CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/07/10

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03015177
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: July 10, 1956

Approved for Release: 2019/10/23
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
TOP SECRET
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
10
July 1956
Copy No. 105
DOCUMENT NO. -
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.21�
:! DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S CIAO_
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HB 70
DA _REVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
7-Orszr-RET
.3J
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CONTENTS
1- SYRIAN ANTILEFTISTS OUST ARMY INTELLIGENCE HEAD
(page 3).
2. ICELANDIC PRO-COMMUNISTS REPORTEDLY OFFERED
PLACE IN NEW GOVERNMENT (page 5).
3. JAPANESE SOCIALISTS GAIN IN UPPER HOUSE ELECTION
page 6).
4. SECOND BURMESE LEADER PUTS OFF VISIT TO MOSCOW
(page 7).
5. NEW PLAN TO OVERTHROW GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT
REPORTED (page 8).
6. POLISH AMBASSADOR IN PARIS COMMENTS ON POLISH
SITUATION (page 9).
10 July 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 10)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
TOP SECRET
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TOP' SECRET Nfti
1. SYRIAN ANTILEFTISTS OUST ARMY INTELLIGENCE HEAD
Colonel Abd al-Hamid Sarraj has been
removed from his post as head of the Syrian
army G-2 and replaced by Colonel Zuhayr
Salih
Salill is presum-
ably a member of the antileftist group which
has already ousted Chief of Staff Shawqat
Shuqayr.
Sarraj, the leader of the "little RCC" until
it split recently, had been left in a strategic
position for a countermove after the ouster
of Shuqayr. By following through immediately with Sarraj's re-
moval, the antileftists have further consolidated their position
and possibly headed off such a counterstroke. Sarraj recently
sought Egyptian approval for a military government in Syria but
was reportedly turned down by Nasr.
unnamed "Syrians" have requested the recall of the Egyptian
military attach�nd are seeking the recall of the Egyptian am-
bassador, because of their support of the leftist Arab Socialist
Resurrection Party (ASRP). �The recall of the Egyptian diplomats
would, if it can be obtained, block the main channels of Egyptian
communication and support for a possible ASRP countermove.
Egypt appears to have been caught off base by
the antileftist action.
10 July 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
7-015"--S-EERE-T
Page 3
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10 July 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
-PM�EeliLET
Page 4
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Noe
2. ICELANDIC PRO-COMMUNISTS REPORTEDLY OFFERED
PLACE IN NEW GOVERNMENT
WOUJAA give
Progressive Party chairman Hermann
Jonasson has been authorized by the
Progressive and Social Democratic par-
ties to attempt to form a cabinet which
utiu.1-1 ivpresentation to the Communist-dominated
Labor Alliance,
The embassy comments that such a gov-
ernment, if formed, would probably include the two "non-
Communist" left-wing Social Democratic members elected by
the Labor Alliance, with the Communists themselves remain-
ing in the background. The outcome of the negotiations will
depend in large part on the price the Communists are willing
to pay to gain representation for the Labor Alliance in the gov-
ernment
The embassy adds that Communist repre-
sentation under such a guise would constitute no less a danger
for Western interests than outright Communist participation.
Comment The alliance of these three parties, all
of which campaigned for the withdrawal of
American troops from the Keflavik air base, would give them
33 out of the 52 seats in the Althing. The Progressives and
Social Democrats attacked the Labor Alliance in the 24 June
elections, however, and there are important elements in both
of these non-Communist parties which would be opposed to
close working relations with the Communists.
10 July 56
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COA11D-ElY 11AL
'roe 'lure
3. JAPANESE SOCIALISTS GAIN IN UPPER HOUSE ELECTION
The Japanese Socialist Party claims that
Its gains in the upper house election on
8 July are the result of the party's anti-
American policy which emphasized the
Okinawan land controversy and opposition
to both American bases and rearmament. The Socialists have
won 28 of the 75 district contests for the upper chamber of the
Diet, a gain of six, while the conservative Liberal-Democratic
Party won 42, the Japan Communist Party one, and Independ-
ents four.
The trend toward the Socialists is also likely
to appear in returns for the 52 national constituency seats, there-
by giving the Socialists a good chance to control one third of the
upper house in conjunction with other leftist elements. This
will enable them to block constitutional amendments to legal=
ize rearmament for the next three years.
The Liberal-Democrats, however, appear
assured of a majority since they have 61 seats among the 123
not at stake in this election and are generally supported by a
number of independent groups. Their prospects for winning a
two-thirds majority seem remote. The government party may
have suffered more than the Socialists from popular dissatisfac-
tion over the violence which occurred at the last Diet session.
