CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/05/15

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02901110
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: May 15, 1953

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15 May 1953
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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
00CUMENT NO.
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DECLASSIFIED
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AUTH: HI=1 70AL
DATAI II
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
\00British see remaining Korean differences relatively inconsequential
(page 3).
SOVIET UNION
2. USSR shipping grains to alleviate East German shortage (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. Maintenance of Viet Minh effort in Laos is indicated (page 4).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
/ Britain warns subjects to leave Egypt (page 4).
WESTERN EUROPE
1,:onee:3A&nauer-IVIayer talks on Saar appear unproductive (page 5).
. French Foreign Affairs Committee strongly influenced by Churchill's
speech (page 5).
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GENERAL
1. British see remaining Korean differences relatively inconsequential
The British Foreign Office considers that the 3.3(h)(2)
principal objective in the Korean truce negotia-
tions must be to reach an armistice quickly.
In relation to this aim the details of present
ommunist and UN differences are of little importance. The govern-
ment's attitude is that the ultimate disposition of prisoners of war is
of "little world consequence," as long as the principle of non-forcible
repatriation is maintained.
Prime Minister Churchill is now taking a close
personal interest in the armistice negotiations.
The American Embassy in London believes
the British desire for an early armistice in Korea is largely due to
Churchill's desire to keep "relatively unimportant questions" from
hindering the arrangement of a personal meeting with Malenkov.
SOVIET UNION
2. USSR shipping grains to alleviate East German shortage:
_ _
Comment This is the first evidence that the
Soviet Union is providing special assistance through increased grain
shipments to alleviate the fodder shortages in any of the East European
Satellites. Because of its moderately good grain harvest in 1952 the
USSR is believed able to give such assistance while at the same time
increasing domestic reserves and maintaining its 1952 level of exports
to the West.
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3.
3(h)(2)
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3. Maintenance of Viet Minh effort in Laos is indicated:
he Viet 3.3(h)(2)
Minh may be continuing to ship military sup-
plies to Laos. 3.3(h)(2)
Comment: A likely destination for these
arms is the Xieng Quang area in eastern Laos, where elements of the
Viet Minh 304th Division have been reported digging in around French
defenses. Minister Letourneau recently stated that the principal effort
of the French command over the next "weeks and months" must be to
prevent consolidation of the Viet Minh hold over the areas recently
occupied.
3.3(h)(2)
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
4. Britain warns subjects to leave Egypt:
The British ambassador in Cairo has warned 3.3(h)(2)
all. British subjects to leave Egypt, making
clear that those who remain do so on their
own rescionsibilitv. No change. however, has
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No reinforcements of the Suez base are pres-
ently contemplated beyond the approximately 2,000 commandos who
left Malta on 12 May.
Comment: During the previous Anglo-
Egyptian clashes Britain had refrained from issuing such a warning
to its nationals in Egypt, Despite British plans to remain in the
Suez Canal zone, London has evidently become dubious of its ability
to exercise sufficient military control in the delta area to effect the
evacuation of the 27,000 British civilians estimated to be in Egypt.
WESTERN EUROPE
5. Adenauer-Mayer talks on Saar appear unproductive:
3.3(h)(2)
After two of his scheduled three talks with
French Premier Mayer and Foreign Minister
Bidault, Chancellor Adenauer told Ambassador
Draper that they showed no willingness to
compromise on the Saar issue despite taking what he considered an
encouraging attitude on EDC as a whole.
Comment: Adenauer had indicated earlier
in the spring that talks williMyer were his chief hope for reaching
an understanding on the Saar issue. Mayer had made such an under-
standing a prerequisite for French EDC ratification.
Domestic political considerations in West
Germany will probably prevent any significant new attempt at a Saar
settlement until after the September German elections.
6. French Foreign Affairs Committee strongly influenced by Churchill's
speech:
Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Edgar
Faure told American officials in Paris that
Churchill's speech had completely changed
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his group's attitude toward four-power talks and made outright rejection
impossible. He made this statement by way of comment on the French
National Assembly's motion of 13 May urging the government to present
a concrete proposal for four-power talks at the earliest possible date.
According to Faure, the motion was designed
to prevent Foreign Minister Bidault or anyone else from precipitating
negotiations without adequate preparation. It represents a compromise
between committee members unconditionally favoring four-power talks
and others who, while not opposing them, wish to see maximum safe-
guards established.
Comment: The French Foreign Ministry is
reported to consider Churchill's speech untimely in view of indications
at Panmunjom and elsewhere that Soviet policy is substantially unchanged.
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