CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/09/18

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05973619
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: June 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: June 27, 2019
• Publication Date: September 18, 1952

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C TOP ET n
SEC1JY INFORMATION
18 September 1952
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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DOCUMENT NO.
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NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATEMDAZ rt REVIEWER:
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Office of Current
Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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TOP SECRET
SEC INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Kennan comments on Sino-Soviet Communique (page 3).
FAR EAST
2.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. Chinese Communist troops withdraw from Indochina (page 4).
4. Burmese Prime Minister proposes Chou En-lai visit to Burma
and India (page 4).
SOUTH ASIA
5. Afghanistan to delay oil-drilling operations near Soviet
frontier (page 5).
6.
7.
8.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
Britain to seek Egyptian cooperation on Sudan constitution (page 7).
Field Marshal Montgomery suggests reduction in Greek
Army (page 7).
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GENERAL
1. Kennan comments on Sino-Soviet Communique:
The Sino-Soviet communique reveals,
i n the opinion of Ambassador Kennan,
that the Chinese Communists have
been compelled not only to accept but
actually to request an indefinite continuation of the USSR's
presence in Port Arthur in order to obtain some satisfaction
of their military needs from the USSR.
Kennan speculates that while the
communique did not mention the Korean war, "sinister"
military decisions may have been made. He notes no evidence,
however, that the Soviet Union is preparing for major military
operations and comments that the Soviet reply avoided a hint
in the Chinese note that the Far Eastern situation might call
for the implementation of the Sino-Soviet Treaty.
FAR EAST
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SOUTHEAST ASIA.
3. Chinese Communist troops withdraw from Indochina:
in
regimen
All Chinese Communist troops in
northwest Tonkin have now withdrawn
to China, with the possible exception
of a few advisers attached to the Viet
in that area,
Comment: Between 5000 and 6000
Chinese troops entered northwest Tonkin several months ago,
presumably to assist the Viet Minh in local operations against
French-led border tribesmen,
all but one battalion were expected
to withdraw by the middle of the month.
4. Burmese Prime Minister proposes Chou En-lai visit to
Burma and India:
Prime Minister Nu proposed to the
Chinese Ambassador in Rangoon on
30 August that Chou En-lai visit
Burma and India. The Chinese
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Ambassador seemed favorably impressed with the idea, and
Nu has asked Prime Minister Nehru for his views.
3.3(h)(2)
Comment: In a widely publicized
speech last July, Nu asked for Russian and Chinese economic
aid, explaining privately that his purpose in doing so was to
undercut his political opposition. There has been no known
response from either country.
Chou En-lai might well accept an
invitation to visit Burma and India as a chance to encourage
neutralist sentiment in both countries.
�
SOUTH ASIA
5. Afghanistan to delay oil-drilling operations near Soviet frontier:
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T P RET
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6.
To date there is no indication that the
limited UN development and welfare projects in northern Afghan--
istan are being curtailed.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
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7. Britain to seek Egyptian cooperation on Sudan constitution:
e ec tve on
discuss with/
Prime Minister Nagib the Sudanese
constitution, which is due to become
ovem er, and try to obtain his cooperation. 3.3(h)(2)
If Nagib appears willing to participate
in a proposed international commission to observe the ensuing
Sudanese elections but wants time to prepare, London will
recommend that the elections be postponed for a few weeks.
If he asks about the protection of his country's long-range
interests, the British may suggest that the electoral commission
become a continuing advisory group to the Governor General.
Comment: The military regime in
Cairo, now primarily concerned with domestic problems, has
so far taken no definite stand on major foreign issues. Despite
Nagib's friendly gestures to the West, the extreme nationalism
of several government members makes it doubtful that Egypt
will readily accept the new British proposals.
8. Field Marshal Montgomery suggests reduction in Greek Army:
Deputy SHAPE Commander Montgomery
reportedly told high Greek officials on
13 September that he believes an army
of seven well-equipped divisions rather
than the present ten divisions should be adequate for Greece.
Montgomery suggested that Greece should present the problem
of its excessive military budget to NATO because American aid
would probably end within a year or two.
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Prime Minister Plastiras subsequently
informed the American Ambassador that the armed forces would
not be reduced. He reiterated that no important decision would be
made without prior discussion with the US Embassy.
Comment: Montgomery made a similar
suggestion last May which was immediately used by Greek officials
to bolster requests for increased foreign aid to maintain the current
strength of the armed forces. His unofficial suggestions may again
encourage Greek maneuvers for additional aid either from NATO
or the United States, which is on record as not favoring a reduction
of Greek armed forces.
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