CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/02/17

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03149176
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RIPPUB
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U
Document Page Count: 
11
Document Creation Date: 
October 25, 2019
Document Release Date: 
October 31, 2019
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Publication Date: 
February 17, 1956
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15740208].pdf336.68 KB
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PAV f/l/ii/PA TOP SECRET CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 V 14 17 February 1956 Copy No. 103 DOCUMENT NO. IT NO CHANGE IN CLASS DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C NEXT REVIEW DATE. 2010 AUTH: HR 70-2 DATE. 14 MI, to REVIEWER: OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TOP SECRET 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) A Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO3149176 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Amok, otes.. Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 CONTENTS 1. STATE OF SIEGE IN PERU (page 3). 20 HEAVY COMMUNIST MILITARY MOVEMENT TOWARD TAIWAN STRAITS REPORTED (page 4). 3. BULGARIA PLANS TO REQUEST RESUMPTION OF RELATIONS WITH US (page 6). 4. COMMUNIST CHINA TO CELEBRATE PRODUCTION OF FIRST MOTOR VEHICLE (page 7). 5, WET MINH PROPAGANDA THREATENS VIOLENCE ON ELECTION DAY IN SOUTH VIETNAM (page 8). 6. DEATH OF ITALIAN BUDGET MINISTER VANONI page 9). 17 Feb 56 * * * * THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (page 10) Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2 -SECRET-- Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 LCNL 1. STATE OF SIEGE IN PERU President Odria's declaration of a nationwide 30-day state of siege re- flects what is apparently serious concern of the Peruvian regime over the sudden uprising of the army garri- son at Iquitos. Although a government spokesman has stated that with the exception of Iquitos the country was completely quiet, with the government in control, uncon- firmed reports suggest that the movement may be spread- ing. The rebels' manifesto, demanding the end of Odria's authoritarian regime and full guarantees for the 3 June presidential elections, in effect reiterates the demands made by the political opposition in recent months. Antiregime sentiment among the Peruvian military as well as the general populace has been developing as a result of Odria's refusal to accede to these demands. Developments in the past several months have all pointed to a well-directed plan by Odria to ensure the continuation of his regime in power by installing a hand-picked successor through rigged elections. General Marcial Merino Pereira, who re- portedly initiated the revolt, was a member of the military junta which emerged from the 1948 Arequipa revolution, fol- lowing which General Odria was elected head of state. 17 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3 Approved for for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Approved for Release:2019/10/21 C03149176 2, HEAVY COMMUNIST MILITARY MOVEMENT TOWARD TAIWAN STRAITS REPORTED Chinese Communist military truck traffic on the highway between Canton and Swatow, at the southern end of the Taiwan Strait, was "very heavy" dur- ing the last 10 days of January, All of this traffic was at night. _ CONTIOEFMAi milmigimpo PRIMAFiY ROAD SECONDARY ROAD 5p 1yo ilo sm 50 io'o 1O NM all in- land river boats in the Canton area were ordered assembled , for "license inspection" at Canton harbor during the same period. Comment This information may be related to another report that some 60,000 troops arrived in Canton in early January and were 17 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4 SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 to be deployed to the coastal areas of Kwangtung Province. Air photos taken last year indicated an extensive barracks construction program was under way in the Swatow area. Only one army of about 50, 000 troops is currently located in the area Other reports have indicated a recent strengthening of Communist ground forces in the area be- tween Foochow and Amoy. The inspection of boat licenses in Can- ton seems part of the Communist program for the control of civilian shipping which can be mobilized in time of war. 17 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5 Y' LP Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 3. BULGARIA PLANS TO REQUEST RESUMPTION OF RELATIONS WITH US The Bulgarian minister in Paris is seeking an appointment with Ambas- sador DiIlion in order to make a formal request for the reopening of re ions with nited States. He told the American counselor that his government was interested in some prior indication of how the demarche would be received. When reminded that the mistreatment of US legation personnel was an important reason for the rupture of American-Bulgarian relations, the Bulgarian minister said that "those days were past" and that he saw no reason why American diplomats in Sofia would not now be treated as well as any others, including representatives of the USSR. Comment The Bulgarian request is the latest move by a Soviet bloc country in support of Moscow's efforts to improve relations of the bloc with the United States. The United States broke relations with Bulgaria in February 1950 following Bulgarian charges that the American minister in Sofia was involved in a plot to overthrow the Bulgarian Communist regime. A few months after Stalin's death, Premier Chervenkov publicly expressed a wish to re-establish full normal relations be- tween his country and the United States, Yugoslavia, and Greece. Subsequently, Sofia took the initiative in restor- ing normal relations with Yugoslavia and in undertaking negotiations with Greece, but no direct approach was made to the US until this month. The French minister to Tirana recently told American representatives in Paris that Albania, the only other Satellite not represented in Washington, was ex- ceedingly interested in resuming normal diplomatic relations with the United States. Restrictions on the movement of Western diplomatic personnel in Albania are considerably greater than in Bulgaria. 