CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1951/05/30

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03176559
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: March 18, 2019
• Document Release Date: March 28, 2019
• Publication Date: May 30, 1951

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30 May 1951 
Copy No. 
CURRENT INTgLLIQENCg BULLETIN 
DOCUMENT NO. 
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AUTH: HR 11/0; 
DATAPMna.1-11iLVIEWER 
Office of Current Intellipnce 
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 
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SUMMARY 
GENERAL.. 
� Belgium. favors membership of Greece and Turkey in NATO 
(nave 31.  
FAR EAST 
NEAR EAST 
7. Egyptians dissatisfied with British attitude on current 
issues (page 7). 
EASTERN EUROK 
. Czech police increase activity against Western news 
agencies (page 8). 
WESTERN EUROPE 
9. West German leaders disappointed over. Council of Europe 
session (page 8). , 
10. French Communists gain in municipal elections (page 9).  
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GENERAL. 
Belgium favors membership of Greece and Turkey, in NATO:  
A Belgian Foreign Office official 3.3(h)(2) 
has informed the US Ambassador 
in Brussels that, on balance, Belgium 
feels that Greece and Turkey should 
become NATO members. Although Belgium wishes first to 
have fuller understanding of the views of other countries and the 
risks involved, Belgium does not consider the fear of Soviet 
reaction to Greek and Turkish membership in NATO as a valid 
reason for opposition in view of the defense commitments 
already undertaken by Western Europe. 
� Comment: Belgian support of the US 
position is an indication of a definite break in the opposition to 
Greek and Turkish membership in NATO on the part of the small 
countries of Western Europe. The Netherlands, which has been 
speaking for the small countries, has indicated a possible modi-
fication of its opposition if the importance of Greece and Turkey 
in the defense of the Mediterranean is spelled out. 
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. Egyptians dissatisfied with British attitude on current issues:  
According to US Ambassador Caffery 
in Cairo, the Egyptian Foreign 
Minister is not pleased with (a) the 
UK attitude regarding the transit of  tankers through the Suez Canal, and 3.3(h)(2) 
(b) the current situation regarding 
Anglo-Egyptian defense negotiations. 
The Egyptian Foreign Minister re-
ceived the British protest on the blocking of oil tankers through 
the Suez Canal coldly and said that the Egyptian Government had 
no intention of changing its policy in that respect. As a result 
of the British failure to reply on the defense negotiations, the 
Egyptian Foreign Minister indicated to Caffery that he was in 
"despair" and sees only trouble ahead,. 
Comment: There is no indication 
that the Arab determination to prevent oil from reaching Haifa 
has weakened; British representations on this subject will only 
exacerbate already strained Anglo-Egyptian relations. 
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EASTERN EUROPE 
Czech police increase activity against Western, news agencies:  
US Ambassador Briggs in Prague has 
been notified by his French colleague 
that the Acting Chief of the Agence 
France Presse, a Czech national, has 
been arrested. Increased police activity against the Czecho-
slovak employees of the United Press and Reuters News agencies 
is evident, as well. Briggs interprets this activity as an attempt 
to intimidate Western correspondents into leaving Czechoslovakia 
or at least into refraining from reporting material unfavorable 
to the Communist regime. He points out, however, that the 
Czechoslovak Government,May be preparing to arrest other 
foreign correspondents as accomplices of the recently arrested 
US correspondent, William Oatis. 
WESTERN EUROPE 
9. West German leaders disappointed over Council of Europe 
session' 
West German delegates to the recent 
Council of Europe meeting in Stras, 
bourg have indicated their general 
disappointment with the failure of 
the Council to achieve concrete results. They are now con-
vinced that Britain is unwilling to join a United Europe and 
that, without England, French support is at best lukewarm. 
Leaders of the German government coalition were, however, 
pleased with the positive action of the Council in endorsing the 
Schuman Plan, and want to proceed with rapid ratification of 
the Plan in Bonn in order to give new impetus to the European 
movement. Meanwhile the opposition Social Democrats have 
criticized the Council session and its endorsement of the 
'Schuman Plan as inconclusive. 
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Comment:, Initial West German 
enthusiasm over achieving equal status in the Council of 
Europe has apparently waned as a result of the recent Council 
session. The German government leaders still feel, however, 
that the Council can provide a good opportunity for increased 
,German influence in Western European affairs, and they will 
continue to press for the creation of an effective European 
Parliament within the Council structure. 
10. French Communists gain in municipal elections  
French Communist Party lists 
were returned with outright 3.3(h)(2) 
majorities in two municipal elec-
tions in the Paris region on 27 May. 
Although both elections occurred in traditional Communist 
strongholds, it is noteworthy that in each case Communist 
candidates registered an increase over the previous municipal 
election figures, jumping from 43 percent to 54 percent in one 
instance. Communist propaganda is pointing out that the French 
Communist Party is now capable of achieving a. flat majority and 
thereby winning all seats in the departments where it secured 
40 percent of the 1946 vote, The US Embassy in Paris comments 
that in 1946 Communist candidates secured 40 percent of the 
popular vote in only two departments. 
Comment: While elections in the Paris 
"Red Belt" give little basis for an estimate of the national strength 
of the Communists, these results bear out recent reports that 
the party is recouping its earlier losses. Inflation and successful 
strike activity have re-established Communist prestige in working-
class communities, and can be expected to counteract the effects 
of electoral reform and limit French Communist Party losses in 
the June national elections, 
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INFORMATION RECEIVED TUST PRIOR PUBLICATION 
Viet Minh :Offensive in southern Tonkin: 
US Consul Blancke in Hanoi reports that the 
anticipated Viet Minh offensive in the south-
ern Tonkin delta appare tly has begun. A 3.3(h)(2) 
rp2arted Viet Minh version of the offensive 
s tes,that "some 20" rebel battalions have attacked the French de-
fense perimeter at Ninh Binh, 50 miles' south of Hanoi. Blancke 
reports observing strong French top reinforcements and air support 
being sent to the battle area on 29 May. 
Comment: Previous reports had predicted 
'an offe:.n.sive in the Ninh BiiiiiileTauring the last week in May with 
the objective of capturing rice stores and the rice-producing land east 
of Nith Binh. The average strength of a Viet Minh battalion is 500-800; 
thus the attack (amid involve as many ss 16� 000 men. Earlier evidence 
of the deplloyment of three Viet Minh dtvitsiplas opposite the soatern 
perimeter, coupled with the alleged commitment of 20 battalions indi-
cates that the Viet Minh may have launched one of its largest offensive 
efforts to date. 
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