CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/03/23

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03176551
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
5
Document Creation Date: 
March 18, 2019
Document Release Date: 
March 28, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 23, 1951
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15587359].pdf114.66 KB
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Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 C03176551 *awl Niad TOP SECT 23 March 1951 Copy No. CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO NO CHANGE IN CLASS. ' DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: NEXT REVIEW DATE: AUTH: HR 7Q2 . DATE1 lcTIEVIEWE 5 TS ay, Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 C03176551 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) IMO ,�.Approved for Release: 2119/03/14 C03176551 tr SUMMARY GENERAL 1. Threatened split in Western position on CFM agenda item (page 3). FAR EAST 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) WESTERN EUROPE 4. French Communists seek general strike to block rearmament (page 4). - 2 - TOP-SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 C03176551 3.5(c) 3.5(c) le rn Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 C03176551 GENERAL 1. Threatened split in Western position on CFM agenda item: 3.5(c) The British and French representatives at the Paris conference have admitted to US Ambassador Jessup that if the 3.3(h)(2) Soviets propose discussion of "the de- militarization of Germany" as a separate and first point under the primary agenda item "an examination of the causes of Present tension in Europe," they would probably have to acquiesce. Jessup has pointed out that the Western powers would then be accepting the Soviet thesis that the demilitarization of Germany is the biggest obstacle to peace and that, by such acceptance, they would be casting doubt on the Brussels decisions. According to Jessup, the issue may be forced either by the British and French or by Gromyko, who might present it along with a concession designed to split the Western powers. Comment: A 21 March Pravda article quotes a well-informed French columnist as stating that the French and English want the question of the demilitarization of Germany included in the agenda but that the US is opposed. The article char- acterizes the Soviet proposals on German demilitarization and Four Power arms reduction as the limit of Soviet concessions. 3.3(h)(2) -3 - TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 C03176551 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 C03176551 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) FAR EAST WESTERN EUROPE 4. French Communists seek zeneral strike to block rearmament: 3.3(h)(2) top leaders of the French Communist Party and the Communist-led General Labor Confederation met on 21 March and laid plans for converting the mounting strike wave 3.3(h)(2) - 4 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 C03176551 3.5(c) mApproved for Release: 2019/03/14 C03176551 Nedr orikaon.c� I into a nation-wide general strike, having as its theme an end to arms production and the resignation of the Queuille Government. Leaders of the French Christian Workers' Confederation state that the Com- munists have nearly succeeded, contrary to the expectations of Com- munist and non-Communist labor leaders alike, in setting off a general political strike movement "dangerous" to the French Government and "comparable" to the 1936 strikes. 3.5(c) Comment The current strike movement Is generally considered to be based on legitimate economic grievances. Although it has gained sufficient headway to give the Communists their best opening in France since 1948, failure of the French Communist Party's over-all strategy can be expected because of firm government counter-measures and the break-down in cooperation between Commu-:- nist and non-Communist labor unions. - 5 - Approved for Release: 2019/03/14 C03176551 3.5(c)