CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/01/30

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02046535
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: May 24, 2019
• Document Release Date: May 30, 2019
• Publication Date: January 30, 1952

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SECTfr INFORMATION
30 January 1952
Copy No. 4
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO
NO CHANGE IN CLASS,
1 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS ii401
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HRJQ
DATE047 4 ri REVIEWER
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SECURJfl INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Comment on latest Soviet protest concerning the Middle East
Command (page 3).
2. Spanish seek Vatican support against US Protestant activities
(page 4).
FAR EAST
3. Dutch-Indonesian discussions reaching a critical stage (page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Iranian-Polish trade agreement delayed (page 5).
5. Britain willing to negotiate with new Egyptian Government (page 5).
6. American Ambassador in Cairo underscores difficulties of new
Egyptian Government (page 6).
7. Tunisian nationalists adopt policy of sabotage and passive resistance
(page 7).
WESTERN EUROPE
8. Churchill advocates speed in rearming Germany (page 7).
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GENERAL
1. Comment on latest Soviet protest concerning the Middle East Command:
The Soviet Government's note of 28 January pro-
testing once again the for mation,of the-MiddleXast:Command places unusual
emphasis on developments in the Near Eastern area which are unfavorably
affecting the Western power position there. The previous Soviet note
in November was a part of the continuing diplomatic campaign against
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the extension of the alliance
system to the Eastern Mediterranean.
The latest note seems designed to take ad-
vantage of recent events in Egypt and Tunisia, to which the Soviet press
has de4bted fullest coverage. It aims at encouraging the opposition of
Near Eastern countries to the continued assertion, particularly by
Great Britain and France, of special interests in the area. The note
also seeks to strengthen suspicions among these countries that United
States military bases there are intended to divert attention from the
continued presence of British and French troops, and that the Middle
East Command represents only a device for perpetuating Western
"occupation,"
Moscow's real concern, however, is revealed
by the note's reference to the alleged encirclement of the Soviet Union
and Satellites, which it pittures in preparation in both Europe and the
Far East, with the Middle East Command completing the ring of military
bases around the periphery of the Soviet Orbit.
All these preparations, described by the note
as plans for a third world war, are held up to the Near Eastern countries
as a warning that their cooperation in Western defensive measures may
involve them in global hostilities.
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2. Spanish seek Vatican support against US Protestant activities:
As a means of resisting Protestant efforts
"to penetrate Spain and Spanish-America,"
the Spanish Foreign Minister has allegedly
suggested to the Papal Nuncio in Madrid -that
US prelates issue pastoral letters stating
that "the great political power of the United States in the world today
does not authorize it to introduce dissidence into countries of Catholic
unity. "
According to a purported message from the
Foreign Minister to the Spanish Ambassador at the Vatican, the Nuncio
was receptive to the suggestion and promised to transmit it to the Vatican
and to the Apostolic Delegate in Washington.
Comment: The Foreign Minister, a prominent
lay Catholic, reflects the fundamental concern of the Spanish hierarchy
over the potential effects of American Protestant activities on the position
of the Roman Catholic Church in Latin America, as well as in Spain.
Top Spanish officials, including Franco, have
assured the US Ambassador in Madrid that interpretation of Spanish law
regarding the treatment of non-Catholics would be greatly broadened;
however, the government has done virtually nothing toward defining the
exact rights of Protestants, a step which is essential to make the promised
greater tolerance effective.
FAR EAST
3. Dutch-Indonesian discussions reaching a critical stage:
A Dutch Foreign Office official has stated
that the Cabinet is expected soon to make a
formal decision that the Indonesian claim of
sovereignty otter Netherlands New Guinea is
unacceptable to the Netherlands. He believes the Indonesians have
already decided that if their demand is not met, they will consider the
current talks a failure.
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The Foreign Office official also said that,
regardless of the outcome of the New Guinea discussions, the Dutch
will be willing to continue the talks on revising the Union Statute�
Comment: Although Indonesia has con-
sistently indicated a desire to pursue a moderate course, domestic
reaction to the Dutch refusal to admit Indonesian sovereignty over
New Guinea is likely to be sufficiently strong to force the government
to withdraw its delegation. Leftist and nationalist elements will press
for unilateral abrogation of the Union Statute, but the government will
attempt to avoid such action.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Iranian-Polish trade agreement delayed:
An official of the Iranian Ministry of National 3.3(h)(2)
Economy has informed the US Embassy in
Tehran that the Iranian-Polish trade agreement
has been held up because of Polish insistence
that Iran include oil among its exports. According to the same official,
Iran is refusing to include oil, although Poland has given assurances that
It can supply adequate transportation.
Comment: This Iranian statement appears
to have been made with the intention of deceivin. the West.
5. Britain willing to negotiate with new Egyptian Government:
Britain is willing to enter discussions at 3.3(h)(2)
once on the four-power Middle East Command
proposal without any prior Egyptian com-
mitment to accept the proposal in principle.
The new Egyptian Government must, however, do all in its power to
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halt terrorist activities and avoid other anti-British measures.
Should assurance of such steps be received,
Foreign Secretary Eden is ready to announce publicly that the British
will not keep troops in the Canal zone indefinitely against the wishes of
the Egyptian Government, although in the present situation they will
maintain their position there.
Comment: Such a public announcement
might provide the face-saving formula necessary for reopening dis-
cussion of Anglo-Egyptian defense problems. There is no indication,
however, that the two sides are any closer together on such questions
as the right of re-entry of British troops, the time schedule for evacu-
ation, or the retention of some British troops in the etnal zone. The
Eden statement falls short of meeting Egypt's minimum demands for
settlement, since it fails to mention the SupIan.
. American Ambassador in Cairo underscores difficulties of new Egyptian
Government:
The new government of Prime Minister Ali
Maher cannot be more compromising on the
Anglo-Egyptian controversy than was the
recent Wafd Party Cabinet, according to the
US Ambassador in Cairo. He states that the new government feels as
strongly over the recent British military action in Ismailia as did the
Wald Party.
The Ambassador warns that if the British
Foreign Office "continues its wishful thinking" in regard to the Egyptian
situation, the Ali Maher cabinet will fall and no one can tell who might
take over.
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7. Tunisian nationalists adopt policy of sabotage and passive resistance:
The present policy of the Neo-Destour 3.3(h)(2)
Party in Tunisia is to carry on a campaign
of combined sabotage and passive resistance,
according to a Tunisian nationalist. He asserts
that his party was responsible for the sabotage committed during the
recent riots.
A party spokesman said that the Neo-Destour-
ians will go underground, if necessary, but are still determined to have
Tunisia's case brought before the United Nations.
Comment: The fairly moderate Neo-Destour
Party is the strongest nationalist group in Tunisia. The party is at
present seriously crippled, because most of its leaders and several
thousand of its members have been imprisoned. This is the first clear
evidence that it participated in the recent destruction of property.
WESTERN EUROPE
8. Churchill advocates speed in rearming Germany:
Winston Churchill has told US Special Repre-
sentative William Draper that, if there are
continuing delays and difficulties in the
European Defense Community negotiations,
France Should be pressed to accept Germany's admission to NATO.
Comment: The previous British position,
like that of the French, has been that Germany should be admitted to
NATO only after the contractual relations and a European Defense
Force have come into effect.
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