WEEKLY SUMMARY #96

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6
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RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
21
Document Creation Date: 
December 23, 2016
Document Release Date: 
May 22, 2013
Sequence Number: 
1
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Publication Date: 
March 31, 1950
Content Type: 
REPORT
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fi Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 V. WEEKLY SUMMARY 0 0 A Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 . 3 Number 96 31 MAR 1950 Docunient ..C)CD/ NO CNAN'22, in Class. El E/DLC'LL':::721:7D :TC! S C faith: V 'e ' Date: 21-1-79 By: t13 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Udi il/al JR car) enhp diatei; Thr7k Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 1. This publication contains current intelligence exclusively and therefore has not been coordinated with the intelli- gence organizations _of the departments of State, Army, Navy, and Air Force. 2. This copy may be either retained, or destroyed by burning in accordance with applicable security regulations, or returned to the Central Intelligence Agency. WARNING This document contains information affecting the na- tional defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Act, 50 U.S.C.. 31 and 32. as amended. Its transmission or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an unauthorized person Is prohibited by law. Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET CONTENTS Page HIGHLIGHTS,..000..006 0 OOOOO 1. WESTERN EUROPE 0 0060 0 2 EASTERN EUROPE OO OOOO .?. 6 NEAR EAST-AFRICA 8 FAR EAST...OS...O.C.00OO.00 -11 ARTICLE Outlook for Korea .......... ....... 14 SECRET fl Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET I. HIGHLIGHTS iThe UK is currently facing two critical decisions 'which will have an important bearing on the future British role in Western Europe and the Far East. Present con- ditions advanced by the UK for entering the proposed European Payments Union again focus attention on the 1 'vital question of Britain's role in efforts toAthieve full economic integration in Western Europe (see page 2). Meanwhile, evident British acquiescence in the removal ' 1 of some former Nationalist aircraft and-equipment in Hong Kong to Chinese Communist territory has evoked.strong i US protests which will force the UK to review certain aspects of its policy toward China (see page 11)0 1. In Western Europe; the Communist: offensive was characterized this week by a shift in emphasis by the Italian Communists from-strike action to preparations for podia- !! mentory attacks on the Government (see page 5); a threatened decline in the popular will to resist Communist pressure in i Berlin in the face of mounting unemployment (see page 3); and continued emphasis by the USSR on the "Partisans for Peace" movement to achieve its ends (see page 6). , IIn the Near East, the forthcoming meeting between 1 the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan may lessen talk of the inevitability of war between the two countries, but The underlying factors making for a possible outbreak of ihostilities remain strong (see page 8).. 1 SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 fl Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 a C a a a a a a a a a a SECRET WESTERN EUROPE Payments Union Present terms offered by the British for participation in the proposed European Payments Union (EPU) not only raise the question as to whether British participation on this basis would pro- mote the objectives of the EPU but once again, focus attention on the crucial question of Britain's role in efforts to achieve the economic integration of Western Europe, The EPU as presently conceived would be a major step toward liberalizing trade and payments within the area and bringing about greater coordination of financial and monetary policies of the member countries. Fearing drains on gold and dollars and concerned over possible weakening of the sterling area system, the British have conditioned participation in the EPU on granting sterling a special poSition. The UK would reserve the right both to place exchange controls on sterling and to reimpose quantitative restrictions on imports. Although the British proposals would not necessarily hamper the full functioning of the EPU on the continent, they would exempt the UK from the very pressures to adjust trade policies which are the. heart of the EPU and might induce Other countries to demand the same privileges. Although it is too early to say how far the UK will modify its position, the ERP nations are approach- ing the crucial decision between a Western European economic bloc with full British participation and the alternative develop- ment of two non-dollar trading areas: continental Western Europe and one based on sterling. 