CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/01/07

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03020478
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: January 7, 1956

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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
� Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03020478
7 January 1956
Copy No. 103
DOCUMENT NO NO CHANGE CHANGE IN CLASS.
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE- 20/0
ATEH: HA 70
DAUT-20tviEwus,
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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CONTENTS
1. CYPRUS TALKS TO BE RESUMED
(page 3
2. REMOVAL OF SYRIAN CHIEF OF STAFF REPORTED
IMMINENT (page 4).
3. NEW CRISIS THREATENS IN JORDAN
(page 5).
4. WET MINH PROPOSES TRADE RELATIONS WITH EGYPT
(page 6).
7 Jan 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 7)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. CYPRUS TALKS TO BE RESUMED
Greek foreign minister Theotokis
says Archbishop Makarios and Gov-
ernor Harding have agreed to resume
talks on the Cyprus question,
Theo-
tokis says Harding has agreed to
"free discussions," but the foreign min-
ister is not optimistic, since he doubts
Britain's readiness to make an acceptable settlement.
Harding
has reported from Cyprus that the security situation will
not permit prolonged discussions.
�
Comment Despite Theotokis' understanding that
there will be "free discussions," they
are likely to be based on the British formula and will prob-
ably break up over its implicit recognition of Turkey's inter-
est in the future status of Cyprus. Turkey remains adamant
in its opposition to any concession toward self-determination.
Ankara has recently repeated its demand that any British plan
for self-government provide equal representation for the is-
land's Greek and Turkish communities.
7 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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2. REMOVAL OF SYRIAN CHIEF OF STAFF REPORTED
IMMINENT
Syrian chief of staff Shuqayr will be
removed shortly,
Dissatisfaction within the officer ranks
is making his position untenable and there is danger that he
may be assassinated.
The embassy comments that Shuqayr's
future would appear to depend on whether and how strongly
conservative elements in Syria rally to his support. It feels
that his dismissal would remove the last real obstacle to the
assumption of full control over the army by anti-Western ele-
ments and might lead to leftist control over the government.
Comment
Shuqayr has previously exhibited consid-
erable political agility and has long maneu-
vered successfully between the various conflicting elements
struggling for control in Syria.
-,.onservative elements in Syria, with Iraqi sup-
port, may be preparing for a showdown.
Shuqayr has been under increasing pres-
sure to obtain arms from the Soviet bloc and to avoid any
agreement with the West. Syrian humiliation over the Israeli
raid at Tiberias is apparently being used against Shuqayr as
a means of obtaining either his removal or his compliance
with leftist demands.
7 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
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3. NEW CRISIS THREATENS IN JORDAN
Comment on:
The 4 January supreme court decision
that King Hussain's 19 December disso-
lution of the Jordan parliament was ille-
gal has infuriated Jordanian elements
hostile to the Baghdad pact, which had
hoped to dominate a newly elected par-
liament. The consulate general in
Jerusalem expects renewed rioting.
The governmental problem remains un-
resolved, with rumors that the caretaker cabinet may resign.
The authority and prestige of the throne have declined and
the British position has been severely damaged. Egypt's
prestige has risen sharply and it is unlikely that any Jordanian
decisions in the near future involving Israel or Middle East
problems will be taken without the approval of Cairo.
7 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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4. VIET MINH PROPOSES TRADE RELATIONS WITH EGYPT
Comment
Earlier reports have suggested Viet
Minh efforts to establish diplomatic re-
lations with Egypt. This proposal is in keeping with the
continuing Viet Minh and Orbit campaign to gain political
influence among neutralist Afro-Asian powers by the exten-
sion of economic relations.
The Viet Minh needs cotton to restore
its textile industry to full production. A substantial amount
of the cotton utilized by the industry in North Vietnam prior
to the Communist takeover was supplied under American aid
programs. (Prepared jointly with ORR)
7 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
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THE ARAB-ISRAE LI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 6 January)
There was brief exchange of fire between
Egyptian and Israeli patrols in the El Auja region on 6 January
and Israel claims that Egyptian forces also ambushed an Israeli
weapons carrier in this area. According to an Israeli spokes-
man, two Egyptian jets violated the Israeli airspace over Eilat on
the Gulf of Aqaba on 5 January. (Press)
Syria would not sign a
reimbursable military aid agreement with the United States.
Syria considers the prices for the military items under consid-
eration exorbitant and believes the items are available elsewhere
at much lower prices. While the Syrians may merely be attempt-
ing to bargain,
Syria may be about to finalize an arms
contract with Czechoslovakia.
Three Soviet freighters arrived at the Egyp-
tian port of Alexandria from Soviet Black Sea ports between 1 and
5 January and have reportedly been unloading military equipment
in a heavily guarded security area. Two of them are the Smela
and the Admiral Ushakov. Both previously delivered arms car-
goes to Alexandria. The third is probably the Sukhona, which
passed Istanbul on 2 January. All three declared a cargo of
machinery for Albania.
The Egyptian naval training vessel Mharussa
reportedly left Alexandria on 26 December 1955 carrying 360 of-
ficers of the Egyptian army, navy and air force. The officers
are allegedly on their way to Eastern Europe, where they will un-
dergo specific periods of training--six months, one year, and two
years--in their specialties. This report is unconfirmed, but
other evidence indicates that some Egyptian pilots have already
received training in Czechoslovakia and that plans have also been
made for the training of Egyptian army and navy personnel in
Eastern Europe.
7 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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