CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/03/27

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02995588
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RIPPUB
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U
Document Page Count: 
9
Document Creation Date: 
October 25, 2019
Document Release Date: 
October 31, 2019
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Publication Date: 
March 27, 1956
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15740089].pdf243.51 KB
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� - - Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 vs/ 0 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 9/7 OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DOCUMENT NO Copy No. 103 NO CHANGE IN CLASS. e 11 DECLASSTIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS okii Ak NEXT REVIEW DATE- "IP A AUTH: HR 0 DATE REVIEWER: TOP SECRET / Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 27 March 1956 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 #11% 41/141 p* Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 A 'kJ A � A %.1.4 CONTENTS 1. USSR OFFERS AID AND FRIENDSHIP TO PAKISTAN (page 3). 2. PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT REPORTED CONSIDERING TRADE APPROACH TO THE USSR (page 4 3. EFFECT OF NEW ANTI-STALIN LINE IN ITALY (page 5). 4. COUP AGAINST BOLIVIAN GOVERNMENT REPORTED PLANNED BY EXILES IN ARGENTINA (page 6). 27 Mar 56 * * * * �THE ARAB-ISRAELI ITUATION (page 7) Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 CALL vr IfiLd 1. USSR OFFERS AID AND FRIENDSHIP TO PAKISTAN Comment on: Soviet first deputy premier Anastas I. Mikoyan, visiting in Karachi, has suggested that Pakistan replace its membership in the Baghdad pact and SEATO with adher- ence to the "five principles," but indicated this was not a condition for Soviet aid or friendship. Mikoyan has had at least one long meet- ing with the Pakistani minister of foreign affairs and the minister of commerce. Additional Soviet trade specialists are to arrive in Karachi next week. The Soviet press and radio have repeated Premier Bulganin's 6 February offer of Soviet assistance in developing atomic energy for peace- ful purposes, and Foreign Minister Molotov has hinted that the USSR might be willing to construct a steel mill for Paid- stan. Mikoyan reportedly indicated that if in- vited, Bulganin and Khrushchev would be pleased to come to Pakistan. Mikoyan has made a good impression on the Pakistanis. They are reported to have accepted his in- vitation to send a parliamentary delegation to the USSR. President Mirza has reiterated that Pakistan is not going to compromise its ties with the West. He commented, how- ever, that "a change" has come over the Russians during the past two months--"Thev used to be very cold. Now they are very warm." 27 Mar 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 .....7.1.111_41.1L1.1 *4111#1 2. PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT REPORTED CONSIDERING TRADE APPROACH TO THE USSR President Magsaysay has recently mentioned the possibility of approach- ing the USSR regarding trade, Magsaysay observed that if the United States "is taking us for granted, it is easy for us to get aid also from the Communists," and said he would send Mike Elizalde, a former ambassador to the United States, to Russia. Elizalde is said to have stated that he had a visa for Moscow and that serious thought was being given to the possibility of selling surplus sugar and hemp to the USSR Comment Magsaysay is being subjected to heavy pressure by Philippine sugar and tobacco interests to demonstrate the economic benefits of his strong pro-American policies. Pressure from these groups has been accompanied by extensive publicizing of Philippine "grievances" regarding American military bases and the reg- ulation of the wages of Filipino laborers on Guam. Philip- pine congressmen have lately become much more vocal in criticizing American policies. It is possible that these various pressures are having an effect on Magsaysay's own thinking. 27 Mar 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4 -SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 101.41.411LEd / 3. EFFECT OF NEW ANTI-STALIN LINE IN ITALY Comment on: Secretary General Palmiro Togliatti 's presentation of the new anti-Stalin line to the Italian Communist Party (PCI) is reported to have caused widespread confusion in the party. Under sharp attack at a 22 March meeting of the PCI parliamentary group for having previously concealed information, he admitted having been aware of Stalin's "erroneous position" for many years, but said he did not tell his own party because premature revelation would have resulted in crises for all the Communist movements in the world. Togliatti in the past has been successful in smoothing over intraparty differences, and it is unlikely that any serious split will develop at this time or that Tog- liatti's leadership will be seriously challenged. Pietro Nenni, head of the pro-Communist Italian Socialist Party (PSIkhas publicly taken the line that the attack on Stalin should not have been launched without proper historical discussion and that the really positive result of the Soviet Communist Party congress was the acceptance of the principle of "many roads to Socialism." The American embassy in Rome believes that Nenni's adoption of a different line was probably concerted with Togliatti and that the PSI will succeed in absorbing most of the present discontent and confusion and prevent defections from the extreme left in Italy. In the nationwide local elections to be held in late spring, the previously apparent trend toward the Nenni Socialists will probably be accelerated by these developments. 27 Mar 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5 SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 1-71-% 'LAM. LL4 .IL 4. COUP AGAINST BOLIVIAN GOVERNMENT REPORTED PLANNED BY EXILES IN ARGENTINA A group of Bolivian exiles in Argentina is planning an attempt to overthrow the Bolivian government of President Paz �Estenssoro, With the exception of the Communists, vir- tually all anti-Paz groups inside and outside the country, including tho � e said to support the revolution- ary attempt. Comment Such a revolutionary meavement would probably be spearheaded by the Coalition of Anti-Communist Parties, organized in Chile in March 1954, for the purpose of overthrowing the present Nation- alist Revolutionary Movement (MNR) government in Bolivia. The coalition has termed the MNR "tyrannical" and "Com- munist." The dominant group in the coalition is the extreme rightist Bolivian Socialist Falange. The MNR, despite the Marxist orienta- tion of many of its leaders, always has claimed to be anti- Communist. As its position in Bolivia became more securer it increased its anti-Communist activities. The Bolivian government is aware of the plotting and appears to be capa- ble of containing any revolutionary attempt launched by the coalition in its present poorly organized state, even if Bolivia's two Communist parties--one Trotskyite�were to co-operate with the coalition. 27 Mar 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6 SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 " WI OL.L.416.A.4 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 441114 THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (Information as of 1700, 26 March) The Israelis are planning to lower the level of Lake uleh ove anat He says such drainage would involve ynamiting in the demilitarized zone. The British speculate that this action might be an attempt by the Israelis to undermine the UN secretary general's proposed trip. There has been great bit- terness between Syria and Israel over the Israeli plan to drain the Huleh swamps, on which work began in the spring of 1951. Despite a UN Security Council resolution of 18 May 1951, the dis- pute has never been settled. Any work done in the demilitarized zone by Israel will provoke strong Syrian protests two shiploads of troops and equipment, previously reported as being shipped from Jidda to Haqual on the Gulf of Aqaba, were headed for Tebuk, east of the gulf and south of Jordam unloading at Haqual, including jeeps and trucks, was then in process. Saudi Arabia, with Egyptian co-operation, was plan- ning to improve the Saudi airfield at Tebuk and to construct bar- racks there. In line with the continuing Saudi and Egyptian build-up in the Gulf of Aqaba area, the landing field at Sharm el Shaikh is being improved. 29 officers and 138 non- commissioned officers would arrive in Belgrade "about the 22nd" from Warsaw on their way back to Cairo. These officers and men have been receiving naval training under Soviet supervision at the 27 Mar 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588 Approved for Release: 201/1 0/21 CO2995588 Now' ftorr Polish port of Gdy_nia. the Soviet bloc has agreed to supply Egypt with two destroyers and two submarines. At least 12 motor torpedo boats and sev- eral small landing craft have already been delivered. Egvnt will also receive two destroyers from Britain. 27 Mar 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995588