CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/12/29

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03020472
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
12
Document Creation Date: 
September 20, 2019
Document Release Date: 
September 26, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
December 29, 1955
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15722082].pdf411.92 KB
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v,/,' /imAppr9ved for Release. 2019109�6 co3o2o.47_,/ / / 'FOP SECRET 29 December 1955 0 / / / / "#es Copy No. 103 / / CURRENT oc n ot: cALA 0 s s i Ft me t NLI EcO A s s. INTELLIGENCE N DOCUMEM NO. -38 BULLETIN CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C NEXT REVIEW DATE. 0 La AVM HR 70-2 Ell-4W� OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE 7/1 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY / �< /.? e�"-/ z TOP 1 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Nor" Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 kfr, %a�. Wo. CONTENTS 1. PROVISIONS OF $100,000,000 SOVIET CREDIT TO AFGHANISTAN REPORTED page 3). 2, GREECE MAY PROTEST SOVIET AMBASSADOR'S INTERFERENCE IN DOMESTIC POLITICS (page 5). 3. JORDAN'S KING SAYS HE MAY HAVE TO ACCEPT ARAB SUBSIDY 29 Dec 55 page 6). �THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (page 7) * * * * THE TAIWAN STRAIT (page 9) Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2 TOP-SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Nor' 'Noe 1. PROVISIONS OF $100,000,000 SOVIET CREDIT TO AFGHANISTAN REPORTED Among the projects to be undertaken under the announced $100,000,000 Soviet credit to Afghanistan, which will run for 10 years, are construction of air- fields at Kabul, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif and Baghlan, im- provement of the Oxus River port facilities, construction FGHAMSTAn 14929 *Selected railroad All weather rood 28 DECEMBER 1955 HELMAND RIVER DEVELQPMENT AREA And nul anneba V R Pal feint:Ad " P A K , -\_ 0 TEHERAN SAUDI ARABIA I 7,5 CHINA � ,wz,t�, \A .... 113,3810. STAN 'JAMMU 7 7AND ' ,) -35 ) KASHMIR (St0tu3 in Di�pute) .Dru0110 Cr 0 200 490 600 miles 0 200 403 6GD 131.00001 S. R. CHINA 1177) , 0%21 "RAC. \ INDIA���0i " 'SASE'S SEA /Li ADU 10 If,e. of a dam in the Ghazni area and road construction includ- 51228 -3 ing the Salang pass area 29 Dec 55 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3 ShltEZ Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 I.JL..*..L11611.4 Nue Nary some funds may be made available for purchases in the West. Comment The joint Soviet-Afghan economic com- muniqu�ssued on 18 December referred only in general terms to development of agriculture, irriga- tion, construction of hydroelectric stations and construction of the Kabul airport. The USSR is already participating in the Oxus port development and Soviet technicians reportedly will arrive in Kabul in January to begin construction of the Kabul airport. A road through the Salang pass area would considerably shorten the route to the Soviet border. If Mos- cow constructs the Ghazni dam, this will be the first Commu- nist-financed project south of Kabul, a part of the country where Afghan projects have been carried on with Western aid. (Prepared by ORR) 29 Dec 55 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4 _icseettEr Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 64.1 2. GREECE MAY PROTEST SOVIET AMBASSADOR'S INTERFERENCE IN DOMESTIC POLITICS The activities of Soviet ambassador Sergeyev during his extended tour of northern Greece greatly disturb the Athens government. According to the American embassy in Athens, these activities amount to an "active and fla- grant interference in domestic affairs by public electioneering for leftist can- didates." Sergeyev and his staff have been meeting with leftist politi- cians and have been carrying on a propaganda campaign among the tobacco workers in the area. Foreign Minister Theotolcis claims that the USSR is providing financial assist- ance for leftists' pre-electoral campaign. Theotokis will try to get cabinet approval for a warning to Sergeyev that if he does not stop these activities, he will be declared persona non grata. Comment Sergeyev's purpose is to exploit Greek bit- terness over the Cyprus issue and encour- age the election of a government which would be neutral in East-West relations. Rumors have been circulating in Greece that the USSR, in advance of the elections scheduled for Feb- ruary, might announce support for Greek claims to northern Epirus--now a part of Albania. 