CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/04/20

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02046567
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: May 24, 2019
• Document Release Date: May 30, 2019
• Publication Date: April 20, 1952

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SEC INFORMATION
20 April 1952
Copy No, 52
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP
ET
SE CU INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
comments on Soviet policy in Europe and Asia (page 3)
FAR EAST
2. North Korea purchases large number of trucks from USSR (page 3).
3. Top Chinese official in Tibet reportedly intends to visit India
(page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3.3(h)(2)
internal deterioration in Egypt (page 4). 3.3(h)(2)
Syria willing to accept 500,000 more Arab refugees (page 5).
LATIN AMERICA
Political 'disturbances in Ecuador (page 6).
. Revolution reportedly planned for Venezuela (page 7).
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GENERAL
comments on Soviet policy in Europe and Asia:
Two interviews granted by Soviet Foreign
Minister Vyshinsky and Deputy Minister Zorin
to members of the diplomatic corps in Moscow
are reported
as revealing Soviet policy in Europe and Asia.
Zorin reportedly told
that the time is ripe to bring about the unity of Germany and that if the
Western Powers let this opportunity slip away, it will not soon come
again. While it was not clear what Zorin intended,
that the USSR may expect the West to turn down its present Ger-
man proposals, in which event it will incorporate East Germany into
the Soviet Orbit and offer coexistence in Europe.
that this tactic might insure the temporary quiescence that the Soviet
Union wants in Europe to be ready to meet any eventuality in Asia.
In a separate interview with the
Vyshinsky said that he believed that a Korean settlement
is possible, but that the question of peace still would not be resolved
in Asia because the United States is preparing to expand the conflict
there.
FAR EAST
North Korea purchases large number of trucks from USSR:
Nearly 2,000 trucks are being imported by
North Korea from the USSR, according to
The North Korean mission in Moscow is
Instructed to open letters of credit for a Soviet export trust in payment
for 2i-ton and 4-ton trucks and other motor vehicles.
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
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3.3(h)(2)
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3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
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Comment: indicate the
continuing high level of logistical support given North Korea by the
Soviet Union.
The Far East Command estimated late in
1951 that the Communists had been able to keep nearly 10,000 vehicles
operational, despite losses of nearly 32,000 vehicles since the begin-
ing of the war.
3. Top Chinese official in Tibet reportedly intends to visit India:
/General Chang Ching-wu, senior Chinese
representative in Tibet, intends to visit India
to discuss with Prime Minister Nehru plans
for a "most-favored-nation trade treaty" with Tibet and to request
"increased" exports of grain, cloth and construction materials from
India.
Comment: There has been no high-level
contact between India and Tibet since the Chinese occupation of Tibet
In autumn 1951. Chang's visit could prepare the way for a discussion
of all aspects of Indo-Tibetan relations.
Chang's immediate mission, however, may be
to ease a serious food shortage reported in Tibet. India, which probably
cannot supply much food, may agree to cooperate in expediting shipments
of Chinese commodities sent via Calcutta.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
Internal deterioration in Egypt:
The Egyptian monarchy may soon collapse,
If measures are not taken now to counteract
the recent "dangerous" turn in the internal
situation,
The ferment in the Army and the
growing trend against King Farouk are particularly disturbing to palace
and cabinet officials, who have admitted the seriousness of the situation.
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A person very close to the King has stated that
� the trend against Farouk would become more grave if he should make his
customary European visit this year. The King, however, is not adopting
any serious measures, but "continues his
old life like a man sure of his own wisdom and destiny."
Comment: King Farouk does not enjoy the
full respect and confidence of his people. While his dismissal of the
WA FD, his insistence on negotiations with Britain and his action in
quelling the January riots in Cairo have added somewhat to his inter-
national stature, there is no evidence that his position inside Egypt has
Improved.
Army ranks, however,
may gradually be affected by popular discontent and widespread anti-
British sentiment.
5. Syria willing to accept 500,000 more Arab refugees:
Syria is willing to resettle 500,000 Arab
refugees in addition to those already there,
according to the Chief of State, Colonel Selo.
Colonel Shishakli had previously intimated that.
he would welcome this opportunity for economic development
Colonel Selo urged an agreement integrating
Syrian plans for a $200,000,000 development program with the UN
Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) projects. He also made it clear
that in view of the political risks involved in accepting the refugees
and in spite of the economic advantages, Syria would welcome any
additional funds for general economic development which UNRWA could
secure.
5
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Comment: Acceptance of Arab refugees along
with sizable economic assistance would enable the Shishakli-Selo regime
to build a larger, more powerful Syria.
Successful resettlement of so many refugees
would be a major step toward the solution of one of the Near East's most
pressing problems. Other Arab states are likely to be uncooperative
on the resettlement project and insist that the refugees be returned to
their Palestinian homes.
LA TIN AMERICA
6. Political disturbances in Ecuador:
The political situation in Ecuador is tense and 3.3(h)(2)
rumors of a pending revolution are persistent,
A 3.3(h)(2)
minor incident occurred in Quito on 18 April
when university students shot at and burned an effigy of presidential
candidate Velasco Ibarra. This resulted in unfounded rumors that the
revolution had started.
Comment: The February announcement of
Velasco Ibarra's candidacy and his return on 1 March from exile in
Argentina have upset earlier predictions that the presidential contest
would be a "fairly normal one."
Velasco is scheduled to arrive in Quito on
22 April on his campaign tour, which has already resulted in violence.
Communist leaders are reported to be organizing shock troops in Quito
in preparation for Velasco's arrival, and Communist and Socialist
students are actively engaged in propaganda campaigns against him.
Should the expected disturbances in Quito reach serious proportions,
it is possible that the ambitious Minister of Defense might stage a
preventive coup "to protect" Ecuador from further bloodshed and from
possible rule of the twice deposed ex-president Velasco.
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7. Revolution reportedly planned for Venezuela:
iGustavo Machado, a high Communist leader,
and Valmore Rodriguez, spokesman for the
Democratic Action Party, were on the Colombian-
Venezuelan frontier with a large shipment of arms which they planned to
deliver to the area around Maracaibo on 18 April.
he Government was setting up an extensive water blockade and land
patthls. The Chief of the National Security Forces in the capital, how-
ever, indicated that he had no knowledge of any planned disturbances.
Comment: Police precautions may be merely
a routine follow-up on the'government's 9 April announcement that the
outlawed Democratic Action Party had planned disturbances for 19 April
and 5 July. The Maracaibo oil area was not affected by the Democratic
Action's uprisings last October.
The present report implies full-scale Commu-
nist-Democratic Action collaboration which would be a new factor in
current Venezuelan politics. It is not certain whether the meeting and
collaboration of these two leaders -- if true -- would imply mere harass-
ing or strike tactics in the Maracaibo oil area or would herald country-
wide disturbances.
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