CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1954/05/13

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03006384
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2019
• Publication Date: May 13, 1954

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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
El DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 200.9
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: -.70 /7L. EVEWER
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Britain trying to enlist Asian countries in Southeast Asia security
arrangements (page 3).
2. Turkey wants strong Greek-Yugoslav communique on future of
Balkan pact (page 3).
SOVIET UNION
3. Preliminary evaluation of new Soviet bombers (page 4).
FAR EAST
4. President Rhee expresses unconcern over possible UN troop with-
drawal (page 6).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
6. Changes anticipated in American-Israeli relations (page 7).
WESTERN EUROPE
7.
8. New crisis looms in American-Icelandic negotiations on defense
pact (page 8).
LATIN AMERICA
9. Military junta may take over Chilean government (page 9).
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GENERAL
1. Britain trying to enlist Asian countries in Southeast Asia security
arrangements:
Britain hopes to introduce at Geneva a
proposal for India, Pakistan, Ceylon,
Burma, and Indonesia jointly to supervise
and guarantee an Indochina settlement. It
asiappiehedthe first three of these countries, according to
a British official at Geneva. The British believe such a plan would pay
propaganda dividends and might strengthen French determination to
maintain a firm stand in the Indochina negotiations.
According to the British official, Nehru has
indicated that he would consider contributing troops to help guarantee
the settlement and that he is thinking in terms of an "Asian Locarno,"
which eventually might be extended to all of Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Britain is also exploring the
possibility of having one of the Commonwealth prime ministers call a
Southeast Asia defense conference after the Geneva talks. Britain would
prefer not to participate in a Southeast Asian defense pact which failed to
include the countries of the area.
Comment: The British have apparently con-
cluded that a negotiated settlement in Indochina, probably involving
territorial concessions, is inevitable, if not desirable.
Other British sources last week indicated that
Nehru had been vague and cautious in replying to British overtures along
these lines. The new report suggests that he has been influenced by Church-
ill's views on the desirability of countering Soviet imperialism by a system
of alliances patterned on the Locarno pact.
2. Turkey wants strong Greek-Yugoslav communique on future of Balkan
pact:
Turkey believes the Greek-Yugoslav commu-
nique which will be issued following Marshal
Tito's scheduled visit to Athens in June must
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confirm the recent Turkish-Yugoslav statement on converting the
Balkan pact into a military alliance, according to Ambassador Warren.
Anything less, in the opinion of the Turks, would create the impression
of disunity and indecision.
Comment:
While Tito may be able to suggest a formula
� which will partially relieve Greek sensitivity, persisting Greek bitter-
ness will nevertheless threaten continued cooperation among the three
pact members.
SOVIET UNION
3. Preliminary evaluation of new Soviet bombers:
Preliminary evaluation
lof photographs of the new
Soviet bombers which participated in the May
Day fly-past indicates that the Type-37 heavy
je �om er is considerably larger than previously estimated. It has con-
siderable electronic equipment�some of improved design--and each
engine is capable of developing approximately 15,000 pounds sea level
static thrust (see top picture, p. 5).
The preliminary interpretations compare
favorably with previous American estimates of performance character-
istics for a Soviet heavy jet bomber which is expected to be in opera-
tional units in 1957.
The medium twin-jet bomber also in the
fly-past, the Type-39, is similar in configuration to the Type-37 but ap-
pears to be in the same size class as the American B-47. Electronic
equipment on the Type-39 appears to be similar to that on the Type-37
(see lower picture, po 5).
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TYPE 39
SOVIET MEDIUM JET BOMBER
TYPE 37
SOVIET HEAVY JET BOMBER with MIG - 17 JET FIGHTERS
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FAR EAST
4. President Rhee expresses unconcern over possible UN troop withdrawal:
5.
President Rhee has told Ambassador Dean
that he is unimpressed by arguments that his
demand for a complete withdrawal of Chinese
troops prior to holding all-Korean elections
would require a similar UN withdrawal. Rhee asserts that the United
States is an "appeaser" and is going to withdraw in any event, "so why
not now?'
Ambassador Dean comments that Rhee is not
only aware of the danger involved in a UN withdrawal, but actually in-
vites this danger. The ambassador is convinced that Rhee wants an
American commitment to equip 35 divisions so that he can attack alone,
or that he hopes to bring about an "unprovoked" attack by the Communists.
Comment: Rhee is seeking to obtain a 35-
division army by withholding apprdiial of a unification proposal at Geneva
which envisages elections prior to completion of a phased withdrawal of
foreign forces. He also demands that the North Korean army be dis-
armed.
Rhee's opposition to any unification plan other
than one employing force may be based on a fear that his opposition in
the south, following a rigged Communist vote in the north, might unseat
his government.
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NEAR EAST - AFRICA
6. Changes anticipated in American-Israeli relations:
The Israeli public has been so profoundly
disturbed by recent events affecting Israel's
position in the Middle East that basic changes
in American-Israeli relations may result.
7.
All sectors of Israeli opinion, according to
the American embassy in Tel Aviv, reflect unusual nervous strain,
brought on by Arab economic and psychological warfare, the announce-
ment of American arms aid to Iraq, and by two recent speeches of
Assistant Secretary of State Byroade. These speeches have been in-
terpreted by the Israelis as attacks on the philosophy of the Zionist
state and as an effort to drive a wedge between American Iewry and
Israel.
Comment: Israel will continue to make every
effort to reverse what it considers a pro-Arab, anti-Israeli American
policy. At the same time, however, there is evidence that it will proba-
bly emphasize the need for greater Israeli independence of the United
States, On 10 May a leftist member of parliament urged recognition of
Communist China to demonstrate this independence.
WESTERN EUROPE
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8. New crisis looms in American-Icelandic negotiations on defense pact:
The Icelandic foreign minister and the leader
of the Progressive Party consider Washing=
ton's latest reply to proposals for changes in
the American-Icelandic defense agreement of
1951 completely unacceptable.
The American minister in Reykjavik holds
that if the United States maintains its present position, the present pro
American government may fall and demands may be made for a basic
revision or even termination of the agreement.
Comment: During the negotiations which have
been in progress since last December, the Icelanders have insisted that
the American general contractor be replaced by Icelandic firms and that
contact between American military personnel and the local population be
drastically curtailed.
In mid-April the foreign minister categorically
told parliament that Iceland's demands would be met. The widespread
antiforeign sentiment of the Icelanders will hardly permit the incumbent
government to compromise on these issues.
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LATIN AMERICA
9. Military junta may take over Chilean government:
Comment: President Ibanez' failure to take
decisive action to solve Chile's serious economic problems has created
considerable discontent. There have been several reports in the past
several months that Ibanez might appoint a military cabinet and rule as a
dictator. This is the first indication, however, that he might be deposed.
Parra is the only person who has served con-
tinuously in the cabinet since Ibanez assumed the presidency in November
1952. Although recent reports indicate that he may now be favorably dis-
posed toward the United States, he was reported in late 1952 and early
1953 to be unfriendly. Parra is not known to have any special ties with
Argentina.
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