CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/06/06

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02989478
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: June 6, 1956

iprovor Release:
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NOT RELEASABLE TO
FOREIGN NATIONALS
CONTINUED CONTROL
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
CO2989478
/4/ /
P effI
6 June 1956
SC No. 02514/56
Copy No. 1)3
DOC:LIME:NT Nr)
NC U-IANGE: IN (...ASS.
LIEICLAS'IFIED
CLASS. CH,',..N'S7..0 TO: TS S C Of
NEXT l'IVIE-1111 DATE:
AUTH; HR 7
DAT � REVIEWER. 372044
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This document contains information affecting the national
defense of the United States within the meaning of the espio-
nage laws, U. S. Code title 18, Sections 793, 794,and 798,
the transmission or the revelation of the contents of which
In any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
THIS DOCUMENT MUST BE KEPT IN COMMUNICATIONS
INTELLIGENCE CHANNELS AT ALL TIMES
It is to be seen only by U. S. personnel especially indoctrinated
and authorized to receive COMMUNICATIONS INTELLIGENCE
information. The security of this document must be main-
tained in accordance with COMMUNICATIONS INTELLIGENCE
REGULATIONS.
No action is to be taken on any COMMUNICATIONS INTELLIGENCE
which may be contained herein, regardless of the advantage to be
gained, unless such action is first approved by the Director of Central
Intelligence.
ET
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
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Comments and interpretations in this publication are
based on all sources, including COMINT, and repre-
sent the immediate views of the Office of Current In-
telligence. The classification of a comment is noted
separately only when it is higher than that of the re-
port commented on.
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Name
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CONTENTS
1. SOVIET REGIME REPORTEDLY SU7END! ANTI-STALIN
DISCUSSION IN PARTY MEETINGS (page 3).
2. BELGIANS PROPOSE CUT IN ARMY STRENGTH
(page 4).
3. TITO MAY 7,ALSE GERMAN CONFEDERATION SCHEME
IN MOSCOW (page 5).
4. SPLIT REPORTED IN RUMANIAN PARTY HIERARCHY
(page 6).
5. COMMUNIST AID TO CAMBODIA EMPHASIZES GRASS
ROOTS CONTACTS (page 7).
6 June 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 8)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
SE ET
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1,. SOVIET REGIME REPORTEDLY SUSPENDS ANTI-STALIN
DISCUSSION IN PARTY MEETINGS
The American embassy in Mose,ow has
heard that
the central committee of the Commu-
nist Party has issued a letter calling a
halt to discussion of Stalin in party meet-
ings.
The embassy also reports that it has
heard of one case in which a party group, taking too liter-
ally talk of party democracy at the 20th Congress, adopted
a resolution calling for free elections and restoration of
political power to the people. According to this unconfirmed
report, signers of the resolution were expelled from the party
but not arrested.
Ambassador Bohlen notes that the removal
of Stalin pictures and statues has virtually stopped but that re-
vision of Stalinist ideology continues in academic journals.
Comment In its anxiety to cut off excessive freedom
of discussion, the regime earlier is reported
to have disciplined four party members who had criticized the
anti-Stalin campaign. On 5 April, Pravda published an editorial
denouncing "slanderous statements" against party policy.
6 June 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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2. BELGIANS PROPOSE CUT IN ARMY STRENGTH
Belgian military leaders told a visiting
SHAPE team on 28 May that total army
strength would be reduced from about
108,000 at present to 0,600 by the end
of this year and to 83,600 during the
period 1957-1960. In view of the expected decline until
1960 in the number of available conscripts, the government
proposes to "reorganize two active divisions to a smaller
size" and to eliminate two reserve divisions which are pres-
ently earmarked for NATO use. If the Belgians carry out this
plan, it may further increase pressures in other NATO coun-
tries for cuts in their conventional armaments.
It is the preliminary view of American ob-
servers in Brussels that the Belgians are using the shortage
of conscripts as an excuse for greater troop cuts than are
really necessary.
6 June 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
CONFI
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1
Nue
3. TITO MAY RAISE GERMAN CONFEDERATION SCHEME
IN MOSCOW
West German
Social Democrat Herbert Wehner in-
dicated that Marshal Tito had told him,
before leaving for Moscow, that he in-
tended to seek a solution to the problem
of German unity on the basis of the "con-
federation" concept, which would involve
accep�tWautonomous German administrations.
believes
that Wehner visited Tito to persuade the latter to intervene
in Moscow for the ouster of East German Communist chief
Ulbricht as the necessary groundwork for East-West German
talks on unification. Yugoslav leaders are supposed to have
reacted favorably to this suggestion.
