CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1953/06/04

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02929519
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 15, 2019
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2019
• Publication Date: June 4, 1953

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SECUR INFORMATION
4 June 1953
Copy No. 6 r
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
POCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
I�0E01 AS3iFiED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: 13 3 C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 10�50-
A.UTH: HA 70-2
DATE4140/r�L-VIEWE 1
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SE ET
SECURI FORMATION
3.5(c)
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SECURITY INFORMATION
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t,1-.---USSR
2.
3.
5.
LA'
Czech
Panic
SUMMARY
GENERAL
renounces 1945 territorial
claims against Turkey (page 3).
new intra-Orbit trade practice (page 3). 3.3(h)(2)
UNION
rumor in Georgian SSR (page 4).
EAST
SOVIET
greets currency reform
FAR
3.3(h)(2)
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
Comment on broadening of Israel's coalition government (page 5).
Turkey proposes that MEDO be set up immediately (page 5).
WESTERN EUROPE
Italian premier reportedly refuses Nenni offer of coalition (page 6).
2
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3.5(c)
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RITY INFORMATION
GENERAL
1. USSR renounces 1945 territorial claims against Turkey: 3.3(h)(2)
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, a
Soviet note of 31 May states that the USSR has
renounced all territorial claims against Turkey.
These claims had been asserted on behalf of the
Armenian and Georgian Republics in 1945.
The note states that the USSR now considers it
possible to ensure its security interests in the Dardanelles under con-
ditions acceptable to both countries.
The Turkish secretary general underlined the
danger of the new Soviet tactics, "since many countries less experienced
in dealing with Russia would be misled by them."
Comment: This conciliatory gesture may be
designed to undermine Turkey's role in NATO, to discourage the building
of NATO bases on Turkish soil, and to weaken the Balkan alliance.
Since the Kremlin has expressed its strong dis-
approval of the Montreux Convention, which is subject to review every
five years, the note may foreshadow a Soviet bid for Soviet-Turkish talks
on this subject.
2. Czech
new intra-Orbit trade practice;
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(
Comment: reveal a new Orbit
trade practice of lending scarce raw materials
and semimanufactured goods to Czechoslovakia
and possibly other Satellite countries to prevent
imminent cutbacks of production resulting from
shortages in key industries.
3.5(c)
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Nino,
SECURITY INFORMATION
3.5(c)
Last June raw material shortages curtailed
Czech tire production and caused the government to offer idle plant
capacity to any "people's democracy" which would quickly supply the
necessary raw materials.
In 1951 and 1952 Czechoslovakia failed both
to fulfill its large-scale capital goods commitments to the USSR and
other Satellites and to maintain its own ambitious industrial production
program.
SOVIET UNION
3. Panic greets currency reform rumor in Georgian SSR:
4.
3.3(h
Comment: Such a currency reform would run
counter to the recent efforts on the part of the new regime to popularize
itself, and there is no evidence to confirm the rumor. The panic in
Georgia demonstrates that in spite of the efforts of the new leaders, the
people still fear arbitrary governmental actions.
FAR EAST
TOP ET
3.3(
h)(2)
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SECURITY INFORMATION
3.5(c)
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
33(h)(2)
5. Comment on broadening of Israel's coalition government:
The return to Prime Minister Ben-Gurion's
Mapai-dominated cabinet of the General Zionist party, which had with-
drawn on 25 May, restores a broadly based government for Israel.
While Ben-Gurion has indicated satisfaction at the restoration of the
coalition which now commands some 87 seats in the 120-member
Knesset, his party was forced to yield to the General Zionists on the
minor issue which had precipitated the crisis a week ago. The General
Zionists failed, however, to gain a more decisive voice in determining
the government's future policies.
The re-establishment of the coalition in Tel
Aviv is more a truce agreement than a decision by the two major parties
to unite in solving Israel's problems. It does not eliminate the basic
differences and still leaves the Ben-Gurion government in a weak
position.
6. Turkey proposes that MEDO be set up immediately:
The Turkish government "is of the firm con- 3.3(h)(2)
viction� that the United States, Britain, France
and Turkey, in view of their responsibility for
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JOSEtRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
3.5(c)
Middle East security, should immediately set up a defense organization
to fill the "dangerous gap" existing in the area. In a note handed to
American Counselor Rountree, Turkey stated that it should be made
clear to Middle East countries that the proposed organization would be
open to all states in the area.
Comment: Turkey, fully aware of the weakness
of Middle East defenses, has been pushing for action. Its proposal en-
visages reconsideration of current MEDO concepts. If the suggestion
that the organization be formally opened to all regional states is adopted,
it could result in an Israeli request for membership. The Arab states
are urging that Middle East defense be based on the Arab League's
security pact.
WESTERN EUROPE
7. Italian premier reportedly refuses Nenni offer of coalition:
3.3(h
De Gasperi reportedly considers that Nenni is
exploiting the appeal of a "Socialist alternative" to Communism or Western-
oriented Christian Democracy. He doubts that the Communists are financing
Nenni and believes his funds are coming from industrialists.
Comment: The Nenni Socialists are believed
largely responsible for the gains made by the Socialist-Communist bloc
in the 1951-52 local elections. Despite the probability of slight losses
by the Communists in the coming elections, the leftist bloc as a whole is
expected to make some gains.
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T$01,Berl"
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3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
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