CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/05/27

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02996964
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RIPPUB
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U
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15
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October 25, 2019
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October 31, 2019
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Publication Date: 
May 27, 1956
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15740139].pdf395.29 KB
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Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN TOP SECRET 27 May 1956 Copy No. 103 S 5 NO CHANGE IN CLASS. )0 H DECLASSIFIED NEXT REVIEW DATE. CLASS. CHANGED TO T : S tiodi AUAIT'H Hiet Ikg D / 04_ E I kill= REVIEWER:, 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY lattP-S-EGREZ Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 AP* PINA Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 WI 1..." a-4%w .1 AA-4 NI" CONTENTS PAKISTANI ATTACK ON AFGHAN FRONTIER POST PROBABLY PRECLUDES RAPPROCHEMENT (page 3). (7 2. LIBYAN PREMIER PROFESSES INABILITY TO HALT ARMS FLOW TO ALGERIA (page 4). %. JORDANIAN MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS (page 5). f\A/4. SOME PROGRESS REPORTED IN FRENCH-ALGERIAN NEGO- TIATIONS (page 6). r/ 5. ANTI-RAKOSI SENTIMENTS SPREADING AMONG TOP HUN- GARIAN LEADERS (page 7). 6. HUNGARY REPORTED REPLACING DISMANTLED BORDER OBSTACLES ALONG AUSTRIAN FRONTIER (page 8). /7. SOUTH KOREAN CABINET ISHAKEUP (page 9). f/8. USSR MAINTAINS PRESSURE FOR RELATIONS WITH COLOMBO (page 10). 9. ti 10. SOVIET WARSHIPS TO VISIT YUGOSLAVIA AND ALBANIA (page 11). POSSIBLE REOPENING IN YUGOSLAVIA OF THE DJILAS CASE page 12). 27 May 56 * * * * THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (page 13) Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2 7015-43-E-efiE-T Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 t_41_,1 NE I.L,E41 1. PAKISTANI ATTACK ON AFGHAN FRONTIER POST PROBABLY PRECLUDES RAPPROCHEMENT The reported large-scale Pakistani attack on an Afghan frontier post on 20 May could prevent the meeting be- tween Pakistani president Mirza and Afghan king Zahir Shah scheduled for next month and would appear to preclude any rapprochement between the two countries if the meeting materializes. Afghan foreign minister Nairn claimed on 24 May that 800 Pakistani soldiers, with artillery prep- aration and cover by two jet aircraft, had participated in the attack. He said that Pakistanis were still in possession of the post and asked the American ambassador in Kabul to send the embassy's military attach�o the scene to verify the facts. Naim remarked that the incident had oc- curred just when there had been hopes of reducing tension between the two countries. He added cryptically that it looked as if a "third element" might be playing a hand. It is more likely that the attack was instigated by Karachi, pri- marily in retaliation for an Afghan ambush of a Pakistani patrol in the same general area on 19 April. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3 CONFIDENTIAL Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 lit' -111f 2. LIBYAN PREMIER PROFESSES INABILITY TO HALT ARMS FLOW TO ALGERIA Libyan premier Ben Halim informed French minister Dumarcay on 22 May that the Libyan government cannot con- trol the transit of arms through Libyan erruory to ALge'ria, according to Dumarcay. Ben Halim claimed that the complicity in this arms traffic by junior officers of the Tripolitanian police made official controls useless. He also claimed to' be under great pressure from the Egyptians to permit transshipments of arms, pleaded that he "could not be a traitor to the Arab cause," and impli- cated Tunisian premier Bourghiba in the traffic. Ambassador Tappin comments that Ben Halim, for domestic considerations, has apparently decided to acknowledge the arms flow to Algeria, with the result that arms shipments to Algeria are likely to increase sharply. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 iciu. � . ogilk 3. JORDANIAN MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS Major General Nuwar, newly appointed chief of staff of the Arab Legion, is now consolidating his control of the Legion with the corn slete support of King Hussain, Plans for its ex- pansion have been announced. Nuwar has already promoted 11 officers nel and Olans to jump six cap- tains to lieutenant colonel. Some of these promotions are in preparation for retiring some of the senior offi- cers who still have a "Glubb taint." The Free Officers' Movement headed by Nuwar is 150 members, 30 of whom form an "inner circle." Within the movement, however, a faction is still plotting against Nuwar and the king, Meanwhile this