CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/01/26

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03157475
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: January 26, 1956

Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03157475
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO. a
d7//
26 January 1956 3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
.//s/
co3:57475 /7#/4
Copy No.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS Jo
CI DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE. 2-010
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE:11 T_50 REVIEWER:
103
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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Aleik
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CONTENTS
I. SIGNS OF POUJADLSM IN ITALY
(page 3).
2. SECURITY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
(page 4).
26 Jan 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 5)
* * * *
THE TAIWAN STRAIT
(page 6)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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CONFIDENTIAL
1. SIGNS OF POUJADISM IN ITALY
The recent Convention of Small
Industries held in Rome was the
setting for a full-scale airing of
the accumulating grievances of
Italian businessmen against the "anti-private enter-
prise orientation" of the Segni government, according
to the American embassy in Rome. Two cabinet mem-
bers were hooted down during their speeches. The
chief points of attack were the government's fiscal and
credit policy, social security payments, new overtime
laws, and inadequate customs rebates.
Comment Discontent among Italian small business-
men may cause them to be sympathetic
to protest movements along the lines of the Poujade move-
ment in France. Poujadist groups have been founded in
Rome, Naples, Milan and Bologna, and Poujade reportedly
intends to visit Italy in the spring. Local elections are
scheduled to be held in early summer.
Otto Strasser, former Nazi leader re-
cently returned from exile to Germany, apparently hopes
to establish a similar movement among German extremists
and reportedly plans to meet Poujade soon.
26 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
-CONFIDENTIAL
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2. SECURITY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
The Viet Minh is apparently scoring
a considerable success in its alli-
ance with the Hoa Hao rebels in south-
west Vietnam. By using the Hoa Hao
it is able to carry on military activity
against the South Vietnam government
and at the same time avoid open viola-
tion of the Geneva terms.
Since Hoa Hao-Viet Minh co-operation
was initiated last fall, a general improvement in Hoa Hao
tactics and combat effectiveness has been noted. In a clash
with the Hoa Hao on 13 January, the Vietnamese army suf-
fered its heaviest casualties in any single action since the
end of the war in 1954, with 61 killed and missing, includ-
ing a battalion commander. The Vietnamese army now has
some 35,000 troops deployed against an estimated 3,800
Hoa Hao.
The Viet Minh's association with the Hoa
Hao is only one facet of the Communist effort against Diem.
Subversion and infiltration are equally important
The Viet Minh may make a special effort
to interfere with the national assembly elections in South
Vietnam on 4 March. It has already called for a boycott of
these elections. the Viet Minh has is-
sued orders that the election be "sabotaged."
26 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
-711919-4FPP-PX
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I is
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
25 January)
Only minor shooting incidents have been
reported on the Arab-Israeli borders.
Ian Israeli patrol action against the Arab Legion
on 22 January, which
may have been in reprisal for an earlier incident in which
two Israelis were killed.
Egypt has publicly an-
nounced that Israeli aircraft over the gulf area would be fired
on, and stated that antiaircraft fire had been
directed at a plane in this area.
Tel Aviv
notes that a bill has been introduced into the Israeli parlia-
ment to increase the deficiency appropriation for defense
from the equivalent of $14,000,000 to $281000,000.
Egypt now has 150 T-34 tanks. (This esti-
mate is approximately correct.) Israel was at a
point of "extreme desperation" and that preventive war would be
the best way out were it not that Israel cannot afford to antago-,
nize world opinion by such action.
26 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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BIWEEKLY SUMMARY
12-25 January 1956
THE TAIWAN STRAIT
Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group
for the Taiwan Strait Problem
1. During the period the Chinese Communist and Nation-
alist ground forces in the Quemoy area engaged in a series of
artillery exchanges. On 19 January, the Chinese Communists
fired almost 3,000 rounds, the heaviest day's shelling since
22 September 1954. This heavy firing probably was in retali-
ation for earlier Nationalist shellings or it may have been re-
lated to the Nationalist troop rotation in the Quemoy area. No
particular significance is attached to this heavy Communist
shelling.
2.
the Wuchiu Islands, midway between Matsu
and Quemoy, be evacuated because of their negligible value and
indefensibility. The Wuchius are garrisoned by 480 guerrillas.
President Chiang Kai-shek may concur in this action, although
for political and psychological reasons he has been opposed to
giving any more islands, to the Communists.
3. The rotation program between Quemoy and Taiwan has
bogged down due to many difficulties in both areas. This rota-
tion was to be completed between November 1955 and mid-March
1956. However, the replacement of only one of the five divisions
has been completed and the rotation of the next division may now
be delayed until sometime in March.
4. Although four of the new coastal airfields are considered
serviceable, aircraft are not yet permanently stationed on the new
airfields in East China. Chenghai airfield, near Swatow, may have
been used for an overnight refueling stop by jet fighters from Can-
ton, and Nantai, near Foochow.
5.
26 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
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I A.
6. during the months of Novem-
ber and December, a total of 40 Chinese Communist LCMes ar-
rived in the Shanghai area. The arrival of these craft, which
accommodate 90 troops each, will considerably increase Chi-
nese Communist amphibious capabilities in the East China area.
7
13
amphibious transport vehicles operating in the Peding Peninsula
area northwest of Matsu. Seven of this type were sighted
8. In recent propaganda comment on the Geneva ambassado-
rial talks, Peiping has charged the US with an effort to "finalize"
its "occupation" of Taiwan and to cover up its activities designed
to maintain tension in the area. On 25 January a Chinese Commu-
nist broadcast contained the vague threat that the US "must bear
the consequences" if it persists in "dragging out" the ambassado-
rial talks. An implication that the talks would continue, however,
was contained in a Peiping broadcast of 20 January which pro-
claimed that "the Chinese people do not fear US dilatory tactics. . .
although the US dragged out the Korean armistice talks for two
years, still had to sign the armistice
agreement."
9. The offshore islands received no unusual propaganda atten-
tion in Chinese Communist radio broadcasts, other than a broad-
cast of 18 January addressed to the officers and soldiers on Que-
moy and Matsu noting the anniversary of the Communist seizure
of Ichiang and encouraging defection.
The Communists have increased their use of artillery to
deliver propaganda leaflets on the Quemoys. This has proved suf-
ficiently successful to cause the Nationalists to make plans for in-
creasing the political indoctrination of troops in this area.
26 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
n rim.
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TAIWAN STRAIT STRAIT SITUATION
26 JANUARY 1956
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 LEET.
ACTIVE BASE FOR MILITARY & CIVILIAN AIR-
CRAFT. SOME BASES USED BY PISTON TYPES
MAY BE USABLE BY JETS
OPERATIONAL
INACTIVE BASES CAPABLE OF USE BY AIRCRAFT
� SERVICEABLE
CURRENT STATUS UNDETERMINED
UNKI, OWN
USABILITY
I 4! 7
MIG-15 TU-2,
IL-10 i
IA-9/11
1.1-2
IL-28 ETC.
MIG-17
f U-4
UNKNOWN
* FIELDS NOT CONSIDERED CAPABLE
OF SUPPORTING SUSTAINED OPER-
ATIONS AT PRESENT
RONAN
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11 U T E H
WAN KOW
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CH IUCFIIA
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NANCHAN
28 CHANGSHA
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26