CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/02/29

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03161769
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: February 29, 1956

Approved for Release. 2019/10/21 C03161769
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
T�
Ar/ZA
DOCUMENT NO.
29 February 1956
Copy No.
103
NO CHANGE IN CLASS an
Ill DECLASSIFIED �
CLASS CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: P0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: tit 0144 S 0 REVIEWEA:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c),"
'
1
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Apo
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I I
� CONTENTS
1. ALGERIAN CRISIS DEEPENS
(page 3).
2. TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT FORMS PRO-
VISIONAL GOVERNMENT IN TOKYO (page 4).
3.
(page 5)0
4. KARAMANLIS PREDICTS HE MAY FALL IN SIX MONTHS
(page 6).
5. BURMA TO CO-SPONSOR SOVIET RESOLUTION ON UN
TRUST TERRITORIES (page 7).
6. PEIPING OFFERS CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TO
INDIA (page 8).
29 Feb 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 9)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
TOP SECRET
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4 4
1. ALGERIAN CRISIS DEEPENS
Former premier Mendes-France
told Ambassador Dillon on 27 Febru-
ary that the Algerian situation had de-
teriorated considerably during the last
month and was beginning to show re-
semblances to the Indochina war. He
added that within the next three days
the French government would have
to make decisions crucial for solution
of the Algerian problem and for the future of France.
According to the American consul
general in Algiers, Algerian terrorist attacks have be-
come bolder, better conceived, and larger in seale. The
terrorists have harassed land communications to such an
extent that air travel is the only reasonably safe means of
transportation.
The consul general reports that the
nationalists plan to surround the city of Algiers and pos-
sibly to stage an uprising in the city within two weeks.
The local mayor insists that the police are not equipped
to handle the situation.
Meanwhile, the European settlers are
organizing for their own protection, in the belief that
France will abandon them. There is talk of establishing
a European-supremacy regime on the pattern of South
Africa.
Comment The French army in Algeria, which
now totals about 200,000 men, is con-
tinuing to lose ground to the 20,000 to 40,000 Algerian
rebels. Some relatively large-scale defections of native
troops have occurred recently.
French plans to reinforce, regroup
and retrain military units for more effective aption in
Algeria may not be accomplished quickly enough to fore-
stall the concerted rebel attacks expected to take place
in March.
29 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
�SEGRET
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2. TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT FORMS
PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT IN TOKYO
The Taiwan Independence Party in
Japan on 28 February formed a
"Provisional Government of the
Republic of Taiwan" with a five-man
"cabinet," according to press reports.
The Hatoyama government, in answer
to repeated Chinese Nationalist pro-
tests, claims it has no legal right to
suppress activities of the Taiwan Independence Party. A
Foreign Ministry official admitted to the Diet that the gov-
ernment was "interested" in the movement but that it was
"embarrassing to Japano" Foreign Ministry officials told
the American embassy they had called in the leader of the
movement and asked him merely "to take it easy."
Japanese government leaders are be-
lieved to favor creation of a local independent government
on Taiwan and under UN trusteeship. They reportedly feel
that Chinese Nationalist morale is deteriorating and that
this is the only way to keep the island out of Communist
hands.
Peiping denounced the Taiwan independ-
ence movement on 27 February as an intrigue of American
aggressors to occupy Taiwan permanently. Communist prop-
aganda emphasized that Taiwan is an "inseparable" part of
Chinese territory to be "liberated" by "peaceful" means if
possible, but by "means of war, if necessary."
29 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 4
EC
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ilk 1
3.
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Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
TOP SECRET
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JEA../IC 1
4. KARAMANLIS PREDICTS HE MAY FALL IN SIX MONTHS
Greek premier-designate Karamanlis
believes his new government may not
last more than six months because of
his small working majority in parlia-
ment,
Karamanlis realizes the Greek people
expect many serious social problems to be solved imme-
diately and he intends to attempt a dynamic reform pro-
gram. He feels that failure to attempt such a program
might end his political career.
In implementing his program, Kara-
manlis plans to attack certain interests, particularly those
controlled by Bodossakis, Greece's principal industrial
magnate. Karamanlis recognizes that Bodossakis and his
allies may bring about the defection of some of Karamanlis'
supporters in retaliation and thus cause the fall of his gov-
ernment.
