CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1954/02/22

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02993985
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: August 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2019
• Publication Date: February 22, 1954

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Copy No. 8
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
IT? DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE.
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� AUTH: HR 70-2 %
DATE! -1.._c;0 REVIEWER:
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Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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A .
SUMMARY
GENERAL
Pravda editorial reviews Berlin conference (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. French army minister would accept internationalization of
Indochina war (page 4).
4. French expect heavy attack on Muong Sal (page 5).
LATIN AMERICA
5. Costa Rica not to attend Caracas conference (page 6).
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GENERAL
1. Pravda editorial reviews Berlin conference:
The initial Pravda editorial reviewing the
Berlin conference treats the agreement to
hold a Geneva conference as a victory for
the Soviet Union in that the West was forced
to agree to Communist China's participation. In listing the conferees
at the forthcoming Geneva meeting, the editorial includes China together
with the four powers and adds other "directly interested countries."
Regarding the German and Austrian ques-
tions, the West is blamed for the failure to reach agreement, but the
article adds that these problems "remain on the agenda." The editorial
concludes that the Berlin conference had a definite significance by
"helping the examination of certain urgent international questions."
Comment: By listing China with the great
powers in contrast to a special category for the other countries, Pravda
is attempting to obscure Soviet failure to win equal status for Communist
China.
The references to the German and Austrian
questions suggest that the Soviet Union intends to pursue them at a
subsequent meeting, possibly at Geneva. Similarly, by not regarding
the conference as having totally negative results, it suggests that the
USSR does not want to appear to be closing the door to further negotia-
tions.
2.
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SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. French army minister would accept internationalization of Indochina war:
Pierre de Chevigne, French secretary of state
for the army, indicated to the American consul
in Hanoi on 18 February that he would not be
averse to internationalization of the Indochina
war. He said that American equipment alone could not alter the present
equilibrium, and "remained unresponsive" to the suggestion that "the
progressive build-up of the Vietnamese army might be a substitute for
internationalization."
De Chevigne said that he saw no solution
other than total war or a negotiated settlement, and added that nothing
was to be gained now by seeking an arrangement with the Viet Minh
alone.
Comment: Heretofore, official French
spokesmen have been unanimous in vigorous opposition to international-
ization of the conflict.
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4. French expect heavy attack on Muong Sal:
The Viet Minh is bringing up 120mm mortars
to the Muong Sai area (see map), and a heavy
attack on this French-held point in northern
Laos appears probable,
An attack on Luang Prabang,
on the other hand, is now be-
lieved less likely, since only
regional units are currently
in the area.
There is increasing evi-
dence of a growing Viet Minh
supply problem in northern
Laos. Food stocks at the
Tuan Giao depot are said to
be low. The enemy is re-
portedly forming six new coolie
contingents to speed up sup-
plies for the 308th Division
and other units in northern
Laos.
Comment The French
garrison at Muong Sat, about
60 miles north of Luang Pra-
bang, consists of six infantry
battalions, and the American
army attach�eported on 19
February that an artillery
battalion and a 120mm mortar
company are being airlifted
there from Luang Prabang.
The opposing enemy force is
believed to include five infan-
try battalions and a 75mm pack
artillery element.
0 176
Luang Prabang
Supply difficulties may largely explain the recent lack of progress
of the Viet Minh invasion force, the bulk of which was last reported to
be about 30 miles north of Luang Prabang. The necessity of neutral-
izing the potential threat to its flank posed by the Muong Sat garrison
may also have been an important factor.
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LATIN AMERICA
5. Costa Rica not to attend Caracas conference:
Costa Rican president Figueres informed
the secretary general of the Organization
of American States (OAS) on 19 February
that his government had decided not to send
a delegation to the Inter-American Conference
at Caracas. In a conversation with American
ambassador Hill, Figueres praised the United
States for its moral leadership in the world
struggle, but added that it has "the wrong idea in Latin America," where
it hesitates to "take stern action against hemispheric 'bandits."
Ambassador Hill comments that Figueres'
decision is "partly idealistic, but also a grandstand play for the support
of liberal elements in the hemisphere."
However, the governor of Puerto Rico, after
a telephone conversation with his friend Figueres, reports the latter as
believing that he has left the door still open.
Comment: The Costa Rican action, a gesture
protesting against the Venezuelan dictatorship, would be the first outright
refusal of an American state to attend a regular inter-American conference.
As such, it would set a precedent which might undermine the basis of the
OAS as the supreme hemisphere consultative body.
The situation is somewhat relieved by private
assurances to the American embassy in Montevideo that Uruguay, the
other holdout, will attend the conference.
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