Comment Wehner is a freewheeling left-wing Social-
ist whose ideas on reunification are much
more radical than his party's. A confederation scheme which
would leave the Communists in control of East Germany and
not involve free elections is unlikely to find acceptance by the
West German leadership, even if Ulbricht is removed.
On 24 May, Tito publicly called for discus-
sions between East and West Germany on a basis "which would
enable both the one and the other side to retain their individuality
in a certain sense and on certain questions." Tito is therefore
likely to broach the confederation idea during his Moscow talks.
6 June 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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.11.
NINO
4. SPLIT REPORTED IN RUMANIAN PARTY HIERARCHY
believes
that a group in the Rumanian politburo
headed by party first secretary Gheorghiu-
Dej and secretary Chisinevschi is holding
out against far-reaching changes, maintaining that "Rumania
has already instituted principles of the 20th Soviet Party Con-
gress and there is no need to go further." First Vice Premier
Bodnaras is heading a group which is reportedly awaiting a
chance to seize power�
concludes that Gheorghiu-Dej
is likely to win out at the cost of limited concessions such as
the sacrifice of the Stalinist Chisinevschi and that the princi-
ples of the Soviet Party Congress are likely to be enacted grad-
ually and smoothly.
Comment Soviet Party Congress directives apparently
have caused confusion in the Rumanian party
hierarchy, but there is little evidence of major factionalism of
the type prevalent in Hungary and Poland. Although reportedly
in personal conflict with Bodnaras, Gheorghiu-Dej apparently
has retained his position of control without major difficulties.
Chisinevschi, on the other hand, may be slated for removal be-
cause of the party's reported condemnation of his alleged in-
sistence on fitting Rumanian culture into the Russian mold.
6 June 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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yaw, Nort
5. COMMUNIST AID TO CAMBODIA EMPHASIZES GRASS
ROOTS CONTACTS
Chinese Communist and Polish economic
assistance funds pledged to Cambodia for
1956 and 1957 amount to $40,000,000 and
are to be supervised by 112 Chinese and
22 Polish technicians,
Concen-
tration on such popular projects as public housing, electrifi-
cation, water supply and education from primary through
university levels indicates a far-reaching plan to develop
grass roots contacts.
Emphasis will be on rural improvement
programs, with 70 of the Chinese technicians scheduled to
work on irrigation projects in village centers. In addition,
approximately $8,000,000 is reserved for development of ru-
ral trails which will facilitate contact among presently iso-
lated Chinese communities in the area.
Comment The Cambodian government has all but
ratified Peiping's offer of over $22,000,000
in "unconditional" aid, and Crown Prince Sihanouk is in War-
saw presumably exploring details of proferred Polish assist-
ance. Sihanouk has also mentioned the possibility of receiving
economic aid from the USSR and plans to visit Moscow during
his present European trip.
The prospect of widespread Communist
contacts with the Cambodian populace, which includes 250,000
Chinese, is reportedly provoking increasing opposition to
Sihanouk's policies on the part of several government leaders.
(Concurred in by ORR)
6 June 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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Noe
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 5 June)
Egypt has protested to the Mixed Armistice
Commission that two Israeli jets violated Egyptian air space
over the Gaza strip on 4 June. (Press)
Prior to final approval of the Western-sponsored
resolution on the Middle East by the Security Council, Israeli for-
eign minister. Sharett in a strong statement to Ambassador Lawson
in Tel Aviv urged the West to stand firm and retain the phrasing in
the resolution concerning a peaceful settlement "on a mutually ac-
ceptable basis."i,Sharett said that to do otherwise would mark a com-
plete surrender to the Arabs, would create a very bad impression
in Israel and reluctance to rely on the United Nations and the secre-
tary general's mission. The phrase, however, which had been
included in both the Soviet statement on the Middle East of 17 April
and in the Soviet-British communiqu�n the London talks, was
hotly protested by the Arab states and was deleted from the final
resolution. The Arabs attacked the phrase on the grounds that it
would upset all the United Nations decisions made since 1947 and
would comnel the Arabs to recognize present Israeli borders.
6 June 56
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