Comment Karamanlis' majority of only 13 seats
in a parliament of 300 makes for polit-
ical instability and pressure for new elections. He appar-
ently is primarily interested in making a record which will
substantially increase his popular support in subsequent
elections.
Karamanlis' program will put him in
open opposition to Bodossakis, who has influence in all po-
litical parties and promotes weak governments which he
can control by manipulating blocs of deputies holding the
balance of power.
29 Feb 56
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Lint
A
5, BURMA TO CO-SPONSOR SOVIET RESOLUTION ON UN
TRUST TERRITORIES
Burma's UN delegation has been in-
structed to co-sponsor a resolution
the USSR plans to introduce in the UN
Trusteeship Council calling on admin-
istering powers to set a definite date
"for th'e independence of territories under their controL
the proposed resolution appeared to be in keep-
ing with Burma's policy concerning trust territories,
Comment The Burmese delegation
had been asked to
co-sponsor this and another Soviet resolution calling for a
ban on nuclear tests in trust territories. It recommended
against co-sponsorship in each case, saying that India would
not only refuse to co-sponsor them but would abstain if they
came to a vote.
Burma and India have both co-sponsored
similar trusteeship measures in the past. There is no con-
firmation of the attitude attributed to India by the Burmese
delegation.
29 Feb 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
1-2.0p_SEeRIELT
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-NO
6. PEIPING OFFERS CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
TO INDIA
The US embassy in New Delhi believes
that current Chinese Communist trade
promotion activity is certain to assume
considerable political significance, even
ive may not result in a great increase in
trade. The list of products being offered by the Chinese ap-
pears designed to demonstrate to Asians generally that rapid
industrialization has been possible in China under the Commu-
nist regime.
A new protocol to the 1954 Sino-Indian
trade agreement is being negotiated in New Delhi. Chinese
exports under this protocol are expected to include 50,000
tons of steel and other construction materials which India ur-
gently requires for its Second Five-Year Plan (1956-1961).
29 Feb 56
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A
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 28 February)
The American army attach�n Damascus
reports further Syrian troop movements to the Israeli border.
He adds that the bulk of Syrian artillery is now in position to
support the front-line brigades. This, plus the previous
Syrian troop movements reported on 25 February, indicates
that the bulk of the Syrian army has been moved close to the
Israeli border. The Syrian army strength on 1 December
1955�before recent additional call-ups,totaled 39, 200 officers
and men formed into six infantry brigades, one armored
brigade, five artillery battalions, and one commando bat-
talion.
Colonel Kriebel, crerman military aq-
viser to the Syrian army, told the attach�hat the Syrian units
are too far forward and they can now be easily reached and
mauled by Israeli forces. Kriebel said a forward defensive
line of only token strength, which he advocates, would neces-
sitate a real penetration of Syrian territory to reach the main
force, and he believes the Israeli forces would not attempt
this.
Half of the Egyptian army is now in the
area adjacent to Israel. New Egyptian movements into the
Sinai area since the first of. this year have added another
8, 500 troops, bringing the present total to 42, 500 officers and
men--seven times the strength in January 1955. These latest
increments are more significant in type than in numbers.
They include, in addition to an infantry brigade and an artil-
lery regiment, major armored units--two regiments of Sher-
man tanks (about 100) and a regiment of Centurions (36), to-
gether with armored car and armored infantry units. Also
reported is the movement into the Sinai of the equivalent of
two regiments (about 85) of the newly acquired Soviet T-34
tanks, These regiments, however, are not yet accepted as
fully operational units.
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N.01
Lebanese army units have also moved
closer to the Israeli border. The Lebanese chief of staff
told the American army attach�n Beirut that the 2nd In-
fantry Battalion from Tripoli, the 3rd Infantry Brigade and
two artillery battalions from Beirut, and the 5th Infantry
Brigade from Ablah were moving south to reinforce the
Lebanese-Israeli frontier. The attach�omments that the
probable locations of the reinforcements will 1$ at Sidon,
Nabatiye, and Hasbaya. The chief of staff said that public
opinion will force the Lebanese to support Syria, but the
attach�omments that it is doubtful that Lebanon would give
active support. The Lebanese previously had one infantry
hattalion in the vicinity of the Israeli frontier.
Egypt has asked India to warn the United
States that if the Jordan River waters are actually diverted
by Israel prior to Arab approval of the Johnston plan, "a very
serious situation will arise."
29 Feb 56
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