CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A001000330001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 1, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 10, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

10 February 1953
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Copy No.
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
COCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS-
p DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. HAidGE1)Td: TS C /
NEXT KEV'EW DAT:
AUTH. IEWER:
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Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
DOS review(s) completed.
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SUMMARY
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GENERAL
1. Comment on Stalin's interview with Argentine Ambassador (page 3).
FAR EAST
2. Army rotation between Korea and South China indicated (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. Communist subversive activity increases in Malaya (page 4).
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NEAR EAST - AFRICA
Iran expresses interest in Middle Eastern defense (page 4).
British evacuation of Suez bases would reportedly threaten
canal operation (page 6).
7. Anglo-Egyptian agreement on Sudan may be in sight (page 6).
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WESTERN EUROPE
8. Italian Government to press for early EDC ratification (page 7).
LATIN AMERICA
9. Rift between Bolivian government and police rumored (page 8).
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GENERAL
1. Comment on Stalin's interview with Argentine Ambassador:
Stalin's granting of one of his rare
interviews to the new Argentine Ambassador is the first-known top
level Soviet effort to exploit the differences between the United
States and Latin American nations caused by the sharp rise in eco-
nomic nationalism and a wider acceptance of neutralist policies
in that area. Stalin's personal attention possibly foreshadows a
greater interest in Latin America, to which Soviet diplomacy has
previously given relatively little attention.
Argentina is a suitable focal point for
divisive efforts because of Peron's advocacy of neutralism and
his efforts to substitute Argentine for United States leadership
in the Western hemisphere.
FAR EAST
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2. Army rotation between Korea and South China indicated.
Numerous troop trains carrying heavy
equipment were seen moving north
from Canton in December and Januar
Almost equally heavy troop
movements from the north were observed arriving in Canton during
the same period.
Comment: These reported troop move-
ments support indications r- I that a
large-scale troop rotation between Korea and South China is under
way. The armies believed to be leaving Korea are probably superior
in equipment and training to those moving from South China,
Apprc
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SOUTHEAST ASIA
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3. Communist subversive activity increases in Malaya:
Reports of increasing Communist -?
subversive activity in Malaya, par-
ticularly among trade unionists,
laborers, and lower middle-class
groups, have been confirmed by High
Commissioner Templer in Singapore. Although there is no
evidence as yet that this activity has reached disturbing pro-
portions, Templer admitted that the efficiency of government
intelligence in detecting and opposing subversion is still "well
below" desired standards.
Comment-. Increased subversive
activity by the Communists in 14- alaya and a corresponding
noticeable decrease in terrorism since mid-1952 apparently
reflect Communist directives issued late in 1951. Templer
is aware of the threat inherent in the changed Communist
tactics and has particularly emphasized the need to improve
intelligence efforts since his arrival in Malaya a year ago.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
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4. Iran expresses interest in Middle Eastern defense,
Iranian Foreign Minister Fatemi
told Arab diplomatic representatives
in Tehran on 2 February that he hoped
Iran would be consulted before they
took any action on Middle Eastern defense.
The Jordanian Minister in Tehran,
who reported this to Ambassador Henderson, said that Fatemi
did not indicate what position Iran would take concerning such
an organization.
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Approve
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 2
Comment: Despite Iran's pro-
Western orientation, its neutralist foreign policy would not
permit it to sign any agreement such as the proposed Western-
backed Middle East Defense Organization. Iran has previously
expressed an interest in taking a more prominent position in
Middle Eastern affairs, however, and it might be interested
in a purely regional defense pact.
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 2243ove
6. British evacuation of Suez bases would reportedly threaten
canal oeration-
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? area,
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The officials of the company
reportedly believe that its key European personnel, remember-
ing past disorders, will refuse to remain.
Comment: This is the first indica-
tion that European employees of the international Suez Canal
Company would leave their jobs if British troops were to
evacuate the canal area.
Egyptian Government relations with
the company have been generally good. Its employees repre-
sent various nationalities; many have spent their entire careers
with the company and would be reluctant to leave.
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7. Anglo- Egyptian agreement on Sudan may be in sight:
The Egyptian Foreign Minister is
prepared to sign an agreement on
the Sudan, embodying British compro-
mises on the Governor General's
authority in the southern Sudan and
on the transfer of administrative posts
to Sudanese officials if one additional
small change is made. The British
Ambassador in Cairo, who reported this, has recommended
to the Foreign Office that the Egyptian suggestion be accepted.
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Suez Canal Company officials are
concerned over future efficiency of
the canal if British evacuation is
not preceded by a joint defense
agreement permitting Western troops to remain in the canal
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The proposed agreement states that
the Governor General may act to safeguard the interests of
the southern Sudan subject to the approval of the international
advisory commission. In addition, the Sudanese Parliament
may incorporate safeguards on the southern Sudan into the
constitution with the approval of Britain and Egypt.
WESTERN EUROPE
8. Italian Government to press for early EDC ratification.
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According to the Italian EDC delegate,
Prime Minister de Gasperi intends to
seek immediate ratification of the EDC
treaty and the lower house may act favorably
within three weeks. However, there is considerable opposition to
this throughout the Italian Government, De Gasperi reportedly be-
lieves that the best way to achieve early agreement on the French
proposed protocols is for the other EDC countries to proceed with
ratification at once.
The Italian delegate states that the Dutch
and Belgian EDC representatives have agreed to press their govern-
ments for immediate ratification.
Comment. In view of the expected delay
in Italian parliamentary approval of the electoral bill, which has
precedence over the EDC bill, passage of the latter is likely to be
delayed.
Belgian and Dutch government spokesmen
have recently stated that their parliaments will not proceed with
ratification until France takes action,
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LATIN AMERICA
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9. Rift between Bolivian government and police rumored,.
The carabineros in La Paz have turned
against the government, and the civilian
militia is bein mobilized, according to
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I
Comment: In the April 1952 coup, the
carabineros, or police, were probably the decisive force in de-
feating the army and overthrowing the previous government.
Recently there have been indications of government-police friction.
The civilian militia, which serves the
Bolivian National Revolutionary Movement (MNR) government and
outnumbers the carabineros more than two to one, is composed
mainly of workers who have been armed ever since the coup.
Bolivia's political instability continues
despite partial alleviation of its economic difficulties by recent
United States and British tin purchases. Disgruntled rightists
of the Revolutionary Movement and the Socialist Falange are
reportedly planning revolts.
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