29 Dec 55 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5 SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 'miry 3. JORDAN'S ICING SAYS HE MAY HAVE TO ACCEPT ARAB SUBSIDY Jordan's King Hussain has told the American embassy that public opin- ion may force him into a position where he would have to accept an Egyptian-Syrian-Saudi Arabian offer to replace the Brit- ish subsidy Jordan now receives. Hussain said he has Information that the three countries might get the money for the subsidy from Moscow. Comment Pressure on the king to accept an Egyptian-Syrian-Saudi offer probably is strong, but such a step would place Jordan's Hashemite monarchy at the mercy of its traditional enemy, the house of Saud. 29 Dec 55 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6 SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 4isif 2.40i 5�.7' q 013 011*-7 THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (Information as of 1700, 28 December) EGYPT SINAI 9 Tel Aviv EilaZ� .Aqaba 1 SAUDI ARABIA SEA 28 DECEMBER 1955 The Israeli army is known to have been drawing up plans for an action to break the Egyptian blockade of entry to the Gulf of Agaba. It appears unlikely that Israel would mount such an op- eration in the immediate future, not only because of logistic prob- lems, but because Tel Aviv now seems to be making a consider- able effort to convince Western opinion of its peaceful intentions, has in- formed the American army attach�n Tel Aviv that there have been recent drastic cut- backs in heavy construction projects throughout the country, and that Israeli construction engineers in reserve status are reluctant to engage in planning because they believe they may be recalled to active duty soon. The assistant army attach� has observed that a high Israeli officer concerned with supply is preoccupied with problems of movement and storage in the Negev area of southern Israel. This officer said divisional 51228-4 29 Dec 55 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7 7M-05?-3171eRgr__ Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 -----cfm-A-4% La I Iwo" maneuvers are to be held in the Negev in January or February. The attache concludes from these indications that substantial military action may take place. ���� 29 Dec 55 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 "ftiuse NOW BIWEEKLY SUMMARY 15-28 December 1955 �THE TAIWAN STRAIT Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group for the Taiwan Strait Problem 1. Chinese Communist jet fighters since 23 December have made a number of patrol sweeps to the immediate area of the Matsus. Ground force activity has been limited to ar- tillery exchanges in the Quemoy area. Most of the Commu- nist fire during the period appeared to be in retaliation for Nationalist shelling. 2. There has been an increase in the tempo of operations by the Chinese Communist navy in the Matsu area. According to reports of the past week, there was an increase in the move- ment of lightly armed Chinese Communist patrol craft and small coasters near the Peiling Peninsula, north of Matsu, and there are unconfirmed reports of torpedo boats in the area. The Nation- alist Defense Ministry has warned the navy to be "on the alert." 3. The Chinese Nationalists have grown uneasy as a result of the increased Communist air and naval activity in the Matsu area. Nationalist press dispatches insist a Matsu attack may be forthcoming. Their fear of torpedo boat attacks on naval ships has led the Nationalists to prepare plans for air or commando at- tacks on torpedo boat bases. 4. The Nationalists believe the Communists may soon in- crease artillery fire in an effort to slowly strangle the Quemoys. The Nationalist chief of staff has said he will order stepped-up artillery attacks and perhaps launch air strikes against Commu- nist artillery in the area if Communist shelling increases. 5. Although Chinese Communist propaganda gives no indi- cation of imminent hostile action, it continues to accuse the United States of building a large military potential on Taiwan and threatening 29 Dec 55 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9 -SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16_C03020472 \re IN* aggression in the Taiwan Strait area. Using the instance of Army Secretary Brucker 's visit to Taiwan this month, Peiping on 19 December denounced what it called "war prep- arations" designed to "perpetuate America's occupation of Taiwan." 29 Dec 55 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10 Trrpyyrq A I Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 --- - Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 TAIWAN STRAIT SITUATION 29 D ECEMB ER _1955_ _ CHINESE COMMUNIST AIRFIELD LEGEND: DESIGNATIONS PRIMARY AIRFIELD CONSIDERED MOST IMPORTANT IN AREA WITH PREPARED RUNWAY GENERALLY 5000 FEET OR LONGER. SECONDARY AIRFIELD AUXILIARY OR EMERGENCY BASES OR FIELDS OF LESSER IMPORTANCE. RUNWAYS GENERALLY LESS THAN 5000 FEET. ACTIVE BASE FOR MILITARY & CIVILIAN AIR- CRAFT. SOME BASES USED BY PISTON TYPES MAY BE USABLE BY JETS OPERATIONAL A INACTIVE BASES CAPABLE OF USE BY AIRCRAFT SERVICEABLE A CURRENT STATUS UNDETERMINED UNKNOWN 1 USABILITY 7 No MIG-15 MIG-17 TU-4 11-28 TU-2, IL-10 LA-9/11 11-2 ETC. 0 * FIELDS NOT CONSIDERED CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING SUSTAINED OPER- ATIONS AT PRESENT. HANGCHOW -AA .,1 / r '` " -4Ni i isidPO c.., -r ) /".-v .-- -..r./ I. rs.�' � .). ������ .,,, ,A__6HINHUA \ N I CH U HSI E1.sN ,-4 A _ i. \ �Z ; LUCH IA CHANGSHA .' Ti r.,.._ / ( ( - . _ 1 ----'7 al 7,000 .r' t-._ \- �. - \ (ANG1 INCLUbES FIELD FORCES / '4� A 0 CH IENOU* � i.� 84. SECURITY TROOPS / 4 i N., , / I 1 AL III, KAN,F11* *' \- " LU NGCHIll N- ., \ A410 NAUT I CAL M I LES 00 100 5$ 100 STATUTE MI LES + RAILROAD 4 4_ PROPOSED RAILROAD * NATIONALIST AIRFIELD PRIMARY ROADS SECONDARY ROADS SPPRET Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03020472 51213 2