CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE DAILY DIGEST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01146A000100460001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 25, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 23, 1951
• Content Type: SUMMARY

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE, OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
Date:
DAILY DIGEST
APR 231951
NOTE: 1. This summary of significant reports has been
prepared primarily for the interntl use of the
Office of Current Intelligence. t does not
represent a complete coverage of all current
reports in CIA or in the Office of Current
Intelligence. t
2. Comments represent the preliminary views of
the Office of Current Intelligence.
Marginal letter indications are defined as
follows:
"A" - items indicating Soviet-Communist
intentions or capabilities
important regional developments
not necessarily related to Soviet/
Communist intentions or capabilities
other information indicating trends
and potential developments
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ARMY, DOS Declassification/Release Instructions on File
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SECTION 1 (SOVIET)
"A" USSR. Construction of "Heavy Bomber" Base Near To ohara Sakhalin Co
'
the 3 U 1 1i) 1 compl mp I C'I ed
pleted in March 1951.. .recent report .stages that t U.~S~ ,
construction of a "heavy bomber" base near Toyohara, Sakhalin at the end
of March 1951; (2) plans to construct an airfield at the former "race
course" east of Toyohara. According to the report, Japanese "unit members)
trained in Manchuria since 1945.. are placed under Soviet Army control and
are being moved to Vladivostok, Nikolaevsk and Suchan. Japanese engaged
in shipbuilding and railways are exempt from this orders as are electric
and machine engineers. Japanese "units" in Manchuria are gradually being
moved to Sakhalin,while former Japanese soldiers in Southern Sakhalin
are being moved to Odomari, Toyohara and Rutaka, JOINT WEEKA COMMENT;
Previous reports indicate construction and/or augmentation of airfield
facilities in the Toyohara area; but there is no information to indicate
completion of a heavy bomber base as such. Numerous reports indicate the
possible utilizatiofi of Japanese by Communists but lack confirmation.
(S JOINT `ZEKA 16 Tokyo., 20 Apr 51). COMMENT: There is nothing to confirm
the above report of a "heavy bomber" base near Toyohara. While it is
known that some Japanese POW's., mainly technicians., are with the Chinese
Communist forces, there is no confirmation for this and other reports
that the USSR has trained and equipped Japanese POW's in Manchuria and
Sakhalin for future use against Japan. The rumored formation of an Asiatic
or international "volunteer" force for Korea would make possible the
inclusion of Japanese POWts in such a force.
"B" EASTERN EUROPE. HUNGARY. Vogeler to be Released. According to Budapest
press reports, the Hungarian Govt announced on 21 April that it was
releasing Robert A. Vogeler, American businessman who has spent the last
17 months in prison after having been convicted on charges of espionage.
The announcement stated that his release had been granted in return for
the satisfaction of "various just Hungarian claims." The whereabouts of
Vogeler were not known to the press as of 22 April,and the US leg in
Budapest also announced that it did not know where Vogeler was located.
(U NYT, 22 &23 Apr 51). CON=T w The Hungarian demands, to which the
US Goverment tentatively acceded in June 1950 in an effort to bring
about Vogeler's release, were (1) the restitution of certain Hungarian
property in Germany which reportedly included the Crown of St. Stephan.,
(2) the reopening of the Hungarian consulates in Cleveland and New York..
and (3) the removal of the ban on the travel of Americans in Hungary.
Although., as a result of a leak concerning the negotiations, considerable
pressure was brought to bear by Catholic and Hungarian emigre groups not
to return the Crown of St. Stephan, and although the US Govt assured
the Hungarian Govt that it was prepared to fulfill its commitment, the
Hungarian, Govt suddenly demanded an additional prerequisite,. This was
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a demand that the VOA Hungarian. language broadcasts be stopped because
they were allegedly interfering with a Hungarian radio station.
"B" POLAND. Specialist ReEi:stration in Progress. A military registration of
certain categories of specialists, such as doctors, engineers, and some
over-age categories having special aptitudes, is reported to be underway
in Poland, The US Emb Warsaw suggests that this registration is being
used to check information submitted in other recent registrations, such
as the Dee 1950 census or the registration of all inhabitants held from
mid-January to mid-April 1951. (See OCI Daily Digest, 24 Mar 51). (S.