faction plans terrorist activities against British bases in Jordan for the purpose of discrediting Nuwar. This group is anti-Com- munist, considers Nuwar pro-Egyptian, and is suspicious of Cairo's intentions. Nuwar favors accepting Egyptian financial support for the Legion, 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5 -----14aZt11,0 Uri I Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 41L-11.E1 4. SOME PROGRESS REPORTED IN FRENCH- ALGERIAN NEGOTIATIONS Recent conversations in Geneva be- tween French government representa- tives and Algerian leaders were "gen- erally successful," but many questions remain open. The chief Algerian negotiator returned to Cairo to consult with a leader of the Aigerian National Liberation Front and is expected in Paris early in June. in Tangier, recent French-Algerian negotiations in Cairo resulted in a French offer of limited internal autonomy, but a request for a cease-fire was rejected by the Algerians. Comment The French defense minister believes the military situation is beginning to look considerably better, with pacification of Algeria pos- sible in a "relatively few months." The mayor of Algiers now discounts such a possibility. Premier Mollet will probably reflect his defense minister's optimism in the impending debate on his government's general policy. He is under increasing pressure from all political groups, however, to present a detailed pro- posal for an Algerian settlement, and the reported failure of earlier negotiations in Cairo may induce him to offer more far-reaching concessions in the hope of winning an early peace. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6 ET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 -SECRET- - 5. ANTI-RAKOSI SENTIMENTS SPREADING AMONG TOP HUNGARIAN LEADERS Hungarian party first secretary Rakosi is now faced with increased general dis- content and disaffection and with a widen- ing opposition within the party leadership, in the opinion of the American legation in Budapest. Rakosi's latest major speech on 18 May disappointed even the most cautious anticipations of his oppo- nents, who had been expecting that some break with past harsh policies would be announced. The legation believes that a genuine liberal- ization of Hungarian policy can be achieved only after Rakosi's removal, and states that there are elements within the Foreign Ministry and the party leadership that would welcome a Western diplomatic offensive against Rakosi. Comment Despite repeated and specific endorsement of Rakosi by the USSR, which apparently fears that his removal would only worsen the Hungarian politi- cal situation, the strength of the anti-Rakosi faction has mounted steadily since February. Rakosi's 18 May speech, reportedly made in part as a result of pressure from the central committee, included a perfunctory bow to his opposition, but did not contain any significant policy change. Unless willing to run counter to present Satel- lite policy by granting Rakosi increased police powers with which to subdue his party enemies, Moscow may be forced to reconsider its support of an increasingly unpopular and unstable figure. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 NE 6, HUNGARY REPORTED REPLACING DISMANTLED BORDER OBSTACLES ALONG AUSTRIAN FRONTIER Comment The Hungarian regime apparently feels that a limited removal of border security installations, coupled with the camouflaging or relocation of those remaining, will satisfy its propaganda requirements without significantly reducing the effectiveness of frontier security. The 9 May Hungarian announcement of the impending dismantling of the "technical barrier along the west- ern frontier" can be expected, however, to increase the number of Hungarian escape attempts, already on the rise since the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Austria. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 4 cuAr LULA 1 1AL 7. SOUTH KOREAN CABINET SHAKE-UP In a major postelection cabinet re- shuffle, President Rhee has replaced Defense Minister Son Won-il, Economic Co-ordinator Paek Tu-chin, and the ministers of finance, public health and reconstruction. Since the election, Rhee has also replaced the home min- ister and the director of the national police. The changes appear to have been influenced in large degree by factional considerations within the Liberal Party. Appointment of two national assemblymen to the Ministries of Finance and Public Health presumably re- sulted from demands by Liberal Party assemblymen for in- creased influence in the conduct of government. In a press conference Rhee stated that he will attempt to strengthen the Liberal Party, but that he contemplates no major changes in government policies. Replacement of Son and Paek may repre- sent a further concession to sentiment in the assembly, Paek's devious financial dealings have periodically come under fire in the assembly, while Son was recently attacked in connec- tion with a scandal in army procurement. The dismissal of Son, an able and pro-American official, may represent a con- cession to opponents of Rhee's defeated running- mate, Yi Ki-pung, with whom Son was closely associated. Appointment of Kim Chong-won ("Tiger Kim") as director of the national police will probably arouse resentment in view of Kim's history of ruthlessness, This ap- pointment suggests that Rhee contemplates no change in his methods of control, and it may, in fact, presage a tightening of police controls. