CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/11/20

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02739314
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
8
Document Creation Date: 
April 15, 2019
Document Release Date: 
April 22, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
November 20, 1951
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15602894].pdf264.45 KB
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Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 vfte-TeP-SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION 20 November 1951 Copy No. CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO. NO CHANGE IN, CLAS � DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C NEXT REVIEW DATE; i :14.0 AUTI-41... FIR k-ia DAMP/Mien nEviEwz, 47 Sze Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY ET SECURITY INFORMATION Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 -TP SEC SUMMARY USSR 3.5(c) FAR EAST 3.3(h)(2) 2. Communist night air activity further restricts UN over northwestern Korea (page 3). 3. Dutch-Indonesian relations at impasse over West New Guinea question 4page 4). SOUTH ASIA 4. India reportedly can win a plebiscite in Kashmir (page 5). NEAR EAST 5. Comment on the Iranian Prime Minister's visit in Egypt (page 5). 6. Egypt exerting strong pressure on Arab UN delegates (page 6). EASTERN EUROPE 8. Yugoslav officials object to Western press criticism (page 7). WESTERN EUROPE 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) -2 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 3.5(c) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 TP SECRET USSR 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) FAR EAST 3.3(h)(2) 2. Communist night air activity further restricts UN over northwestern Korea: While Communist night interceptor aircraft have been encountered in limited numbers over North Korea since December 1950, until recently no UN aircraft was known to have been damaged in such meetings. On the night of 16 November a UN light bomber, flyingat 6,000 feet near the Chongchtm river, was caught in a light cone from 15 searchlights and was immediately attacked by two conventional fighters which inflicted "major damage." 3 Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 TP SECRET 3.5(c) The Far East Command observes that the "skilled manner in which the pilots combined attacks with the use of radar-directed searchlights indicates a high degree of proficiency." Anticipating an increase in both the number and effectiveness of enemy night iilterceptions, FECOM believes that the enemy's capability to restrict UN night operations has considerably improved and may be expected to be a limiting factor on future UN night air activity north of the Chongchon river. Comment: If the Communists fully attain the capability to deny the air over northwestern Korea to UN night bombers, it will permit the nearly unmolested completion of their program of basing jet and conventional aircraft on airfields within Korea. 3.3(h)(2) 3., Dutch-Indonesian relations at impasse over West New Guinea question: The Dutch Foreign Minister, discussing with US representatives in Paris the current impasse between the Netherlands and Indonesia over West New Guineil sovereignty requested US support in e even on sia unilaterally abrogates the Netherlands-Indonesian Union and probably other agreements negotiated by the two countries in 1949. He emphasized that transfer of New Guinea from the Netherlands to Indonesia at present is a political impossibility. 3.3(h)(2) Meanwhile, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, also in Paris, has proposed a de jure transfer of sovereignty over the area with a guarantee of national treatment to Dutch subjects and the extension of certain privileges to the Netherlands for a period of twenty-five years. No Dutch comment on his proposal has been received. The Indonesian Foreign Minister doubted that his government would be willing to accept a Dutch proposal to negotiate a bilateral treaty to replace the 1949 agreements and then allow some time to lapse before considering the New Guinea question. - 4 - Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 TP SECRET Comment: The Dutch and Indonesian attitudes on New Guinea are forcing both -Fir�e-Fnments into relaWely uncompromising positions. � Continued intransigence from both governments could lead to a break in Dutch-Indonesian relations. The Dutch, who have continually sought postponement of action on Dutch-Indonesian issues until after the 1952 parliamentary elections, are not expected to give way to Indonesian demands. The question is further complicated by the attitude of Australia, which has always opposed the transfer of West New Guinea sovereignty to Indonesia. SOUTH ASIA 3.5(c) 4. India reportedly can win a plebiscite in Kashmir: 3.3(h)(2) The US Embassy and the other diplomatic issions in India now believe that India can win UN-sponsored plebiscite in Kashmir. The Embassy reports that Premier Sheikh Abdullah's responsible for his growing strength in the state. land and tax reforms Comment: This opinion is contradictory to the belief had by competent observers as recently as last summer. Abdullah's ruthless suppression of political opposition and UN delay in settling the Kashmir case have probably helped to develop a feeling on the part of Kashmiris that it is futile to combat increasing Indian control. NEAR EAST 5. Comment on the Iranian Prime Minister's visit in Egypt: It is unlikely that the present visit of Prime Minister Mossadeq to Egypt will produce any tangible results, despite press predictions of the formation of a new Moslem bloc. Mossadeq - 5 - Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 3.3(h)(2) 33(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 TP SECRET 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) said merely th4t the visit was being made because of "Iran's ties with the Moslem countries and also our policy of cooperatioft. Nevertheless, the Egyptian visit will permit IVIossadeq to bring back to Iran strong expressions of Egyptian sympathy and support. Such assurances may have some politiop.1 value to Mossadeq in Tehran when he returns almost empty-handed to a critical Parliament. Egypt, which is having difficulty in solidifying Arab opposition to the Middle East Command, has assiduously been seeking Moslem and Asiatic approval for its position. It accordingly will welcome any support the Iranian Premier might be able to offer during his stopover In Egypt. 6. Egypt exerting strong pressure on Arab UN delegates: 3.3(h)(2) Egypt is exerting "tremendous pressure" to per- suade the Arab delegations to the UN General Assembly to issue a joint statement this Week, endorsing Egypt's abrogation of the 1936 Anglo- n rea y and its subsequent rejection of the Middle East Command proposals. The Lebanese Minister to the United States, Charles Malik, in transmitting the information, warned that the US should not be deluded by the efforts of the Iraqi Prime Minister to compose the current situation, since Irgqi public opinion would force him to yield to Egyptian demands. The Lebanese Minister expressed his belief that King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia holds the key to the present situation. He accordingly urged that the US request Ibn Saud's assistance in countering the demands of the Egyptian Foreign Minister that all the Arab states publicly support Egypt's position. According to Malik, the Lebanese Foreign Minister is so violently opposed to the Egyptian tactics that he is ready to resign. rigyptla 1 Comment: While Ibn Saud is probably the only figure, in the Arab world who might exert some influence on Egyptian policy, there Is little evidence to indicate that the aging Saudi Arabian monarch wished 'to become embroiled in a dispute with his Egyptian friends. - 6 - 3.5(c) TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 TP SECRET 3.5(c) The dilemma facing those Arab leaders who are Interested in the Western defense proposals and who feel very strongly about the Egyptian maneuvers is that Arab public opinion generally supports Egypt's nationalistic demands. 3.3(h)(2) EASTERN EUROPE 8. Yugoslav officials object to Western press criticism: According to the US Embassy in Belgrade recent news dispatches playing up peasant resistance and economic difficulties within Yugoslavia have caused a serious rift between Yugoslav authorities and es ern pr ;.'s representatives. Yugoslav officials have objected to these news stories on rounds that they not only provide Cominform propaganda but, more 3.3(h)(2) - 7 - SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 3.5(c) r Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 TP SECRET importantly, jeopardize Yugoslavia's standing with parliaments and peoples be Western countries. 3.5(c) Comment: Recent speeches by Tito and other Yugoslav officials have shown an increasing sensitivity to Western criticism of the regime and its policies. Yugoslav leaders are no doubt fearfui of the effects that an unfriendly Western press may have on the Western military and economic aid programs. WESTERN EUROPE 3.3(h)(2) - 8 - TOP-SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/04/02 CO2739314 3.5(c)