CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/08/23

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05973598
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: June 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: June 27, 2019
• Publication Date: August 23, 1952

Approved for Release: 2019/05/28 0059735980
SEC INFORMATION
23 August 1952
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMBIT NO. 3
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NO CRAMS IN CLASS. y4
DECLASSITIED
, CLASS CHANOED TO: IS S C
NEXT REVIONOATE; 7-00 9
Office of Current Inte1ligehte6
EATE:1.4'77 RPftwert 3.5(c)
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOPS
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SECU FORMATION
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SUMMARY
SOUTH ASIA
French company formed to drill for oil in Afghanistan (page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
MOssadeq refuses to use force against Tudeh demonstrators
(page 3).
President Khouri expects Lebanese Government to fall soon
(page 4).
EASTERN EUROPE
5. Special flights from Moscow to Prague (page 5).
WESTERN EUROPE
6. East Germans seen attempting to control Protestant Church
(page 6).
* * * *
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3.3(h)(2)
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SOUTH ASIA
1. French company formed to drill for oil in Afghanistan:
3 3(h)(2)
new French company has been formed to �
rill for oil in Afghanistan just south of the
oviet frontier. The Societe Nationale des
etroles du Languedoc Mediterraneen, which
is reportedly about to sign a contract with the Afghan Government, has
the controlling interest.
The American Embassy in Paris has been
reliably informed that the Societe Nationale is 67 percent owned by
the French Government and that the new company was established to
hide the government's control of operations in Afghanistan;
Comment: The USSR is extremely sensitive
to foreign activity in Afghanistan, especially near the Soviet border,
and has already lodged a protest with Kabul over foreign partictpation
in Afghan oil drilling operations.
Soviet discovery that the French firm is
government-controlled would afford the USSR a new opportunity for
vigorous protests, which could affect adversely all non-Soviet foreign
activities in Afghanistan.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
2. Mossadeq refuses to use force against Tudeh demonstrators:
Minister of Court Ala has told Ambassador3.3(h)(2)
Henderson that he had tried to persuade
Mossadeq to give the police more powers
to suppress Tudeh demonstrators. Mossadeq
refused and insisted that the Tudeh could not be controlled by force,
but only by economic and social reforms. He suggested that it would
be easier to maintain order if the national anthem were not played and
if the Shah's picture were not publicly displayed because the Tudeh
used them as excuses for demonstrations.
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Comment: Mossadeq's attitude is consistent
with his declared belief in the right of free speech. His attempt to
avoid conflict, however, will probably be considered a victory by the
Tudeh.
4. President Khouri expects Lebanese Government to fall soon:
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
President Khouri of Lebanon has told Ameri-
can Minister Minor that he expects Premier
Solh's government to fall during the special
session of parliament called for 28 August.
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The President envisages a new government
headed by Sahib Salaam, composed of capable men not in the present
cabinet, but excluding members of the parliamentary opposition.
Comment: Salaam is a successful Moslem
businessman who is reported to have political ambitions.
The special session of parliament will be
asked to grant the government extraordinary authority to enact re-
forms by decree. The government-sponsored program, which does
not include either tax or land reforms, is an attempt to pacify in-
creasing opposition to the Khouri regime. President Khouri has
previously indicated that he is willing to sacrifice Premier Solh in �
his efforts to maintain his position.
EASTERN EUROPE
3.3(h)(2)
5. Special flights from Moscow to Prague:
At least two and possibly five transport planes.
of the Moscow-based transport command flew
from Moscow to Prague via Lvov and Debrecen
on 12 August.
Comment: The Moscow-based transport
command frequently carries important Soviet officials. Although the
purpose of these flights is unknown, they occurred at a time when un-
confirmed reports from Belgrade and Italy stated that an inter-Satellite
military meeting and a Cominform conference were being held in Prague.
5
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WESTERN EUROPE
6. East Germans seen attempting to control Protestant Church:
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The East German Government reportedly 3.3(h)(2)
proposes to substitute a single Protestant
Evangelical seminary for the present six
theological faculties in various universities.
American officials in Berlin see this as a move to confront the
Protestant Church with obstacles similar to those now faced by the
Catholics. The government would then be able to reduce the number
of students, isolate them socially, and more effectively control their
curricula and activities.
Comment: These moves contrast notably
with the attitude of the East Germans earlier this year, when attempts
were made to exploit the church in East and West Germany as a means
of organizing West German opinion against the European Defense
Community.
3.5(c)
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