CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/06/04

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02684305
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: May 24, 2019
• Document Release Date: May 30, 2019
• Publication Date: June 4, 1952

Approved for Release: 2019/05/08 CO2684305
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INFORMATION
4 June 1952
Copy No.
53
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SEC INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
FAR EAST
1.
2. New Chinese aid program for Viet Minh
3. Outgoing Vietnamese premier asks for direct receipt of US aid
(page 4).
WESTERN EUROPE
4. Germans react favorably to proposed Allied countermoves in
Berlin (page 4).
5. East German Border Police expands (page 5).
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FAR EAST
1.
2. New Chinese aid program for Viet Minh
identified a Chinese "summer plan" to aid
the Viet Minh which went into effect on 1 May.
During that month, a known quantity of 635 tons
of military materiel, including signal and auto-
motive equipment, arms, and clothing, was delivered to a main supply
depot on the China border, near the Tonkinese town of Caobang.
Comment: Chinese logistic support of the
Viet Minh reportedly declined during recent months. The establish-
ment of a new program may indicate an acceleration of such aid, thus
Increasing Viet Minh offensive capabilities.
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3. Outgoing Vietnamese premier asks for direct receipt of US aid:
Alb
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Premier Tran Van Huu told the American 3.3(h)(2)
Minister in Saigon on 2 Iune that he hoped
any additional American financial aid for the
Vietnam Army obtained by Minister of Associ-
ated States Letourneau during his coming visit to Washington wouldbe
granted directly to the Vietnamese Government. American aidwhich
passed through the hands of the French, Huu said, gave the latter too
much power to intervene in internal political affairs and to maintain
excessive privileges in Vietnam.
Comment: Bao Dai abruptly dismissed Huu
on 3 June and appointed Interior Minister Nguyen Van Tam as his suc-
cessor. Factors underlying this move appear to be Hull's limited
ability and his increasingly open opposition to French power andprivi-
leges in Vietnam.
Tam has been praised by the American
Legation for his energy and ability. He possesses a long record of
close and harmonious collaboration with the French.
WESTERN EUROPE
4. Germans react favorably to proposed Allied countermoves in Berlin:
West Berlin's Mayor Reuter approves of the 3.3(h)(2)
American proposal to increase stockpiles in
Berlin to provide a 12-month rather than a
6-month reserve of fuel and food, as a demon-
stration of willingness to assist Berlin. Reuter points out, however,
that such a program would entail heavy costs and additional construction,
since all available depots are already full.
Meanwhile, a report from the High Commission-
er's office in Bonn states that the US proposal to stage a brief display of
American air power in Berlin in the near future would have a salutary
effect in West Germany. The report adds that even the small demon-
stration of power involved in the recent movement of several truckloads
of armed American troops along the Berlin autobahn was favorably
received.
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5. East German Border Police expands:
A reorganization of the East German Border 3.3(h)(2)
Police, begun on 1 January, has resulted in a
strength increase of approximately 17 percent,
with an authorized increase in the strength of
e average border unit from 820 to 960 men. The expansion appears
to have affected only those units employed on the zonal border.
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Reinforcements have been furnished by other
civil police organizations as well as by the Alert Police.
the Alert Police are to hold all key
positions and are to act as military drill and weapons instructors.
Comment: The sudden East German decree
increasing border security measures on 27 May, and the subsequent
establishment of a three-mile security zone, had been carefully planned.
In February of this year the Socialist Unity Party was already talking
of the necessity of curbing the infiltration of the German Democratic
Republic by Western agents. It is indicated that measures were taken
several months ago to build up the border police, which are now reported-
ly replacing Soviet rifle battalions on frontier duty.
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