CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1954/08/12

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03000926
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: August 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2019
• Publication Date: August 12, 1954

r/71/rly;:d f�1-6�121f�3�W03;0371/A
��'�'�///
12 August 1954
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS )(
Li DECLASSIIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: /0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: 1 z-st. to REVIEWER:
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
3.3(h)(2)----
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/08/13 C03000926
Approved for Release: 2019/08/13 C03000926
NmeJL
1.
SUMMARY
FAR EAST
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. General Ely sees short tenure for Diem government (page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Good-will tour of Onassis tanker seen as pressure on ARAMCO (page 4).
WESTERN EUROPE
4. Adenauer informs France of his conditions on modifying EDC (page 5).
12 Aug 54
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2
Approved for Release: 2019/08/13 C03000926
Approved for Release: 2019/08/13 C03000926
14.00
FAR EAST
1.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. General Ely sees short tenure for Diem government:
French commissioner general Ely told
Ambassador Heath in Saigon on 10 August
he did not believe the Diem government
would last long because of the premier's
rigidity and incapacity, although he, Ely, recognized the popular
appeal of Diem's integrity.
12 Aug 54
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3
-TetP-SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/08/13 C03000926
Approved for Release: 2019/08R 3 C03000926
.410,1 A.
Heath is uncertain of Diem's ability to
develop a strong government but believes he should be given every
chance since his potential is much greater than that of any of those
planning to remove him.
Comment: While General Ely has apparently
remained aloof from intrigues designed to bring down Diem, other
French officials in Saigon and Paris have been active in them. The
failure of the French to give Diem their support greatly complicates
his task of developing a strong government.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
. Good-will tour of Onassis tanker seen as pressure on ARAMCO:
The forthcoming good-will tour of the
Mediterranean by the 47,000-ton Onassis
tanker King Saud I--the largest in the
world--is probably calculated to stir up so much publicity in the
Arab world that ARAMCO will be compelled to load the vessel when
it reaches Saudi Arabia early in September
the tanker will probably
Leave urope in mid-August and will call at important ports, particu-
larly Beirut, Alexandria and Suez. At each port, ceremonies will be
held, government officials will be invited aboard, and the press will be
alerted to give the maximum publicity.
Comment: The tanker's arrival may mark
the showdown in the struggle between ARAMCO and the Saudi govern-
ment over the Onassis tanker agreement. ARAMCO is prepared to
shut down and even face nationalization rather than load an Onassis
tanker.
Onassis' reported negotiations with the, Bonn
government for the purchase of the Howaldtswerke shipyard in
Hamburg--the yard where the King Saud I was built and one of the
largest in Europe--suggests that he is even more determined than he
has previously indicated to carry out his agreement with Saudi Arabia.
12 Aug 54
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 4
Approved for Release: 2019/08/13 C03000926
Approved for Release: 2019/08/13 C03000926
Ittoel 1/41 L
WESTERN EUROPE
4. Adenauer infornas France of his conditions on modifying EDC:
at the Brussels EDC ministerial meeting on
19 August,
Adenauer will not accept any French proposal which would compel the
Bundestag to re-examine EDC, would result in any delay in the treaty's
implementation, or would limit the supranational powers established
in the treaty.
The French minister to the EDC Interim
Committee has expressed the belief that Premier Mendes-France will
take these requirements into consideration. The French government
has also indicated that prior to the Brussels meeting, it will inform
the participating governments of its proposals for modifying the treaty.
Comment: While Adenauer will steadfastly
hold to his position on not resubmitting the treaty to the Bundestag for
changes, he may be willing to commit himself to a modification of
the treaty's supranational powers after it has been adopted.
12 Aug 54
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5
1Z3P-SEGRFJ
Approved for Release: 2019/08/13 C03000926