2 SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 0 a a a a a C U SECRET GERMANY Berlin Unemployed Popular will to resist Communist pressure in West Berlin will be further weakened unless prompt measures are taken to relieve unemployment which now stands at 30 percent of 'the labor force. Prospects for early or rapid economic? recovery in Berlin are slight as. long as the city remains a beleaguered pawn in the East-West conflict. An improve- ment in public morale to counteract such Communist pressure as the propsed 28 May Youth Rally must; therefore, depend primarily upon a public works program which would absorb the unemploy.ed. ? The West Berlin government has insufficient resources for such a program. So long as grants from the Bonn Government and ECA continue to be received on an in- adequate and piece-theal basis, long-range planning will be impossible, with a resultant loss of incentive either for main- taining financial stability or for constructive use of budgetary savings accruing froth the elimination of unemployment. ? FRANCE Financial Stability With pressure for higher wages in the nationalized industries declining, the French Government has a fairly OOd chance of maintaining financial equilibrium during the. next few months and is not likely to fall back on inflationary financing. Although a general increase in wages is being granted in the nationalized industries, it will probably be held to approximately 6 percent and be covered by price increases already authorized or now being considered. Over-all government economies may soon be effected, tax collections are encouraging, and public interest will probably increase in the expected government offerings in -3? SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 11 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET FRANCE April of non-inflationary bonds. The danger exists, however, that later in the year the government may have to indulge in inflationary financing in order to meet unbudgeted military expenditures required for the Mutpal Defense Assistance Program and operations in Indochina. It is not likely that the French can effect sufficient economies to cover in- creased production for defense, and expenditures for the war in Indochina will probably rise well beyond the limit presently set for them. Tax Reform Progress toward economic and political stability in France is being aided by the government's expanding efforts to effect fiscal reforms. Although this program is severely handicapped by tradi- tional and political considerations, reforms in the tax system will tend progressively to: (1) bolster public faith in the ? Government's financial position, thereby reinforcing the present hard-won stability of the franc; (2) lessen social discontent and stimulate business activity by distributing the tax burden more equitably: and (3) permit some non-inflation- ary increases in outlays for defense and higher wages in nationalized industries. _Since 1948, tax reforms have sub- stantially increased government revenues by raising the percentage of revenue derived from income taxes, providing for better enforcement, and introducing a single control system for auditing business tax records. Despite this auspicious start, fully effective fiscal controls and a sound fiscal program will be retarded by the politically powerful agricultural interests which have blocked the imposition of equitable taxes on farm income and by such factors as the prevalence of small, in- dividually-owned enterprises, the backwardness of bookkeeping methods and the traditional use of cash instead of checks. 4 SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 ci a ci a a ci a C a SECRET ITALY Communist Strategy Although local strikes and land seizures will continue in Italy, the brunt of the present Communist offenisve will be temporarily shifted to the parliamentary arena. The Communists will launch .a violent Parlianientary attack on the Governmentrnot with any expectation of securing their major demands, but-to larthe-prnpaganda-basis for renewed public disturbances. In addition to keeping the country in a state of ferment,-the Communists hope to advance both their immediate objectives of discrediting Italy in US eyes, as a stable ally and hindering effective implementation of MDAP, as well as their limo' range objective of retarding,the-aconomic and social progress which would remove the popular basis of Communist strength. 5 SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 a Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 'SECRET EASTERN EUROPE SOVIET UNION "Peace" Motif Soviet reaction to Secretary Acheson's recent public pronouncements on US- ? -Soviet relations not onlyreflects a -continuing lack of interest in-negotiating a basic settlement with- the West, but demon- strates-the Kremlin's -ability and intention to distort and ex- ploit Western actions and propaganda in support of the Soviet .1"peace" campaign; The denunciations of Acheson's proposals for? reducing international tension;- although- designed In 'part .to counteract their world-wide impact; were not defensive in nature.