CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T00975A000600130001-0
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
8
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
October 3, 2003
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 9, 1952
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP79T00975A000600130001-0.pdf277.59 KB
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Approved For Re tsT OR/1S E- ` T975A0 00130001-0 25X1 25X1 9 March 1952 Copy Noo CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO, No CHAN(,IN CLASS. TS S r:u T' Hi i 7v Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 State Department review completed TQ121, - BIECRET Approved For Rele - X4000600130001-0 25X1 25X1A Approved F SUMMARY USSR 25X1 25X1 1, American Mission Chiefs from eastern Europe comment on Orbit public opinion (page 3), I , French open drive against Indochinese nationalist force (page 4). SOUTH ASIA 5. India considers "action" in case of Chinese Communist intervention in Burma (page 5). 6. NEAR EAST - AFRICA Syria embarks on anti-Western campaign (page 6). 7. American Military Mission in Iran strongly oppose d by Mossadeq 8, (page 6). New disturbances in Egypt predicted (page 7). WESTERN EUROPE 9. Leading French Socialist pessimistic on ratification of the European Defense Community (page 8). 25X1A 25X1A Approved '~rvr F elease 2003H 011 ? . e1 A ^11P173T00375 A 000d0O13OOO1-0 a1,Ad For 25X1A 25X1 to American Mission Chiefs from eastern Europe comment on Orbitpublic opinion. paign. and in creating the impression that the United States is driving the world into another war. In the Satellites, however, the majority of the people are still pro-American and hope for an early liberation, even if a war is necessary. At the recent meeting of US Missions Chiefs from eastern Europe it was agreed that within the Soviet Union the Russians were having some success in their "Hate America" cam- Approved Fq 25X1A 5X1 AA 25X1 Approved Fort Release 2003/10/15: CIA-RDP79T00975A0006 FAR EAST 4. French open drive against Indochinese nationalist force: 25X1A Five French infantry battalions, together with supporting artillery, river craft, planes and paratroops, are participating in an operation northwest of Saigon, designed to engage armed units fff Colonel Trinh Minh The's "National Resistance Front." 25X1A Approved For Release 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A000p00130001-0 Ap~FA4&or 0130001-0 Comment. Colonel The, who has taken a strong stand against both the French and the Viet Minh, is regarded by many Vietnamese as a national hero. The US Legation in Saigon has previously observed that military action against Colonel The would not only weaken the French forces available to counter growing Viet Minh strength but also inflame nationalist sentiment throughout Vietnam. Other Americans on the scene have pointed out that the United States position, already misunderstood by many Vietnamese, would by further compromised by the use of American-supplied arms against anti-Communist elements, SOUTH ASIA 25X1A 5. India considers "action" in case of Chinese Communist intervention in Burma: to itself, The Secretary concludes from this that his government would be forced to take some action if it should receive information indicating the likelihood of Chinese Communist intervention in Burma against Chinese Nationalist troops, Circumstances would decide the kind of action to be taken. India's new Secretary for Commonwealth relations has told American Counsellor Steere in New Delhi that India regards any threat to the territorial integrity of Burma as a threat Comment. Past performance indicates that India would content itself with diplomatic representations providing that the Chinese intervention posed no direct threat to India's frontiers. Their is no evidence that Burma is counting on Indian army support; it would, however, expect India to take the lead in the international councils con- cerned with Burma's independence. 25X1A Approved Foti Approved For 25X1A NEAR EAST - AFRICA 6. Syria embarks on anti-Western campaign: 25X1A The Syrian Government has ordered the liquidation by 2 April of the Near East Foundation, which is.financedby the Point Four program It has ordered the replacement of foreign company managers by Syrians. It has for- bidden civil servants to "establish contact" with foreign legations and has asked foreign missions to restrict the activities of their personnel to their official duties. The US Legation in Damascus thinks that the passage of these measures is the result either of faulty coordination between Colonel Selo, the legal head of the government, and Colonel Shishakli, the military power behind the government, or of insincerity on the part of Shishakli who has steadily indicated his pro-Western orientation. Comment: There has long been evidence of a strong anti-Western sentiment in'Syria. While the effects of the new regulations cannot now be assessed, their promulgation means that the US and Britain will have added difficulties in persuading the present Syrian military regime to cooperate with the West. 7. American Military Mission in Iran strongly opposed by Mossadeq: 25X1A Iranian Cabinet member Busheri has told Ambassador Henderson that the Iranian Finance Ministry will have no authority to grant funds to the US Military Mission after arch unless a new contract is signed. Although Mossadeq has assured the American Ambassador that the Mission's expenses would continue to be met even without a contract, Busheri believes that the Prime Minister could not legally justify such an expenditure before the Majlis. 25X1A Approved Fo4 Release 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A000600130001-0 Approved Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has again told Ambassador Henderson that he has always opposed and can never support or agree to any US-Iranian military contract. Comment: In an apparent attempt to appease local conservative opinion and avoid antagonizing the United States, Mossadeq has suggested on several occasions that the Military Mission stay in Iran after the expiration of the contract until the situation is clarified. At the same time, however, he has warned that neither he nor the Majlis would be inclined to consent to a continuation of the Mission. 25X1A 8. New disturbances in Egypt predicted: p0602 Q9 -0 The British War Office, which expects riots in Egypt when Prime Minister Hilali Pasha reveals the Wafd's role in the recent dis- turbances in Cairo, has alerted the British forces in the Canal zone-and in Libya which would be involved in any occupation of the delta region. The difficulties facing Egypt's Premier in initiating domestic reforms have also been stressed by the able Ahmed Hussein Pasha, who at one time participated in the former Wafd govern- ment but who has so far refused to join the new cabinet. He states that Hilali lacks any real public support and maintains that the government's emphasis on internal reforms has already evoked charges thatthe Prime Minister is diverting popular interest from Egypt's national aspirations. The American Ambassador in Cairo states that if Britain would soon offer substantial concessions on the treaty dispute, the Hilali Cabinet could break the power of the. Wafd. He , also notes that "if the Hilali government falls, no one knows what will come next in Egypt,', 25X1A Approved 0600130001-0 Approved 25X1A WESTERN EUROPE 9. Leading French Socialist pessimistic on ratification of the European e ense Community: 25X1A head of the French delegation to the Economic Commission for Europe. Philip stresses that fears of a rearmed Germany will preclude Socialist support unless Britain joins the EDC or unless that organization provides for a real political integration of Europe. Comment: Socialist support for continued negotiations on the EDG was won last month only after considerable compromise by ex-Premier Faure's coalition. Socialist Secretary. General Mollet has since emphasized to US officials that the treaty will not be ratified in its present form. Recent indications that the British Labor Party now favors British participation in a European army have greatly en- couraged the French Socialists on this particular issue. Since there is little likelihood that Britain will join the EDC, however, the Socialists will probably vote for the treaty if their other conditions are met. The European Defense Community treaty in its present form would be defeated in `the French Assembly by 60 votes, in the opinion of Andre Philip, a leading Socialist and the Approve 25X1A