact was ratified last fall, but its enforce-
ment was delayed because of Egypt's belief that it might interfere with
the Anglo-Egyptian negotiations. At the Arab foreign ministers' meeting
in Cairo on 10 May, Egypt, after announcing indefinite suspension of the
talks with Britain, joined in calling for immediate establishment of
organizations provided for in the pact.
Implementation of the pact would not give the
Middle East an effective defense system, but it would encourage Arab
leaders to insist that MEDO be dropped and that the West cooperate with
the Arab defense plan.
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3. Egypt reportedly takes special measures to protect foreign community:
The Egyptian police and army have been orde:3.3-(h)(2)
to take extraordinary measures to protect the
foreignlarge community in Alexandria,
4.
The government-sponsored National Liberation
iantzation nas-aiso been ordered to help maintain order in Alexandria.
Members of the banned Wafd party are to be carefully watched for any
attempt to incite disturbances.
The British ambassador is not worried at this
juncture about possible acts of violence against the British by the govern-
ment but rather that the Moslem Brotherhood, the Wafd or the Communists
might use violence to create difficulties for the government.
Comment'. General Nagib has assured Secretary
Dulles that he would prevent disorder at least until after the secretary has
a chance to discuss the situation in Washington.
There are approximately 88,000 foreign residents
In Alexandria, which represents 13 percent of the total population. They
include large numbers of Greek and Italian as well as British subjects.
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WESTERN EUROPE
5. Ulbricht leadership held confirmed in East Germany:
American officials in Berlin believe that the 3.3(h)(2)
dominant position of Deputy Premier Walter
Ulbricht in East Germany was reconfirmed
by the dismissal last week of Franz Dahlem
from the politburo and central committee of the Socialist Unity Party.
No immediate shift in top party or government leadership, or in Soviet
policy toward Germany, is foreseen. There may, however, be a purge
trial which, like that of Slansky in Czechoslovakia, would emphasize
security against "foreign imperialism."
Comment: Ulbricht% success in maintaining
his position seems to imply the continuation of the policy of rapid com-
munization in East Germany with which he is most closely associated.
6. French oppose any relaxation of Czech overflight prohibition:
The French government is seriously con-
cerned that Oatis' release may result in
American consent to Czech overflights of
West Germany.
In a note delivered to the American embassy
on 20 May, France points out that it could not now agree to overflights
without appearing to abandon the case for two French citizens still
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imprisoned in Czechoslovakia. France also wishes to avoid giving
the impression that the joint Franco-American representations to
Prague in 1951 over issues which included the Oatis case were merely
the result of United States pressure.
Comment: France has steadfastly refused
since the overflight ban to allow the Czechs to use Paris as the terminus
of their proposed air route from Prague via Denmark and the Low Coun-
tries.
Both Belgium and the Netherlands plan to accede
eventually to Czech pressure in order to safeguard their own scheduled
flights to Prague. Air France, however, has not served Prague since
early 1952.
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