CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1952/08/08

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05973584
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: June 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: June 27, 2019
• Publication Date: August 8, 1952

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SEC INFORMATION
8 August 1952
53
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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140oHANsE tN CLASS.
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NEXT REVIEW DATE: 90,10
ALM #113.1'0.2
DATEitakt4 REVIEWER: , 3.5(c)
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
SOUTH
ASIA
1.
India organizing league of neutrals
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(page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
2.
Western representatives in Athens concerned over Evros River
incident (page 3).
3.
Greece considers abandoning plans for naval maneuvers with
Yugoslavia (page 4).
4.
Britain hopes to reopen talks with Egypt on Sudanese constitution
(page 5).
5.
Change in French policy on UN discussion of Tunisia reported
(page 5).
WESTERN EUROPE
6.
West Germans discouraged by Schuman's stand on the Saar
question (page 6).
7.
Rome Embassy comments on Nenni's relations with Italian
Communists (page 7).
LATIN AMERICA
8.
American Ambassador sees danger in Czech missions in Latin
America (page 7).
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SOUTH ASIA
1. French Ambassador sees India organizing league of neutrals:
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press report originating in Cairo that
India was attempting to promote an Arab-
Asian "league of neutrals" opposed to the
Western world and Its traditions.
Prime
Minister Nehru probably aimed to have the bloc pledge neutrality
to the USSR and China in the event of war. He believes that Nehru
opposes Arab participation in a Middle East defense organization
and intends to support the campaign for international settlement of
the Tunisian and Moroccan questions.
Comment: India has been attempting to
further its influence in the Near East by signing friendship treaties
with Turkey and Syria, agreeing to recognize the Egyptian King's
title to the Sudan, and inviting the Regent of Iraq to visit India.
India has not so far taken a leading part in
the Arab-Asian bloc. The bloc as it now exists is not fundamentally
anti-Western, but on certain issues does conflict with the West.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
2. Western representatives in Athens concerned over Evros River incident:
Ambassador Peurifoy reports that certain
Western European representatives in Athens
show "genuine concern" over the Evros
River incident between Greece and Bulgaria,
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which the Greeks regard as a routine border
matter.
The UN Balkan Peace Observation Committee
&pected a dangerous situation to develop if the Greeks used force to
evict the Bulgarian troops which they claim had occupied a small
island in the Evros River. However, when Greek troops opened fire
the morning of 7 August there was no sign of life on the island and no
immediate reaction from Bulgaria.
Comment: The Greek attitude seems to be
that public opinion demanded some physical action. Acting Prime Mini-
ster Venizelos and Defense Minister Mavros have insisted that the
Greeks do not intend to occupy the island. They remain confident that
no serious situation will develop.
A similar incident between Greece and
Bulgaria in September 1950 subsided without serious consequences.
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3. Greece considers abandoning plans for naval maneuvers with Yugoslavia:
Greek Minister of Defense Mavros told Am-
bassador Peurifoy on 6 August that adverse
Italian reaction to the planned joint Greek-
Yugoslav naval maneuvers had caused Greece
to "stall indefinitely on concrete arrangements." Mavros indicated,
however, that he was willing to approach the Italians again to attempt
to convince them that the maneuvers would not be contrary to Italian
interest. He suggested that the United States try to persuade Italy to
withdraw its objections.
Comment: Greece has been anxious to pro-
ceed with Greek-Yugoslav defense planning and welcomed the Yugoslav
suggestion to hold naval maneuvers.
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4. Britain hopes to reopen talks with Egypt on Sudanese constitution:
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The British Foreign Office desires to discuss
with Egypt the new Sudanese constitution be-
fore it is due to go into effect in early Novem-
ber. The official presenting this view believes
that Egypt may now be willing to separate the Sudan problem from the
Suez and Middle East defense questions, and doubts that constitutional
discussions would necessarily cause Egypt again to tie the two questions
together.