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9 irb APIT A T Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 %A-a AO 8. USSR MAINTAINS PRESSURE FOR RELATIONS WITH COLOMBIA Colombia broke relations with the USSR in 1948 following the Bogota riot in which Communists par- ticipated. Over the past year the local Communists, esti- mated at about 5,000, have apparently become increasingly involved in the guerrilla unrest which has troubled Colombia for several years. Colombia has no diplomatic relations with any member of the Sino-Soviet bloc but earlier this year exchanged consuls with Prague. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Otk WINI1DLAIliAL 9. SOVIET WARSHIPS TO VISIT YUGOSLAVIA AND ALBANIA Comment A Soviet naval squadron of one Sverdlov class cruiser and two Skoryy class des- troyers of the Black Sea fleet will pay good-will visits to Split, Yugoslavia, from 31 May to 4 June and Durres, Albania, from 5 to 10 June. The vessels are scheduled to return on 12 June. This will be the first Soviet naval visit to Yugoslavia. Good-will naval visits were made by the USSR to Albania in June 1954 and August 1955. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 11 77)-Arrntk Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 1411 10. POSSIBLE REOPENING IN YUGOSLAVIA OF THE DJILAS CASE The public reply made in the Yugoslav press on 20 May to a recent "personal and confidential" letter from British Labor Party secretary Morgan Phillips r gar mg tne treatment accorded Milovan Djilas, suggests that the former top Yugoslav political leader may again be publicly attacked. Without revealing the text of Phillips' letter, the reply sharply attacked it as critical of Yugoslav foreign and internal policies. Djilas wrote Phillips on 12 April of in- creasingly harsh measures being taken against him, and attributed them to "changes in the direction of Yugoslav policy." A few days later his wife was charged with disturb- ing the peace--a development Djilas had predicted in detail as the regime's next effort to "destroy him politically by dis- crediting him morally." Djilas reportedly agreed last February to write an article for an American magazine, which presumably would contain his antiregime views. A series of articles at- tacking the regime in early 1954 cost Djilas his party and of- ficial positions. A year later he received a suspended sentence for reaffirming his views to the Western press and calling for an opposition Socialist party. Belgrade also may feel the need to discourage any latent "Djilasism" within Yugoslavia which could have been encouraged by the new line in Moscow. A renewed attack on Djilas would have the incidental effect of negating the efforts Tito has recently made to counter Western Socialist suspicions before his Moscow visit. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 12 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 TOP SECRET THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (Information as of 1700, 27 May) Israel has reported that an Israeli tractor driver was murdered on 24 May about 6 miles from the Jorda- nian border� The American army attach�n Tel Aviv believes that this incident will substantiate the official and public belief in Israel that recent political and military changes in Jordan will increase tension and incidents on the Israeli-Jordanian bor- der. It may also reinforce the view of the Israeli army that re- taliation ig thp rally noliry for holdinE down Arab border viola- tions. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 13 TD.R_SgPRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964 ko,I ka L41..0 N. La I Now' On 26 May, it was announced in Israel that several roads in the southern part of the country would be closed for certain hours from 27 May through 30 May. The roads to be closed start at Beersheba and run south to a point near the El Auja demilitarized zone and southeast for a few miles toward Jordan. The announcement did not indicate the purpose of the road blocks, but Israel has closed roads in the east for military movements and maneuvers. 27 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 14 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2996964