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245256713
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Memorandum from Rear Admiral R. H. Hillenkoetter to President Harry S. Truman
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245256713
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document
title
Memorandum from Rear Admiral R. H. Hillenkoetter to President Harry S. Truman
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President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)
Intelligence Files
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245256713
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20
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1948-07-20
month
7
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1948
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ER 0391
TREHAN
X
RECORDS
SERVICE AND
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
ROSE
Es
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
air
20 July 1948
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
Communist interests are apparently succeeding in establishing and expand-
ing commercial air operations outside the territory of Soviet-controlled States.
Czechoslovak Airlines (CSA), whose declared ambition is to extend its Mediterranean
services to South Africa and India through the Middle East, has stepped up its
operations very considerably in the past two months and now maintains scheduled
operations to Istanbul and Cairo with daily flights to Haifa in addition to
numerous non-scheduled cargo flights. In Northern Europe, Czechoslovakia has
concluded a formal air agreement with Norway similar to those made with the United
States and other countries.
United States informal suggestions to Turkey and Greece that CSA's operations
through their territory be reduced or terminated have been politely rejected on
the grounds that the future of important trade agreements now in effect between
these countries and Czechoslovakia, might be jeopardized. Consequently, CSA has
developed a profitable business in the transport of passengers and cargo from
Rome through Athens to Haifa, and has consolidated its position as a friendly
carrier for Jewish interests in Palestine. Active negotiations, moreover, are
now under way between CSA and the Zionist-controlled and financed Pan African
Air Charters (PAAC) with headquarters in Johannesburg, for joint operations of
a route from Europe through Haifa to South Africa. An agreement between these
aviation interests would benefit CSA's long-range plans.
As a measure to defeat expansion of CSA operations, the United States, with
the cooperation of all friendly European Governments, has prevented this airline
from acquiring Constellations or other modern four-engine air transports. It
must now be considered as a possibility, however, that in an effort to obtain
such aircraft to replace obsolescent DC-3's, CSA may call upon PAAC for assis-
tance. PAAC, backed by a group reported to control a sum of two hundred fifty
million pounds sterling, may succeed where CSA has failed, in obtaining such
aircraft needed to implement plans for future long-distance operations. If a
joint CSA-PAAC airline should be designated as the official flag-carrier of the
State of Israel (reportedly under discussion), CSA efforts to obtain modern equip-
ment and extend its air routes would be enhanced. Furthermore, through affiliation
with powerful Jewish interests, CSA might participate in the greatly expanded
world-wide operations envisaged for the State of Israel by Jewish commercial
enterprise.
(NOTE: Steps have been taken to uncover detailed information, in the
United States and abroad, concerning Pan African Air Charters and six other air
carriers suspected of clandestine traffic in arms. As reports are received, an
attempt will be made to assess the extent of participation in these activities
by Communist organizations or individuals.)
DECLASSIFIED
Residendently
Authority
NLT- 77.55
R. H. HILLENKOETTER
Rear Admiral, USN
He
NLT
Date 10-20-77
Director of Central Intelligence