CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/03/02

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03003285
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: March 2, 1955

AF,APProved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03003285e
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3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
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2 March 1955
Copy No,
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
1,1
NO CHANGE IN CLASS is
LI DECLASSIFIED
CLASS CHANGED TO: IS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: _01-0 IP
AUTH: HR 70.2
DATE. 4? V4,10 REVIEWER
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
FAR EAST
1. South Korean chief of staff reports on purpose of Formosa visit
(page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Security conditions in North Sumatra continue to deteriorate
(page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Shah now reported willing to continue support of Zahedi (page 4).
WESTERN EUROPE
4. Adenauer seen retaining coalition dissidents in government
(page 5).
LATE ITEM
50 Chou En-lai protests
Geneva agreements age 5).
alleged violations of
2 Mar 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2
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FAR EAST
1. South Korean chief of staff reports on purpose of Formosa visit:
South Korean army chief of staff Chong
I1-kwon has specifically denied to Amer-
ican embassy officials that he was under
instructions to negotiate any agreements
with the Chinese Nationalists during his recent visit to Taipei.
He asserted that his visit was for the purpose of obtaining infor-
mation on the current situation and to observe the training of
Nationalist troops.
Chong, who apparently was unimpressed
by the Nationalist army, said he had suggested to the Chinese that
it would be good strategy for them to withdraw from the offshore
islands. If the Communists then attacked Formosa and the Pesca-
dores, the security of which is guaranteed by the United States,
general hostilities would develop and these would spread to Korea.
Comment: Both Seoul and Taipei are
aware of their military dependence on the United States and neither
has shown enthusiasm for an alliance which did not include Wash-
ington. Rhee reportedly sees little advantage in a bilateral alliance
with Nationalist China, which he considers to be a waning power.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Security conditions in North Sumatra continue to deteriorate:
The Indonesian government does not have
sufficient armed strength in North Sumatra
to engage in more than holding operations
against the Atjehnese rebels, and security
conditions have steadily deteriorated during the past three months,
Rebel bands are well equipped,
their morale is high, and the sentiment of the population throughout
the arga is against the government. Officials remain in their areas
only as long as troops are present and withdraw when the troops leave.
2 Mar 55
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**ore
Some contact and co-operation have
been noted between the rebels and Communists, particularly
members of Communist-controlled labor and veterans' organi-
zations. Communist infiltration is at present insignificant, but
is likely to increase as the Communists accelerate their labor
activity on estates in the area.
Comment: The Atjeh rebellion com-
menced in September 1953. Since then there has been chronic
insecurity in the area, with the government holding the towns
and cities and the rebels largely controlling the countryside0
some
increase in rebel activity during late 1954.
there has
been co-operation between the Atjehnese, a devout Moslem group,
and the Communists. The Atiehnese heretofore have been strongly
anti-Communist.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Shah now reported willing to continue support of Zahedi:
The Shah has decided to continue his
support of Prime Minister Zahedi but
intends to make several cabinet changes,
The Shah ordered
Minister of Court Ala on 21 February to see that "political sharp-
shooting" at Zahedi was halted. This has stopped whispering cam-
paigns against the prime minister and greatly strengthened his
position.
Comment: These reported actions of the
Shah may have been designed to stop the intensive Iranian political
maneuvering until his return later this week. In view of the long-
standing disagreements between the Shah and Zahedi, any new col-
laboration between them will probably be short-lived.
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WESTERN EUROPE
4. Adenauer seen retaining coalition dissidents in government:
Chancellor Adenauer will probably not
take "retaliatory action" against the
coalition Free Democrats for voting
against the Saar accord on 26 FebruarYo
Adenauer will still need the Free Demo-
crats' support to secure Bundesrat approval of the Paris accords
and Bundestag approval of subsequent rearmament legislation.
Most political observers in Bonn be-
lieve that the Free Democrats will not be ejected from the coali-
tion. American officials note, however, that the chancellor has
not yet made a decision on the matter.
Comment: Adenauer could probably get
rearmament under way without The Democratic support, but he
would have great difficulty in obtaining passage of certain consti-
tutional amendments which may be required next year. Without
the Free Democrats, his coalition would also become increasingly
dependent on the nationalist-tinged Refugee and German Parties.
Free Democratic chairman Thomas Dehler
apparently believes his party would benefit by going into the oppo-
sition. Many Free Democrats are becoming dissatisfied with his
leadership, however, and a move may develop to unseat him at
the party's national convention later this month.
LATE ITEM
5, Chou En-lai
Geneva agreements:
2 Mar 55
protests
alleged violations of
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Comment: members of the
International Control Commission in Vietnam anticipate a formal
protest by the Viet Minh along similar lines and believe the Indian
chairman would insist on a full airing of the charges.
Chinese Communist propaganda has been
emphasizing the points Pei-
ping's aims appear to be to intimidate Southeast Asian governments
into reducing their co-operation with the United States, and to ex-
ploit differences in interpretation of the Geneva agreements be-
tween the United States and its allies and the Asian "neutrals."
2 Mar 55
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