CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/04/27

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02692626
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: May 24, 2019
• Document Release Date: May 30, 2019
• Publication Date: April 27, 1952

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TOP ItiET Nor
SECUBITr1NFORMATION
27 April 1952
Copy No,
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
III DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: T3 S
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HR 70-/
DATE.n if 7 REVIEWER:
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP
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SE9TY INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
SOVIET UNION
1. Unusual number of Soviet aircraft fly to Chukotsk Peninsula (page 3).
FAR EAST
2. Vehicle sightings in North Korea approach record high (page 3).
WESTERN EUROPE
3. Prospects for French ratification of EDC seen improving (page 4).
4. Adenauer coalition objects to haste on contractual agreements (page 5).
LATIN AMERICA
5. Bolivian coup may complicate US-Chilean copper problem (page 6).
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SOVIET UNION
1. Unusual number of Soviet aircraft fly to Chukotsk Peninsula:
an unprecedented number of flights from south-
eastern Siberia northward along the coast into
the Chukotsk Peninsula.
At least 94 military aircraft, most of them sub-
ordinate to the 10th Air Army and the Commander in Chief, Soviet Far
East, participated in this activity. The majority of the aircraft had been
based in the Khabarovsk area. Some of them may have come from as far
away as Kuibyshevka, a major military center several hundred miles west
of Khabarovsk on the Trans-Siberian Railroad,
Comment: The staging of these flights suggests
that the aircraft involved are of relatively limited range and are probably
military transports or light bombers.
In the past, activity of this type, pointing to a
priority air lift, has frequently accompanied the transfer of a Soviet Air
Force unit from one base to another. It therefore suggests a strengthening
of air power in the Chukotsk area.
It is also possible that the aircraft are trans-
porting cargoes for economic enterprises in the Chukotsk region, al-
though there is no information indicating a pressing need for priority
cargoes at this time.
FAR EAST
2. Vehicle sightings in North Korea approach record high:
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3.3(h)(2)
The Far East Command reports that enemy 3.3(h)(2)
vehicle sightings in North Korea during the
week 19 - 25 April totaled 24,142, double
that of the preceding period and the second
highest weekly total on record. Southbound traffic comprised 59 percent
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of the sightings, a relatively low figure, although an increase over the
previous week. Sixty-one percent of the sightings were south of the 39th
parallel, which is above recent averages.
Communist traffic reached a new weekly high
on the road between Pyongyang and Sariwon in western Korea, and heavy
traffic was noted on the route from Wonsan to Chorwon in the east and
central sector.
Comment: The enemy has maintained a con-
sistently high level of supply movement throughout the cease-fire talks,
resulting in a greatly improved position in supplies and personnel.
WESTERN EUROPE
3. Prospects for French ratification of EDC seen improving:
On the basis of an "extensive inquiry" just 3.3(h)(2)
concluded, the American Embassy in Paris
reports that the French National Assembly is
taking a somewhat more favorable attitude to-
ward tile European Det�e Community, in particular because of the
Soviet Union's advocacy of a new German Army.
A crucial remaining issue is the hope-for
assurances from the United States and Britain against a break-up of the
community because of the withdrawal of any member. Opponents of the
community find their best campaign issue in the popular confusion over
the nature and extent of the expected American and British commitments.
While Socialist leader Guy Mollet can now be
expected to defend the treaty, although without enthusiasm, at his party's
congress opening 22 May, the question remains whether enough deputies
will consider that the US and British assurances are sufficient
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Comment: The French Government obtained
a scant vote of confidence in February on the European Defense Commu-
nity plan, with reservations designed to placate the Socialists. The
vote was obtained on the strength of a promise by Foreign Minister
Schuman that he would seek not only declarations by the American and
British Governments but also "legal and political commitments" from the
parliaments of those countries.
4. Adenauer coalition objects to haste on contractual agreements:
American representatives in West Germany 3.3(h)(2)
note signs of opposition within the government
coalition to the negotiations on contractual
agreements which might delay signature beyond
19 May.
Heinrich von Brentano, Christian Democratic
leader in the Bundestag, complained at Adenauer's refusal to keep the
coalition informed on the negotiations and his "unreasonable demand"
that the member parties approve the contracts in too short a time. Bren-
tano and other coalition leaders felt that certain features of the contracts
would meet stubborn resistance from their parties.
American representatives in Bonn believe that
Brentano probably exaggerated the extent of the coalition objections.
Comment: This reaction by Bundestag leaders
is similar to objections voiced many times in the past to Adenauer's
lone-hand tactics. The present timetable for the conclusion of negoti-
ations gives the government parties a full two weeks to consider the con-
tractual agreements.
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LA TIN AMERICA
5. Bolivian coup may complicate US-Chilean copper problem
/difficul-
ties in solving the copper price problem have
been attributed to "Yankee imperialism's
hostility" and lack of understanding by spokes-
men of all parties. "It is not easy to foresee," he said, "how far this
campaign will go with the impulse which it will necessarily receive from
the triumph of the Bolivian revolutions"
if the United
States should make concessions on tin to Paz Estenssoro which it had not
made in other price conflicts, "it would be inviting a positive incitement
to revolt and civil war in countries which have problems which they in-
terpret as similar. "
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