10 July 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
CONFIDENTIAL
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4. SECOND BURMESE LEADER PUTS OFF VISIT
TO MOSCOW
Comment on:
U Kyaw Nyein, Burma's minister for
the national economy, has postponed
indefinitely a long-planned visit to the
USSR,
Kyaw Nyein, who with Prime Minister
�Ba Swe shares control of the dominant Burma Socialist Party,
had been scheduled to visit Moscow and Peiping this month or
next. His sudden change of plans follows closely Ba Swe's post-
ponement of a similar trip.
While both leaders can plead increased
responsibilities in the new cabinet, their action may also re-
flect a desire to back off from the increasingly close ties which
characterized Burma's relations with the bloc during the last
year of U Nu's premiership.
Burmese leaders have been reliably re-
ported as unhappy over Soviet and Chinese interference in in-
ternal Burmese politics. The recently reported cancellation
of visits to the bloc by a high-level Burmese trade mission-
which instead will visit only Western European countries--
suggests that, in the economic realm, Burma wishes to avoid
any further commitments to the Communists pending the out-
come of renewed loan negotiations with the United States and
reassessment of apparently improved prospects for exporting
rice for cash rather than by barter.
10 July 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
TOP SECRET
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SECItt-i
'woe Nie#
5. NEW PLAN TO OVERTHROW GUATEMALAN
GOVERNMENT REPORTED
Comment
The Guatemalan capital remained calm after
the serious student demonstrations of 24-25
June and during the 3 July anniversary celebration of "Libera-
tion Dayr The 27 June prediction
that a coup was planned in
� Guatemala during the ensuing ten days failed to materialize.
On 28 June, however, another source stated that "the big blow"
to the Castillo Armas regime would come "later in July" and
be supported by "high army officers."
Some attempts have been made--and others
reportedly planned--to sabotage the railroad lines and electric
power stations. , the govern-
ment is taking precautionary measures to protect the trunk line
between the capital and Puerto Barrios on the Atlantic Coast.
10 July 56
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SEGRET
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tUivir LLIKi *11AL
Noe Nliso
6. POLISH AMBASSADOR IN PARIS COMMENTS ON
POLISH SITUATION
Stanislaw Gajewski, the Polish am-
bassador to France, in a discussion
of the Poznan riots with the American
and Italian ambassadors on 5 July,
statea matere are serious differences of opinion and �
contests for power under way within the Polish government
and Communist Party. He said that those elements in the
party that believe it should evolve into a national party not
subservient to Moscow have the best chance of winning out,
but he fears their opponents will attempt to use the riots as
an excuse to return to a harsh policy. He expressed the
view that it would not be in the best interests of the West to
do anything which would give ammunition to those who wish
to return to a Stalinist, pro-Russian policy.
Gajewski added that since the publication
of the Khrushchev speech he is prepared to believe anything
about the Soviets and-that he would not defend the actions of
the USSR. While he is a Communist, he said, he is a Pole
first with the historic feelings of a Pole toward Russia.
Comment Gajewski, who first joined the Commu-
nist Party after the war, is expressing
views similar to those of many Polish Communists who have
been pushing for more liberal policies and who have probably
feared that the riots would result in a return to repression.
The regime intends to punish the "ringleaders" of the riots.
At the same time, it has made economic concessions to the
Poznan workers and has promised that its liberalization pro-
gram will continue.
10 July 56
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1 L.11- LA�JCL
Nie �,Ropi
THE ARAB -ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 9 July)
New violence is reported on the already tense
Israeli-Jordan border. Two Israeli civilians died on 9 July in an
ambush attack near the border south of the Dead Sea and a Jordan
civilian was reported killed in an exchange of gunfire between
Israeli and Jordan forces near Jerusalem. (Press)
Saudi Arabia has installed an unspecified
number of 25-pounder medium artillery pieces within easy range
(8 kilometers) of the Israeli port of Eilat at the head of the Gulf of
Aqaba, In-
stallation of the guns was stated to have been undertaken in consul-
tation with the Egyptians. They are reported to have been mounted
in emplacements reinforced with corrugated sheeting, sandbags and
earthworks. "armored emplacements,"
which have not yet been completed because of delays in the arrival
of laborers. These emplacements are now under construction south
of Al Brij, at Haqal, and Shaikh Hamid points on the Saudi coast
of the Gulf of Aqaba.
10 July 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
TOP SECRET
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