17 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6 IfeRE-T- Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 'OM ILE I T1A L 4 4 COMMUNIST CHINA TO CELEBRATE PRODUCTION OF FIRST MOTOR VEHICLE The Chinese Communists will have produced their first motor vehicle by August 1956 and intend to make a "great show" of the event, Peiping will send invitations to persons in most countries of Southeast Asia. Comment Peiping radio has stated that China's first motor vehicle factory, at Chang- chun in Manchuria, will be producing vehicles by 1 October 1956, six months ahead of schedule. The plant is sched- uled eventually to produce 30,000 Soviet-model four-ton trucks per year. Peiping could be expected to make a major celebration of the plant's official opening, because it will be one of the first large new machine building plants built under the Communist regime. The construction site at Changchun has been a showplace on official tours given to impress foreign visitors with industrial progress in Communist China. Such displays may impress many Asians with Peiping's propaganda line that China's rapid develop- ment is possible because it is a Communist state that has Soviet support. (Prepared jointly with ORR) 17 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 1.016111,604W 5. WET MINH PROPAGANDA THREATENS VIOLENCE ON ELECTION DAY IN SOUTH VIETNAM Hanoi radio on 10 February broad- cast the strongest statement to date in the Viet Minh's propaganda cam- paign against the national assembly elections scheduled for 4 March in le nam. The broadcast stated that "the Vietnam- ese people who know how to act will not recognize the faked elections" and will "transform them into a bloody reply to the Americans and their lackeys." The broadcast added that President Diem will undoubtedly win the elec- tions as he did in the "referendum farce." These are the first Viet Minh statements strongly implying violence in connection with the 4 March elections. The Viet Minh had previously condemned the elections in more general terms and called for an election boycott. It now appears likely that the Viet Minh will attempt to foment extensive disorders to embarrass the Diem government by creating the impression of insta- bility and widespread repression. Since the Viet Minh lacks the capability to prevent the holding of the elections or to force Diem out in the immediate future, such an effort would probably be part of a long-term campaign to get a govern- ment in the south that would cleal with the Viet Minh. 17 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8 _sgettri' Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Lt./114r ibtbrii-i-fick-E- 6. DEATH OF ITALIAN BUDGET MINISTER VANONI The sudden death of Italian budget minister Vanoni may revive the con- flict on financial policies which nearly caused the government's fall and re- sulted in the resignation of Treasury Minister Gava late in January. Gaya resigned in protest against rising gov- ernment expenditures and was replaced on an acting basis by Vanoni, who favored an expansionist policy focusing on the ten-year economic development plan which bears his name� The Vanoni plan, which seeks a heavy reduction in unemployment, Italy's chief economic ill, has been approved by the OEEC in principle and has captured the imagination of the Italian public. It is widely considered the Christian Democratic government's most effective polit- ical weapon against the Communists, but the government has been slow in working out its final formulation. Vanoni's death will probably further impede government action on it, particu- larly if he is succeeded by Gaya, as may be the case. 17 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9 rili1rITIWNIT1 A I Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176 towe' Nvai THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (Information as of 1700, 16 February) The small selective Israeli call-up of personnel and vehicles reported on 15 February is continuing, but the American army attach�n Tel Aviv believes that it does not indicate an impending large-scale action. This call-up may be connected with a late December statement by a high Israeli officer that divisional maneuvers would be held in the Neaev in January or February. The Egyptian military attacne in Damascus nas stated that Egypt believes the period from 1 March to 1 June will be the most critical in Arab-Israeli relations, since up to June Israel could mount an attack with some hope of early suc- cess. From June on, however, Egypt will be too strong for any attack. The attach�elieves Prime Minister Nasr is rely- ing to a large extent on the UN Security Council to force Israel to make some concessions. If this can be done, he believes there is a chance Nasr would openly advocate peace. The at- tach�lso said Egypt's "new weapons" were now all in use. Egyptian pilots are adapting well to the 1V1IG's but are having some trouble with the IL-28's. The attach�as not very en- thusiastic about the Soviet T-34 medium tanks, but said the J5-3 heavy tanks were able to knock out any TsraPli tank The Syrian UN representative told American of- ficials in New York on 15 February that his government was unlikely to press for a Security Council meeting, since Israeli prime minister Ben-Gurion had stated that plans to resume work at Banat Yacov were "shelved." 17 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03149176