CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/09/09

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02745273
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: April 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 22, 2019
• Publication Date: September 9, 1951

Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
lerif J. VI" 0.C.A.,J1.ra 1 *NW
9 September 1951
Copy No. e t
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.?
N DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S C ,L AA.
NEXT REVIEW DATE. 'fro
AUTH' Q
DATE REVIEWER
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 002745273
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
vApproved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
J. km" bkiLLIE
SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. India to terminate state of war with Ianan (naffp
FAR EAST
SOUTH ASIA
. Comment on Nehru's election as president of the Congress Party
(page 6).
NEAR EAST
7. Iran contemplates requesting oil experts from UN (page 6).
EASTERN EUROPE
� Albismian Cabinet shift does not indicate purge (page 7).
. Reorganization of Czech Communist Party increases Gottwald's
powers (page 7).
WESTERN EUROPE
10. Italy ready to negotiate on Trieste issue (page 8).
11. Allies map countermeasures in Berlin (page 9).
12. Austrian Chancellor reported threatened by party revolt (page 9).
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
� .
GENERAL
I. Ipdia to terminate state of war with Javan:
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
The Indian representative in Tokyo approached
the US Political Adviser on 7 September and
declared his government's desire to ex-
change notes with Japan, which would term-
inate the state of war between the two nations, indicate India's intention
to proceed with negotiations for a bilateral treaty, and give India the
rights and benefits conferred on the Allied Powers by the multilateral
peace treaty.
While the proposed declaration would not
become effective until after the multilateral treaty comes into effect,
the Indian Government desires to make the text public immediately
following the signing of the multilateral treaty, possibly on 10 September.
capnaant: India's quick action to terminate
the state of war, after having refused to attend the San Francisco con-
ference, again emphasizes its continuing efforts to assert independence
of action. Since India has renounced reparations, its wish to retain the
same rights and benefits as the signatories of the multilateral treaty
may be based primarily on a desire to protect Indian property rights
in Japan and to retain trade benefits.
3.3(h)(2)
3
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
� �
3.3(h
4
TOP. -SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
3.5(c)
3.3(h)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
b.ILUAL
FAR EAST
3.5(c)
3.3(
Tef)-SEGRET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
(2)
h)(2)
3.5(c)
�
�
lAipproved fogtas: 201194/14/02 CO2745273 3.5(c)
SOUTH ASIA
6. Comment on Nehru's election as president of the Convess Party:
The resignation of Tandon as president of
the India congress Party and the subsequent election of Nehru to replace
him, indicates that once again Nehru has, on the basis of personal
preeminence, managed to beat down the opposition and that, for the
time being, he is in control of the party.
While the rightist Tandon group may be
expected to resist Nehru's efforts to control the nomination of candidates
for the national elections in early 1952, Nehru's present victory indicates
that he will be in a strong position to force the acceptance of his own
candidates.
NEAR EAST
Iran contem lates re uestin oil ex erts from UN:
3.3(h)(2)
The Iranian representative to the current
UN Economic and Social Council meeting in
Geneva has queried the US delegate about the
American attitude in the event that the UN
complied with his request to run Iran's oil industry and employed US
citizens for the job. Asserting that the Iranian representative in New
York was being instructed to ask the UN to secure experts under the
Technical Assistance Program, the Iranian added that if this request
were not answered Iran planned to appeal to thec'General Assembly.
Comment: On 30 August, the Iranian re-
presentative, an ardent supporter of nationalization, urged his government
to consider seriously his proposal that the UN supply Iran with oil experts.
Iran, which has to date been unable to obtain foreign assistance in operating
its oil industry, may yet attempt such a maneuver. However, it is more
likely that cooler heads will prevail and the Iranian Government will
-6
TOP-SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
3.5(c)
Approved fo,; Release: 2p19/04/.02 CO2745273
3.5(c)
realize that any plea to the General Assembly on this subject would fail.
EASTERN EUROPE
8. Albanian Cabinet shift does not indicate purge:
3.3(h)(2)
The release of Mehmet Shehu as interim
Minister of State Control was announced
on September 7, along with the replace-
ment of the Minister of Agriculture and
the acting Minister of Justice.
Comment: There is no reason to believe
that the shuffle of Albanian Cabinet posts is an indication of a purge
in the government. Mehment Shehu still retains his more important
position of Minister of Interior, and the acting Minister of Justice
apparently retains his post as a Vice Premier. The appointment of
Hysni Kapo, a Politburo member with long experience in political
leadership, to the Ministry of Agriculture indicates that the socialization
of Albanian agriculture will advance at an increased tempo. 3.3(h)(2)
peorganization of Czech Conuaiunist Party increases Gottwald's owers:
Secretary General of the Czech Communist
Party Rudolf Slansky has been relieved of
his duties, and will not be replaced. His
former duties will be turned over to the
Chairman of the party, currently Klement Gottwald. At the same time,
a Politburo and an Orgburo (organizational secretariat) have been set up.
