CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A000500350001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 24, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 24, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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.24 January 1952
Copy No. 49
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE 4N CLAS86.
I ; DECLASSIFIED
NEXT REVI-N;' r,)A1`-: ---
AUT
DAT____il_ Il
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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DOS review(s) completed.
TOP
SECRET
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SUMMARY
FAR EAST
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Chinese Communists concentrate forces near Indochina pass (page 3).
Viet Minh capabilities greatly increased (page 3).
Britain reportedly will continue support of Burma Socialists (page .
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
7. Egyptian officials desire US aid in solving Anglo-Egyptian dispute
(page 7).
WESTERN EUROPE
8.
9. Large antibiotic transshipments made through Switzerland (page 8).
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FAR EAST
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1. Chinese Communists concentrate forces near Indochina pass:
French intelligence in Hanoi accepts as
confirmed the presence of 60, 000 Chinese
Communist regulars in the region between
Nanning and Pingsiang, the best pass into
Indochina. (SEE MAP) The US Consul comments that, if this report is
true, the "picture is not good, " since a force of this size in such a small
area appears unnecessary for local security control.
Comment: Numerous reports indicating a
build-up of Chinese Communist forces in the border area as a whole have
not been confirmed. However, reportsl
'have been received in recent weeks of an influx of Chinese regu-
lars into the eastern section of the border area. The reported 60, 000
troops constitute the largest single concentration which has been reliably
reported.
It is possible that deployment of Chinese
Communist troops is designed to divert the attention of the French or to
cause enough displacement of French forces to benefit the Viet Minh
without actually involving China in hostilities.
Viet Minh capabilities greatly increased:
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A French official told the American Consul in
Hanoi that despite De Lattre's strategy and
increased American aid, the situation in Tonkin
is "more grim" than a year ago. The Viet
Minh army is now a far more efficient force, is receiving far more Chinese
logistic support, and despite heavy casualties, appears to have "inexhaustible"
manpower reserves. The Consul comments that a feeling of futility seems
to be spreading among the French.
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Comment: When De Lattre arrived in Indo-
china a year ago the French were in grave danger of being driven out of
Tonkin.
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3.
In the past, reserve manpower has been the
greatest problem of the Viet Minh military effort. Viet Minh infiltration
of the Tonkin delta during recent months has provided it with access to a
manpower reservoir which it has evidently been exploiting with great
success.
A French Admiral in Saigon, recently returned
from Tonkin, said the French command was "preoccupied" with the ability
of the. Viet Minh to maintain pressure aginst the French defenses in the
delta over such a prolonged period.
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4.
5. Britain reportedly will continue support of Burma Socialists:
Current British policy toward Burma is to
support the Burma Socialist Party, especially
if Premier Thakin Nu is retained as head of
the government,
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The British believe that the Socialists will continue in power indefinitely
despite any efforts by Commander in Chief Ne Win to establish a military
regime.
Comment: This report is supported by Mac-
Donald's public and private statements, ' and there are no indications that
the British Cabinet will alter this policy.
Although in control of a government which
is fighting Communist insurgents, the Burma Socialists consider them-
selves to be a Marxist-Leninist party. Their neutral foreign policy is
largely based upon a desire to avoid antagonizing Communist China.
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NEAR EAST - AFRICA
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7. Egyptian officials desire US aid in solving Anglo-Egyptian dispute
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an
m
assador in Washington has
expressed his belief that a solution of the Anglo-
Egyptian crisis is possible if the "neutral and
respected" United States plays a leading role
and if face-saving formulas are found for Britain
and Egypt. The Ambassador suggested that
Britain might guarantee that it would evacuate
its troops within a certain time and that Egypt
might then declare its readiness to discuss the Western defense proposals.
The Lebanese UN delegate, Charles Malik, has
also expressed his belief that the US should "step in and take an active part"
in solving the Anglo-Egyptian crisis. According to Malik, the Egyptian
Foreign Minister has indicated that he or the Prime Minister may come to
Washington for the purpose of finding a way out of the current impasse.
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Comment. These two expressions of interest
in American mediation efforts indicate that the Wafd government is anxious
to find a compromise solution to the present crisis despite the intransigent
attitude expressed by Egyptian officials in public,
WESTERN EUROPE
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9. Large antibiotic transshipments made through Switzerland:
ca 0e to Switzerland through Israel. The Consul states that the shipments
were sent to Prague via Swissair and KLM.
Approximately 7, 500 metric tons of streptomycin
were transshipped to Prague through a Swiss firm
during 1951, accordijig to the British Consul in
Basel. About 20 percent of this quantity reportedly
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Comment: It is most improbable that such a
large amount of streptomycin was shipped by air through Switzerland
during the*past year. During the past three years, the Soviet bloc has
been getting large quantities of antibiotics from such widely separated
points as the United States, Britain, Denmark, Australia, Italy, and
Macao. Switzerland, Hongkong, and Israel have been frequently used
as transshipment points. The Soviet bloc's success in procuring anti-
biotics is underscored in part by the capture by UN. forces in Korea of
antibiotics manufactured in America.
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