CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1954/01/30

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02993981
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: August 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2019
• Publication Date: January 30, 1954

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30 January 1954
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO. -37"
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
Li DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO:
TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
2002
11/7/
AUTH: HR 79-12.;
DATE:
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Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Soviet diplomat comments on Berlin conference (page 3).
SOVIET UNION
2. USSR prepares to open new oil field in the Stalingrad region (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. American observers report on supply of ammunition at Dien Bien Phu
(page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Saudi Arabia increasing its pressure on TWA to stop air service to
Israel (page 4).
LATIN AMERICA
5. Chilean ambassador urges prompt submission of copper bill (page 5).
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GENERAL
1. Soviet diplomat comments on Berlin conference:
A counselor of the Soviet embassy in
London, who has previously been used
to disclose Soviet policy, told an Ameri-
can diplomat on 28 January that he believes
it is idle to hope for progress on Germany and Austria at Berlin. He
said these problems can be solved only after the Western powers have
shown their willingness to relax tensions through agreement to outlaw
atomic weapons, abandon advance bases and reduce armed forces by a
given percentage.
He said that rumors of the presence of 12
Chinese Communist representatives in Berlin were "absolutely without
foundation," but that the presence in the Soviet delegation of M. T.
Fedorenko, the foremost Soviet expert on China, was "significant!'
He further asserted that Moscow and not
Peiping took the initiative in insisting that the USSR could not attend
a Korean political conference as a member of the Communist side.
SOVIET UNION
2. USSR prepares to open new oil field in the Stalingrad region:
Earlier
in53lanning for the Stalingrad refinery had been delayed, appar-
ently in order to adapt it as required by the type of crude oil anticipated
from that region.
Comment: The organization of the work
near Stalingrad as an oil trust rather than as a prospecting trust pro-
vides the first evidence that there is already some production. Since
1946, extensive geological surveys have been conducted in this region,
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which the Soviet press has asserted would become "a second Baku."
The diversion of crews from new drillings in Azerbaijan, where the
Baku fields are located, indicates that Soviet planners expect this
area to justify an expanded effort.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. American observers report on supply of ammunition at Dien Bien Phu:
A team of American officers who recently
visited Dien Bien Phu reported on 28 January
that the French artillery commander there
estimated he had on hand only four to six
days' supply of 105mm and 155mm ammunition.
Intermittent rains are causing concern over
the condition of the main airstrip, where about 50 C-47's are landing
daily. Twenty C-119 airdrop sorties are flown daily, a rate sustainable
for only six days if enemy action were to prevent the recovery of the
heavy drop parachutes.
Comment The artillery commander's esti-
mate contrasts with a 4 January figure from French headquarters of 30
days' supply. The headquarters figure covering all categories of ammu-
nition may have emphasized the smaller calibers. The field commander
may also be exaggerating his supply needs.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Saudi Arabia increasing its pressure on TWA to stop air service to
Israel
Saudi Arabia is increasing its pressure on
TWA to discontinue air service to Israel,
according to Ambassador Wadsworth, Act-
ing Foreign Minister Yassin stated that the
Saudi government boycotts commercial enterprises with branches in
Israel and that if TWA continues its flights to Israel, the government
will have "to re-examine its relationship with TWA."
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Yassin implied that the boycott has been
accepted in principle by all the Arab League countries, and that if
put into effect it would prevent any foreign airline serving Israel
from landing in or overflying the Arab states.
Comment: This is the strongest effort
yet made by Saudi Arabia to force TWA to suspend air operations into
Israel. TWA not only operates flights to Dhahran but also serves and
manages the Saudi Arabian Airline.
LATIN AMERICA
5. Chilean ambassador urges prompt submission of copper bill:
The Chilean ambassador
recommended to his government
that it submit its draft copper bill to the
legislature without further negotiations with
the United States. Such action, he said,
would confirm the government's decision to promote legislation "free
from any possible pressure" and would clarify the position of the United
States government.
Comment: The ambassador apparently
believes that the United States will begin to purchase Chile's copper
stocks as soon as a new copper bill has been presented to the Chilean
congress, although he has been informed repeatedly that this is unlikely.
The new copper bill defining the status of the
American companies is believed to be unsatisfactory to them. Earlier
this week President Ibanez reportedly reacted "violently" to what he
considered intervention in domestic Chilean legislation by the Ameri-
can companies and the American ambassador, and went on record as
favoring provisions disadvantageous to the companies.
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