The seven members of the Politburo include Slansky and Gottwald, as
well as other leading Communists. The Orgburo consists of Gottwald
and the secretaries of the Cobtral Committee.
Comment: There is no evidence that
the transfer of power from Slansky to Gottwald stems from "nationalist
- 7r-
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
deviation"; in fact, evidence indicates that both men have been loyal
adherents to Moscow. The decentralization of power in the party's
leadership follows Soviet expressions of dissatisfaction with conditions
in Czechslovakia, where economic difficulties have been mounthg.
While Gottwald's power has increased at Slansky's expense, the
establishment of a Politburo may preclude any such centralization
of power as that previously held by Slansky. Before the war the
Communist Party was organized along traditional lines with a Politburo
and an Orgburo, but these two bodies are not known to have existed
since the war.
WESTERN EUROPE
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
Italy ready to negotiate on Trieste issue
The Italian Government has informed the
British that it is disposed to enter ihto
negotiations with Yugoslavia over Trieste,
provided the Yugoslays are also so inclined.
The plovernment/ pointed out that for some
time the adamant stand of the Yugoslays on
this issue has made negotiations impossible.
Comment: According to Prime Miniater
De Gasperi the Italians and Yugoslays were recently engaged in pour-
parlers over a solution on Trieste. No progress is believed to have
been made.
11. Allies man countermeasures in Berlin:
3.3(h)(2)
Meeting in Berlin on 6 September, the Allied
Deputy High Commissioners and Berlin
Commandants discussed means of combatting
the latest Soviet squeeze on West Berlin.
They debided to dispatch a letter to Soviet authorities protesting inter-
ferences with free Allied access to Berlin, and to instruct German '
afficialS to submit proposals on the imposition of a tax both on East
- 8 -
TOP-SE-GRET
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
tger
3.5(c)
German barges traveling in West Berlin canals and on East German
vehicles traveling in Western Germany. These countermeasures will
be implemented by 17 September at the latest if the USSR fails to remove
its restrictions as requested. They further decided that the West should
provide all possible assistance to alleviate Berlin transport difficulties,
particularly with respect to such perishable shipments as milk.
The meeting was characterized by French
reluctance to adopt firm retaliatory measures. France even suggested
that the Allies permit the signing of an interzonal trade agreement between
East and West Germany, but the US and UK representatives, rejecting
the proposal, emphasized that yielding to Russian pressure would re-
present "a horrible loss of face for the West. German officials from
the Federal Republic and West Berlin who were called in to discuss
the situation with the Allies showed little enthusiasm for firm counter-
measures.
Comment: In applying its recent series
of harassing measures in Berlin, the USSR has succeeded in creating a
situation where discussion of countermeasures in each case inevitably
produces division and haggling among Allied and German officials,
therefore reducing the chances for effective retaliation.
12. Austrian Chancg119r reported threatened by party revolt; 3.3(h)(2)
Socialist Vice-Chancellor Schaerf has informed
US Commissioner Donnelly that rightist
elements of the conservative People's Party,
spear-headed by governors of the Western
provinces and by several Cabinet ministers including Foreign Minister
Gruber, are seeking to replace Chancellor Figl with someone more
sympathetic to they views. Characterizing the maneuvering as the
beginning of a "Fa/dist" movement, Schaerf asserts that Figl may
survive until the next general election in 1953, but adds that the oppo-
sition is strong. The Socialists, Schaerf contends, fear the coalition
may break down; he asserts that they will never participate in a govern-
ment that includes both the People's Party and the near-reactionary
Union of Independents.
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
3.5(c)
Approved for Igtstae.:;2A1.9i.192 CO2745273
3.5(c)
In a subsequent conversation with Donnelly,
Figl denied that either the coalition or his own position was in danger.
He described the opposition leaders within his party as "provincial
almighties" who criticize but are unwilling to accept responsibilities
outside their own provinces.
Comment: The Chancellor's dismissal of
opposition to this party leadership as "provincial" is scarcely supported
by the facts. Defeated presidential candidate Heinrich Gleissner, as
governor of Upper Austria, has openly flouted govbrnment policies
in the meat crisis. While supporting the Chancellor, the Socialists
themselves have not been averse to encouraging defection of People's
Party members to splinter groups on the extreme right. Any coales-
cence of these dissident groups in some rightist bloc aligned with the
Union of Independents will make it extremely difficult for the coalition
to continue in its present form.
DP SEC
- 10 -
Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2745273
3.5(c)