The official sees little chance of postponing the
Sudan elections planned for November, as this would cause trouble
among the Sudanese, who generally understand that Britain favors the
attainment of self-government by the end of the year.
Comment: There is no indication that the
new Egyptian regime is more willing than previous governments to be
connected with constitutional developments in the Sudan.
5. Change in French policy on UN discussion of Tunisia reported:
The French Director General of Political
Affairs believes that his government will
not oppose inclusion of the Tunisian question
on the agenda of the regular session of the
UN General Assembly, and that it will then
vigorously defend its position.
Meanwhile a British Foreign Office spokes-
man, anticipating that the French would oppose inclusion, had stated
that Britain would support France. He felt that inclusion would create
a precedent for UN interference in internal affairs and weaken Britain's
position in its colonies. He noted that British policy inCyprus may be
placed on the agenda at Greek insistence.
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Comment: In the past France has consistently
followed a policy of opposing UN discussion of the Tunisian and Moroccan
questions. However, an increasing number of French officials have
urged reversal of this policy on the ground that the French program for
Tunisia is a good one and that the government has nothing to conceal.
WESTERN EUROPE
6. West Germans discouraged by Schuman's stand on the Saar question:
Following a conversation with Chancellor
Adenauer, the West German Deputy Foreign
Minister expressed disappointment over
Schuman's alleged reluctance in the current
talks to alter France's economic relations with the Saar. Schuman 's
attitude, he feels, is incompatible with the Federal Republic's mini-
mum demands which include the radical revision of the French-Saar
convention and the equal participation of all European Community
nations in the administration of the Saar.
American observers in Bonn consider that
France will probably have to modify its special economic privileges
before agreement is possible.
Comment: Another explosive issue, as yet
undiscussed, relates to the licensing of the pro-German Saar political
parties, which Adenauer desires as part of the general settlement.
Meanwhile, the French Foreign Office de-
scribes as "rude in tone" a letter just received from Chancellor
Adenauer characterizing the initial Hallstein-Schuman talks as most
unsatisfactory.
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7. Rome Embassy comments on Nenni's relations with Italian Communists:
The American Embassy in Rome believes that
Socialist leader Nenni's appeal for an Italo-
Soviet rapprochement amply demonstrates his
determination to work for a Socialist-Commu-
nist victory in the 1953 elections. The Embassy estimates that the
appeal will not substantially improve this bloc's electoral prospects,
but anticipates that Italy's basic socio-economic difficulties may, on
a long-range basis, facilitate "penetration of the Italian political
picture" by Nenni's "peace" forces.
Comment: Nenni's appeal for close Italo-
Soviet relations may be designed to exploit Italian disillusionment
should progress toward a European political community be too slow.
Italy recently announced it would reconsider participation in the
European Defense Community unless the formation of a European army
were quickly followed by political federation.
LATIN AMERICA
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8. American Ambassador sees danger in Czech missions in Latin America:
Ambassador Briggs believes that the primary
purpose of the Czech missions in Latin Ameri-
ca is propaganda) espionage, and "other
Kremlin purposes)" rather than trade and nor-
mal diplomatic activity. He feels that it would be "greatly to our
advantage to encourage termination" of these missions, or if this proves
impractical, the reduction of the personnel to the number of Latin
American officials stationed in Prague.
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Comment: Czechoslovakia now has missions
in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Ecuador, and also main-
tains relations with several other Latin American countries. While
these missions are in some cases engaged in illegal activities, they
have also been active commercially in procuring dollars and raw
materials. Covert activities of any terminated Czech missions
could be taken over by Soviet missions in three of the countries, and
a Polish mission in a fourth.
Brazilian officials have recently stated that
there is no apparent reason for breaking relations with the Satellites
so long as the United States does not do so. A similar reaction could
probably be expected from Mexico and Uruguay and also from Argentina,
which receives significant quantities of manufactured goods from
Czechoslovakia.
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