-- On the contrary,- they were a part of the continuing Kremlin offensive designed to raise doubt in the West con- cerning-the sincerity of Western efforts toward peace and to intensify Soviet bloc hostility to and isolation from the "im- perialists." Meanwhile, the Kremlin appearssatisfied with the Partisans for.Peace movement and will intensify its ? efforts to use the "peace front" technique. -Eleven peace .congresses- are scheduled for 1950, attesting to-Soviet success in least a- measure -of non-Communist support and participation for this movement. GREECE Instability Likely The recent formation of a new government by Liberal leader Venizelos will have unfavorable repercussions in Greece and abroad. Having alienated the other center parties and a significant portion of his own following by withdrawing at the instigation of King Paul from his earlier promise to participate in a centrist coalition under General Plastiras, Venizelos now SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 11 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 fl fl I.e .0 13 0 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET GREECE heads a weak cabinet representing less than one fourth of the new Parliament and dependent for its existence on the tolerance of basically unsympathetic rightist parties. Under these circumstances, there is little likelihood of ? stable and effective government. Unless the broadly based centrist coalition can be Teconstituted?a move for which- there is now -considerable pressure?Greece will probably have to face new elections soon.. The key role of the Palace in thwarting the forma- tion of a new government accurately reflecting the election swing toward the center has not escaped popular notice and can scarcely fail tb involve the King in charges of political favoritism and intrigue. In the event of a new election,fthe King would probably attempt to promote a royalist movement 'under' Marshal Papagos? in the hope of eclipsing the established political parties, including the .new left-center group led by General Plastiras. Such a development would revive dissension over the monarchy and would probably divide Greece into rival republican and monarchist.camps, thus severely damaging the stability of the nation and the effectiveness of the US aid program. SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET NEAR EAST-AFRICA INDIA-PAKISTAN .War Tendencies The announcement that the-Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India will soon meet in New Delhi to discuss means of curbing the tension between their two countries emphasizes the fact that neither government wants war and may lessen spread of talk on both sides about the inevitability of a resort to hostilities. Nevertheless, the underlying factors - making for a possible outbreak of hostilities remain potent. One of these is the possibility of a new wave of large-scale destruction of Hindu life-and property in East Bengal?T - possibly in retaliation for a similar. outburst in West Bengal, now seething with anti-Moslem feeling.. Such an outbreak might well create an irresistible popular demand for the sending of Indian troops across the border. While Pakistan might then rely on an appeal to the UN, the far greater probability is that it would initiate retaliatory action.of its own. The possibility also remains that India's increasingly clear deter- mination to hold on to the territory it occupies in Kashmir may lead to a popular invasion of Kashmir by Pakistani nationals, a move which would probably be followed by an Indian invasion. of West.Pakistan and a full-scale war. Mean- while, the recent buildup of Indian troops and supplies near the West Punjab border intensifies the danger that one side of the other may attempt to anticipate what it regards as an imminent attack by the other. SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET IRAN The New Premier The sudden appointment of Al! Mansur. as prime minister-represents a severe-blow to the..hopes of inany Iranians that the Shah could be counted .on tareplace-the.-wealt?Sae&at the-head - of the government with someone who wouldthketenergetic measures-for needed scicial and econ.dmic reform: The designation of Mansur 'may possibly be a temporary measure reflecting the Shah:s belief that a man of Mansur's shrewd- ness and political connections is needed to steer the new 'Anglo-Iranian Oil Company concession agreement through the Ma:ills; the Shah may contemplate replacing Mansur with a strongly reformist premier (perhaps even Chief of Staff liazmara) after the Majlis acts on. the matter. Nevertheless, ? the appointment is an obvious gesture in the direction of ,the powerful elements in the ruling class which strongly oppose the Shah's social and economic reform program. Mansur himself has not only an unenviable reputation. for corruptness but also a record of persistent obstruction with respect to the Seven Year Plan for economic development. - Many progressive Iranians consequently will probably follow the lead of the two. Most prominent men in the planning pro- gram, Prince Abdor Reza and Minister of National Economy Nasr, in declining active participation in the Mansur Govern- ment; ERITREA Partition Sentiment Sentiment for partitioning Eritrea along?the lines of the US-UK pro- posal at the last UN General Assembly is growing not only in the UN Commission,of Inquiry but in Eritrea itself. 9 a. SECRET r. Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET ERITREA Under this plan the bulk of Eritrea would be federated with Ethiopia and the West Province would be linked to the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Federation sentiment is apparently rising in Eritrea, with the Independence Bloc disintegrating and the former Moslem League climbing on the federation bandwagon. Of the five members of, the UN Commission, Norway, South Africa and Burma are likely to favor a partition-federation scheme; Pakistan will back the Moslem view in Eritrea and only Guatemala is insisting on independence. Because _Italy has renounced all hope for gaining direct control over Eritrea and is likely to accept the partition-lederation scheme, success of the plan now depends primarily on whether Ethiopia can be persuaded to renounce its claims to the entire area and reach agreement with Italy. SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET FAR EAST CHINA Military Plans Despite repeated reports that the Chinese Communists are preparing for a large military campaign aimed at gaining control over all of Southeast Asia, it is unlikely that -such a campaign will be launched in the near future. The primary objective of the Communists in China for 1950 continues to be the Complete elimination of all Nationalist resistance and the extension of.Communist control over ? all territories formerly held by the Nationalists. Present international Communist strategy, formulated and announced by the USSR and endorsed by the Chinese Communist Party, does not envisage the employment of the regular armed forces of a Communist nation for large-scale operations as a means of gaining control over non-Communist nations. Moreover, a military adventure by the Chinese Communists into Southeast Asia would contribute little to an early solu- tion of the economic difficulties which derive at least in part from the Nationalist blockade and air attacks. Despite reported Communist dissension over such matters as the degree of subservience to the USSR, policy toward the West and methods to alleviate peasant unrest,, there is. no con- clusive evidence of disagreement concerning the necessity . for early occupation of Taiwan. and Haitian and the elimination of the?Nationalist Navy and Air Force. British Dilemma US-British Policy disagreements regard- ing China have been sharpened by evident British acquiescence in the removal to Chinese Communist territory of the former Chinese Nationalist aircraft and aircraft ? SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET CHINA equipment in Hong Kong. Although litigation is still in process, some of the equipment hap already left Hong Kong by road and sea and Communist Counsel in one of the cases has categorically stated the intention of his clients to remove everything before completion of the court proceedings. The US has sent a strong protest to the UK Government, asking on security grounds for ex- ecutive action in Hong Hong to deny this equipment to the Communists, and hinting that further withdrawals by the Communists might prejudice Britain's. current prospects fOr US military and economic aid. This US action places the British in a dilemma. Having decided that the pro- tection of their extensive interests in China required . formal recognition Of the Communist regime, the British have been trying for several weeks to establish normal diplomatic relations in Peiping. The Communists, however, have pointedly indicated to the British that disposition of Chinese Nationalist assets in Hong Kong is a significant factor in the establishment of normal relations at this time. Unless convinced that failure to take action in Hong Kong would have very serious effects on general Anglo-American relations, the UK is therefore unlikely ? to make any move which might strongly antagonize the Peiping regime at this critical moment. AUSTRALIA Labor Policy By acting vigorously to arrest the Com- munist-led waterfront strike, the recently- elected Australian Government has taken the first step in its campaign pledge to outlaw the Communist Party. Initial SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 C C a a C C C C a a a a a a II SECRET AUSTRALIA labor reaction indicates that the Liberal-Country coalition Government will have greater support on the Communist Issue from moderate trade union leaders than had been predicted. Continued support, however, will depend upon adroit handling of the governmenCs labor policy including as little interference as possible in intra-trade union affairs. 13 - SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 fl Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET OUTLOOK FOR KOREA Recent-Korean advances against Communist guerrilla forces, while successfully containing the guerrilla threat for the immediate future and strengthen- ing the young-Republic's internal security, were made pos- sible-only at the expense of economic and political measures essential for the nation's long-term survival. President Rhee's nearly blind concentration on Korea's security,:moreover; has produced economic and political difficulties which pose an immediate and serious threat to the new nation's existence. President Rhee has consistently felt that his primary tasks have been to unify Korea and to counter the immediate Communist threats of subversion, guerrilla warfare