Warsaw 826, 20 Apr 51). COMENT:.There have been registrations during
the past yr ar of special groups in Poland such as engineering students,
registered pharmacists, doctor's assistants., nurses, dental technicians,
and owners of X-ray apparatus. However., these were not registrations for
strictly military purposes., as is the one reported above.
Palish President Arrives in Berlin. The President of Poland arrived
in Berlin on 22 April for a much publicized official visits whose aim is
the farther consolidation of Polish-East German cooperation, The Polish
Presidentis visit is on the invitation of the President of the GDR,who
was "deeply -pressed with his cordial reception during his State visit
to WarsawO last December, (R FBIS ticker. 21 Apr 51). COVENT.- This is
the first state visit by President Bierut to the East German Govt,
though, the President of the GDR, Pieck, has made several visits to
Warsaw since the formation of the GDR, Bierut's visit is symptomatic
of the continuing strong efforts to speed East Germany's integration with
the Satellite orbit,
"B" YTJGOSLA.VIA. Bulgarian Exile Corr nitt-ee _I,-. Yugoslavia. Unverified stories
are circulating among Bulgarian ref' gees in Trieste that Yugoslav authori-
ties have been partially successful in organizing a Bulgarian emigre
organization to conduct espionage and propaganda activities against the
Sofia regime, According to these stories a meeting between Bulgarian
refugee; and representatives of the Yugoslav Govt was held in Belgrade
in January 1951, at which time the oommmittee was successfully formed..
As possible evidence that the Yugoslavs have met with some success in
recruiting members for this organization, the US Political Advisor in
Trieste notes that there has been a marked decrease during 1951 in the
number of Bulgarian refugees arriving in Trieste from Yugoslavia, Recent
Yugoslav press reports, however, state that Bulgarian refugees are
arriving in Yugoslavia in increasing numbers and that more Bulgarian
refugees have entered Yugoslavia in the first three months of 1951 than
in the whole of 1950, The US Political Advisor in Trieste points out
that a Yugoslav-sponsored Bulgarian refugee committee would be advan-
tageous to the Tito regime in the following respects: (1) as a counter
to the efforts of G.M. Dimitrovvs Bulgarian National Committee to
dominate Bulgarian exiles, (2) as the nucleus of a Yugoslav-controlled
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government for Bulgaria should the Cominform regime ever be driven out'
and (3) as a base for converting newly arrived refugees into Yugoslav
agents and for conducting anti-Bulgarian Cominform propaganda from Yugo-
slavia. (S Trieste D-302, 23 Mar 51). COQ: Within the Yugoslav Ministry
of Foreign Affairs an organization exists which is known as the "Institute
of International Affairs,," headed by Ivan Karaivanov,, a Bulgarian Coi i
nist with 20 years training in the USSR who fled to Yugoslavia following
the Cominform break in June 1948, Although little is known about the
Institute and its activities? persons assigned to it are said to have had
intimate experience with Yugoslavia's satellite neighbors and presumably
are masterminding Yugoslav intelligence and subversive activities within
adjacent satellites. It is possible that the Institute is directing the
organization and activities of the Bulgarian exile Committee in Yugo.-
slavia.
Yugoslav Bpport on Satellite Military ActivitAdmiral Manola,,
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Yugoslav Army,, has informed the US 4ir
Attache that those portions of the Hungarian classes of 1923-26. which
were previously deferred for political unreliability and physical disa-
bilities, are being called up for military training. Manola claimed that
Hungary plans to build an army of 200,000 by the end of 1951. He further
,.stated that there has been no change in the disposition of Soviet troops
.i Bulgaria, Rumania,, and Hungary,,"except for one motorized Soviet Division
located at Arad and Timisoara which had moved in the past 5 days to
Lugo] (50 miles east of Timisoara). The Air Attache reports that Manola
gave the impression of concern regarding the possibility of an attack
on Yugoslavia this spring. (S Belgrade YUG 372, 19 Apr 51). CO s
Manola is reportedly Director of Yugoslav Military Intelligence and is
apparently the channel by which the Yugoslavs pass on military information
to the US service attaches. The reported call-up of previously deferred
men is line with previous reports of their registration and examination.
The Yugoslavs have previously estimated the current size of the Hungarian
armed forces as 165,000 in contrast to US official estimate. of approxi-
mately 75,000. An earlier report has revealed that Soviet units in
western Hungary have just moved to their field training areas,, and it is
likely that the movement to Ivgoj represents a similar development in
Rumania.
