DAILY SUMMARY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06717505
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: December 12, 2018
• Case Number: F-2017-02496
• Publication Date: October 31, 1947

Approved for Release: 2018/04/02 C06717505
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CRITICAL SITUATIONS
EUROPEAN REcoyE
, ..b.�-
pr:pifiler Spaak of Belgium has made a regnek` or,
divagion of US wheat shipments B�tan i
4 1:411 ' � '41." V ... 114,- ,
su piy" will-be exhausted by 23 NovemberAs ' '
,
No significant new development.
CHINA
No significant new development.
�
1
�
DocUMent, No. 0 4? 11
NO CHANGE in Class. 0
O DECLASSIFIED
Class. CHANGED TO: TS S
� DDA Menlo, 4 Apr 77
Auth: ' D REG. 77 1763
Date: f_::___1-----331"97 BY:
iv
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RPMEfirmt
GENERAL
1.. UK_positioa.on Italian warshOi--Bevin has told US Ambassador
Douglas that he is anxious to be helpful regarding the return of
Italian warships assigned to the UK. Bevbx also said that he is
� considering the return of the Italian battleship now held by the
UK if he receives assurances that it will be promptly scrapped.
According to Bevhi, the UK Admiralty is apprehensive lest the
Communists gain power in Italy and France; because such a
development would make available to a potentially hostile Power
a number of warships sufficient to render the UK position in the
Mediterranean exceedingly vulnerable.
2. pAlealpfassue impairs US-UK relations--US Ambassador Douglas
in London, in transmitting a UK aide memoire relating to ships
which are suspected of preparing for passage to Palestine with
illicit immigrants, states his belief that this aide memoire is
further evidence of the deep concern of the UK Government with
the "exolosive sltinten" In PalestIne. Douglas adds that: (a)
"It is clear that Palestine is a factor which disturbs US-UK under-
standing and cooperation"; and (b) the fact that US citizens finance
the "illegal" refugee traffic to Palestine appears uppermost in
the minds of British officials.
3. Yugoslavia plans aggressive nrogra.m for Latin America--US
Ambassador Cannon in Belgrade, after conversations with a Yugo-
slav Foreign Office official, reports that Yugoslavia evidently
plans an active and aggressive program for Latin America. Cannon
warns that the activities of Yugoslav agents in that area will deserve
as close attention as that paid to Soviet agents.
EUROPE
4. BELGIUM: Bread shortage imlinent--US Ambassador Kirk for-
wards an urgent request from Premier Spaak for. immediate US
aid in maintaining the Belgian bread ration because Belgium will.
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have exhausted its bread grain supply by 23 November. Kirk en-
dorses Soaak's request that three wheat boats be diverted from
Germany to Belgium if any are now en route. According to Kirk,
Belgian efforts to obtain bread elsewhere have failed and the US
is the last resort. N the grain supply fails, Spaak fears the
political repercussions on his Government and possibly grave
consequences from Communist agitation.
5. YUGOSLAVIA: US Senator and Congessman refused visas--US
Ambassador Cannon states that the refusal at the Yugoslav Foreign
Office to issue visas to Senator Knowland and Congressman Rooney
climaxes a ueriod of "discourteous and surly negotiations with
T.ew parallels between nations assumed to have normal diplomatic
relations."
NEAR EAST-AFRICA
MAN: Allen believes Iran entitled to U$ aid--Prime telinister
Qavam has informed US Ambassador Allen that Iran, by categori-
cally rejecting the Soviet oil proposal, has now definitely aligned
Itself with the democratic powers against the totalitarian bloc
and has placed itself in the same category as Greece and Turkey.
Qavam added that Iran is "conspicuously open to Soviet aggression,''
and.there is no longer any reason for the US .to hesitate to aid in
strengthening Iran's defenses or. for Iran to hesitate to receive
such aid. Allen recommends that the US agree to. accept Iranian
currency instead of dollars in payment for the .$25 million worth
of military supplies which Iran is seeking from the US. -
British comments on "mild" Soviet reaction to Oil relection--
According to US Embassy London, the British Foreign Office believes
that the USSR has reacted rather mildly so far to Iran's rejection of
the Soviet oil proposal because of: (a) Soviet unreadtaess to make
a "bold.move"; (b) the realization of Soviet military leaders that
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no other power will secure an oil concession close to the Soviet
border; and (c) the "interest of the US in Iran's sovereignty and
independence." (Soviet propaganda in Iran has already taken
the line that the action by the MOIts, which prevents other powers
from obtaining oil concessions in Iran-Soviet border regions,
really represents a victory for the USSR.)
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