and invasion from the North. In his approach to these tasks, Rhee has given top priority to the development of the Republic's armed forces and the forging of a unified, anti-Communist "national front" in political affairs. In this process, the nation's economic welfare has been neglected to the point where the inflationary threat is critical. Korea's economic ills, in addition te being magnified by the extravagent and uncontrolled Army and Police require- ments for funds, equipment and raw materials, can be traced directly to: (1) fiscal ineptitude on the part of Korean officials; (2) failure to collect taxes; (3) politically motivated large-scale government subsidies; and (4) continued government use of inflationary overdrafts with the Central Bank, in order to meet currency requirements. Although Rhee has made some effort to cure these basic ills, he and his advisers apparently still believe that Korea's inflation is merely seasonal and are not yet entirely convinced of the need for drastic and constructive measures to stabilize the Korean economy. - 14 - SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 a a C. C ft a C a a a C C C SECRET In the political field, the threat to stability, while perhaps not so obvious as in the field of economics, is equally serious. Faced with the problem of Communist infiltration and subversion, Korea's Government has re- sorted to the only counter-measures familiar to the mass of its officials?Japanese police state methods. The Govern- ment has been successful in suppressing Communist activities and in ferreting out Communist cells in the Army, police, and Government. In the process, however, most of the human rights and civil liberties guaranteed by the Korean Constitution have been severely compromised.. Although" abstract ideas of human rights-are understbod by only a small minority of Koreans, the support of this influential group of intelligentsia is essential to the success of the Government. Furthermore, all Koreans, educated or not, understand and resent the physi- cal violence and intimidation to which many innocents have been subjected in the course of the Government's program to "purify" thoughts and develop "unity." The recent unsuccessful attempts by the National Assembly to reduce the powers of President Rhee and establish a "responsible cabinet" system of government, for example, was more than a mere power play on the part of the conservative, wealthy and relatively talented opposition Democratic-Nationalist Party. It was, rather, a measure of the Assembly's disgust with the Government's failure to curb inflation, and a protest against the excesses of the police. The net result of Rhee's attempt simultaneously to eliminate both factionalism and the Communist threat has been to silence and intimidate practically all constructive critics of his regime, to alienate much of his popular support both in the provinces and in the Assembly, and to pave the way for a possible split in Korea's nationalist, anti-Com- munist camp. Such a schism would leave the young Republic hopelessly torn by internal dissension and an easy prey to Communist penetration, ? - 15 - SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 SECRET a a a a a a DISTRIBUTION 1 2,64 3,4 5 6 7 8,70 9,71 10 11,69 12,13,14 15,16,17 18 19 2a 21 22,23,24 . . 25,26,27,28,29, 30,31,32,33,34 35,36,37,38,39, 40,41,42,43,44. Director of Naval Intelligence 45,46,47,48,49,72, 73,74,75. Director of Intelligence, Headquarters, USAF 50. ...... Director of Intelligence, Atomic Energy Commission 51 Executive Secretary, Military Liaison Committee, Atomic Energy Commission 52,53,54,55,56. Chief, Acquisition & Distribution Div.,0CD, State 57 Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation , 58 Secretary, Joint Chiefs of Staff 59 Chief, Policy Planning Staff, Department. of State 60 Secretary of State (Attention: Policy Reports Staff) 61 Deputy Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff 62,63 Secretary, Joint Intelligence. Group, joint Staff 65 US Air Force Representative of Joint Strategic SurVey Committee 68 Administrator, Economic Cooperation Administration . ? The President Secretary of State Secretary of Defense Secretary of the Army Secretary of the Navy Secretary of the Air Force Chairman, National Security Resources Board Executive Secretary, National Security Council Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air Chief of Staff, US Army Chief of Naval Operations Chief of Staff, US Air Force Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Operations Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), US Air Force Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Operations) Director of Plans and Operations, US Air Force Special Assistant, Intelligence, Department of State . Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, Intelligence SECRET Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 Document No. .00/ NO Cri72.7.17.. in Class. n L-1 r_ ; S C Lut: Date: let -?1 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 .7 0t3 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 2631-S-194% ? ' Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/22 : CIA-RDP78-01617A002300180001-6