CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/03/28

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02027259
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: March 28, 1956

Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2027259
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
TOP SECRET
28 March 1956
Copy No.
DOCUMENT NO.
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OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
1. REACTIONS WITHIN THE USSR TO ATTACKS ON STALIN
(page 3).
2. WEST GERMANS INCREASINGLY IMPATIENT WITH NATO
page 4).
3. MALENKOV SAYS BULGANIN AND KHRUSHCHEV WILL
STRESS DISARMAMENT DURING LONDON VISIT
(page 5).
4. EAST GERMAN WORKERS OPPOSE FORMATION OF ARMY
(page 6).
28 Mar 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 7)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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Oft 10? 5LCKE I
1. REACTIONS WITHIN THE USSR TO ATTACKS
ON STALIN
The American embassy in Moscow
reports that a Soviet army captain
recently expressed surprise to a
Western diplomat that Stalin was
still in the Red Square mausoleum
and that many of his pictures were
still up in Moscow. He asserted
that "practically all" of Stalin's pic-
tures in Gorky, where he is stationed,
had been removed and that none remained in his unit's bar-
racks.
He also stated that his unit's copies
of Stalin's works had been "turned in," and that the stanza
of the Soviet national anthem which extols Stalin is now
being omitted.
The embassy also reports that a
Russian-speaking Westerner who has made a special point
of,discussing the anti-Stalin drive with Soviet citizens has
found that reaction tends to vary with the individual's posi-
tion in Soviet society. Workers and taxi drivers, for ex-
ample, express more bewilderment and shock than members
of the professions. One worker said he could adjust to the
news himself but wondered if he could explain it to his daugh-
ter.
28 Mar 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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CUINITULINliAL
440
2. WEST GERMANS INCREASINGLY IMPATIENT
WITH NATO
The West German public and govern-
ment are becoming increasingly
impatient with NATO's inactivity in
the political field, according to state-
ments made to the West German em-
bassy in London by Bonn's NATO
representatives Blankenhorn. He was
pessirhistic over the condition of the
Western alliance, taking the view there was scarcely a
problem on which NATO was genuinely united.
West German ambassador Herwarth
told an American official in London that Chancellor Adenauer
feels that the contact of ambassadors at North Atlantic Coun-
cil meetings was not adequate for countering Soviet moves. He
said Adenauer favors nionthly meetings, in a NATO or similar
context, of high-level Western economic and political repre-
sentatives. The Bonn Foreign Ministry, however, does not
want military problems lost sight of.
The American embassy in London also
reports that the Foreign Office wants to discuss with Britain's
NATO representative the atmosphere of discouragement he
has reported prevailing in NATO circles. There is a feeling
in the Foreign Office that the United States is partially respon-
sible for current NATO frustrations by appearing cool to recent
efforts to extend the scope of North Atlantic Council political
discussions.
Comment Adenauer's interest in expanding the scope
of NATO activities is probably part of his
effort to maintain his government's strongly pro-Western orien-
tation, in view of determined Free Democratic and Socialist
Party efforts to find a road to German unification by negotia-
tion with Moscow.
28 Mar 56
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TO1' SE( 31E1' 404
3. MALENKOV SAYS BULGANIN AND KHRUSHCHEV WILL
STRESS DISARMAMENT DURING LONDON VISIT
Former Soviet premier Malenkov told
British prime minister Eden and for-
eign minister Lloyd on 16 March that
disarmament was the only specific topic
knew that Bulganin and Khrushchev would want to discuss
in London, according to information given the American em-
bassy by a British official.
Lloyd told Malenkov, however, that Middle
East problems would have to be discussed and expressed alarm
over the tension he had observed during his recent visit there,
but Malenkov tried to discount the seriousness of the situation.
Comment Jules Moch, French delegate at the UN
disarmament talks in London, believes
the USSR will time any important disarmament proposals to
coincide with the Bulganin-Khrushchev visit, in an attempt to
get the maximum propaganda advantage from them.
28 Mar 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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Ui T/'/19.12e/ T
4. EAST GERMAN WORKERS OPPOSE FORMATION OF ARMY
Widespread opposition of workers to the
creation of an army has been noted
throughout East Germany,
Workers' assemblies at Zittau, Goerlitz, and Ludwigsfelde
called to approve resolutions endorsing the government's
decision to form an army reportedly rejected the resolutions
by overwhelming majorities. In spite of the overt opposition,
however, officials reported to Berlin that the workers ap-
proved the resolutions.
Comment Party and government efforts to whip up
popular enthusiasm for the new army ap-
ear to be meeting with little success,
additional evidence that the East German people oppose
the creation of an army.
28 Mar 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 27 March)
Egyptian and Israeli patrols exchanged
rifle and mortar fire for three hours on 26 March. No casual-
ties were reported. Egypt claimed that three Israeli armored
cars attacked an Egyptian post near the Gaza strip. (Press)
Saudi Arabia shipped 1,000-1,500 fifty-five
gallon drums of automobile gasoline overland from Jidda. prob-
ably to Haaualonthe Gulf of Aqaba,
This
is probably for the use of the Saudi troops and venicies recently
sent to Tebuk.
28 Mar 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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