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SECTION 2 (EASTERN)
"C" SAUDI ARABIA. Negotiations for a Loan from Chase National Bank. US
Ambassador Hare in Jidda reports that Vice President Locke of the Chase
National Bank has received a proposal from the local Arab bank for an
advance to the Saudi Arabian Government against anticipated June tax re-
ceipts from the Arabian-American Oil Company(ARAMCO). Locke, who is
inclined to vier the request favorably, told Hare that he had already
offered to advance $10 million against anticipated tax receipts of about
$12 million, but had not as yet received an answer. (C Jidda 617, 19 Aprr5l)
COMMENT: The Saudi Arabian Government, despite its rather. considerable
income from LRAMCO, has not managed to budget effectively its expenses.
Hence it is almost constantly in financial straits and as a result is in-
clined to attempt periodically to press- 1AMCO for more money under
one pretext or another.
"B" IRAN. Extreme Nationalists and "Communist-led" Students Clash. High School
and University students, allegedly Communist-led, clashed with adherents
of the National Front and Fedayan Islam (extreme Nationalist groups) on
22 April in Tehran. The students, who were demonstrating against the killing
of strikers in the southern oil fields, demanded nationalization of oil and
proclaimed "Death to British and American imperialism." The Nationalists
charged that the students were inspired by the outlawed pro-Soviet Tudeh
Party, and that they would turn Iran's oil riches over to the USSR. (U
NY. Times, 23 Apr 51). COMMENT: National Front criticism of the students
is in line with other relent indications that National Front leaders (who
have spearheaded the movement to nationalize Iranian oil) have become
seriously concerned over the unrest in Iran,va?hich has followed Parliament's
approval of the nationalization of Iran's oil resources, and have, tempc-
rarily at least, decided to moderate their support of this move. Although
the Tudeh has hitherto confined itself to exploiting the situation by
stirring up the Nationalists, there has been a noticeable tendency recently
on the part of many Iranians to blame the Tudeh for many of the recent
disturbances. This attempt by the students to keep agitation on the oil
issue at fever pitch may pave the ray for a government crack-down on Tudeh
activities.
"A" PAKISTAN. Government Apparently Aware of Soviet Menace. On 22 _fiarch 1951,
Mohammad Ikramullah, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, :informed
US Ambassador Warren that his Government was investigating all aspects of
Soviet activity in Pakistan, especially propaganda. Mr. Ikramullah stated
that, after the investigation was completed, he had the permission of the
Cabinet to tell the Soviet Ambassador that'Pakistan would permit only such
Soviet activity in Pakistan as was allowed Pakistanis in the USSR. The
Government then planned to close bookstalls and propaganda distributing
agencies employed by the Soviets and to cancel all their mailing lists.
(S Karachi Desp. 862, 24 Mar 51). COMMENT: The Government of Pakistan,
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which has been slow to recognize the dangers of Communism in an+Islamic
country, now appears to be fully aware of them. It may be that Communist
implication in the recent military plot to overthrow the Government (See
OCI Daily Digests, 10, 13, 22 Mar, 11 Apr 51) has sharpened theGovern-
ment's interest in the subject.
"C" INDIA. ndian Communists Allegedly Make First Open Contact with Chinese
Consul General in Calcutta. on 25X1C
21 February three prominent Indian Communists, Jyoti Bose, Ratanlal 25X1A
Brahman, and Subha.s Mukherjee, attended a reception given by Yao Chung-
keang, Communist Chinese Consul General in Calcutta. Three unnamed members
of the Soviet Trade Agency in Calcutta were also said to be present.
Comment: This is the first open contact between members of the India
Communist Party and the Chinese Consul General.
25X1A . COMMENT: Soviet officialdom
in India has always scrupulously avoided direct contact with Indian
Communists. In Burma, Chinese officials have overt relationships with
members of the Communist-front Workers and Peasants Party, but they do
not openly associate with Burm3se Communists. The above report should
therefore be treated with reserve until the pattern of expanding Chinese
activity in India becomes more clear.
"A" INDONESIA. Chinese Communist Consul A rives in Medan. The recently-appointed
Chinese Consul to Medan. Sumatra. arrived 19 April and was given a 'highly
enthusiastic reception, including a public rally and a 100-car rarade through
streets where large numbers of Communist flags were flown. Enthusiasm of
the reception justifies the prediction of intensified Chinese Communist
activities with the opening of the consulate. (R Medan