CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/02/25

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03161847
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
11
Document Creation Date: 
October 25, 2019
Document Release Date: 
October 31, 2019
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Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
February 25, 1956
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15740230].pdf271.27 KB
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Cjilmeept;r Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 .4/ TOP SECRET V CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) 25 February 1956 DOCUMENT NO. S NO CHANGE IN CLASS �% Ll DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C NEXT REVIEW DATE: 2-01 AUTH: HR 70-2 DATE't 0 REVIEWER: Copy No. INV teL,' OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 frA r'Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 4Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847, I WI 6JL.A.0.1%.1-4 1 CONTENTS . SYRIA CONCENTRATES FORCES ON ISRAELI BORDER (page 3). -2. AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONTEMPLATING PRO- TEST TO BONN ON BALLOON OVERFLIGHTS (page 4 3. PROLONGED VIET IVIINH DROUGHT MAY RUIN SPRING CROP (page 5). 4. INDONESIAN CABINET TO RESIGN 2 MARCH (page 6). t)"5. INDONESIAN CHARGE' IN PEIPING SEES NO CHINESE DISSATISFACTION WITH SOVIET MOVES IN ASIA (page 7). L-'6. SOVIET AMBASSADOR SUGGESTS RE-ESTABLISHING DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL (page 8). t 7. SOVIET EMBASSY OFFICIALS IN MEXICO TO MAKE SECOND TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA (page 9). 25 Feb 56 * * * THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (page 10) Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 41w3proved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 _ vr EA, 1. SYRIA CONCENTRATES FORCES ON ISRAELI BORDER Damascus has moved Major elements of the Syrian army to positions close to the Israeli frontier, with strength centered in the Quneitra-Qatana area. These elements in- clude half an armored brigade, half an infantry brigade for- merly stationed in northern Syria, and portions of another brigade normally based in the HAIFA � 1 I. BEIRUT � AIABOUN *ASCUS OQATANA"\ 4, BANIYAS Li � QUNEITRA1 '1OBA NAT YACOV LT 4. S Y R21 A .0 FIG IRBID . � 0 R D 0 10 20 US Sial Mlles( UNCLASSIFIED 24 FEBRUARY 1956 60224 2 northwest. Other units have also been brought up Iron' far rear areas to where they can be more readily available. these moves were made be- cause of Syria's weakness in transport and Israel's capabilicy of interdicting the roads in case hostilities should break out. a secret "all-out" mo- bilization has been ordered, no reserve re- mains to cope with the eventuality of a major Israeli break- through. Syrian public opinion never- theless demanded that a maximum force be at the frontier. Comment This concentration of Syrian force, which reflects Syrian leaders' fear that Israel plans some action on or about 1 March, creates an unusually explosive situation and increases the danger that a local incident might draw in major units and thus lead to large-scale hostilities. The Israelis are almost certainly aware of the concentration of Syrian forces 25 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 J&A.#116.� A 2. AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONTEMPLATING PROTEST TO BONN ON BALLOON OVERFLIGHTS Austrian foreign minister Figl told American officials in Vienna on 23 February he was contemplating a protest to the West German govern- ment on propaganda balloon overflights of Austrian territory. He referred to charges in the Soviet press that the United States had violated Austrian neutrality by troop movements and overflights of military planes and balloons. He said he would deny the charge on troop movements and hoped to avoid commentinpon overflights, but added that the balloon issue was a very uncomfortable one for Austria. American officials believe the balloons are not only embarrassing the Austrian government but are causing anti-American feeling in Austria and that Austria might terminate Radio Free Europe activities there. Comment Vienna is very sensitive to any criti- cism of Austria's conduct of its policy of neutrality. Action against Radio Free Europe would offset the expulsion of the Communist-sponsored World Federation of Trade Unions early this month. A protest to Bonn would counter Soviet charges that Austria's neu- trality is being violated without protest from Vienna. 25 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4 SECRE Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 - 70P SECRET 3. PROLONGED VIET MINH DROUGHT MAY RUIN SPRING CROP Showing no signs of a letup after 16 months of drought and two years of crop failures, the severe shortage of rain has again ruined seedling rice and has necessitated widespread replanting, the drilling of at least 10,000 wells, the allocation of military manpower to irrigation projects, and the formation of a "Central Drought Committee" by the premier. All of North Vietnam's provinces have been affected. In many areas hit by the September 1955 typhoon, fresh water for irrigation is still not available. An increase in Soviet bloc assistance to the area is suggested by a rise during February in de- liveries of Burmese rice under the Soviet aid program. (Prepared by ORR) 25 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5 )P SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 f�Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 CU1F1IMPH-42441, 4. INDONESIAN CABINET TO RESIGN 2 MARCH The central committee of the Masjumi party, which heads the Indonesian coa- lition cabinet, decided on 23 February that the cabinet should resign its man- date on 2 March. This decision has been reported to Presi- dent Sukarno. Just before the decision, the committee voted overwhelmingly in favor of Vice Chairman Sukiman's more nationalistic policies as opposed to those of Chairman Natsir. the 23 � February vote means that Sukiman will direct Masjumi policy during the formation of the new government, and that the timing of the decision to resign will make co-operation easier between the Masjumi on the one hand and the Nation- al Party and the Nandlatul Ulama on the other. Comment The new parliament is expected to be seated sometime between 10 and 20 March. The change in de facto Masjumi leadership would probably serve to increase the possibility of Masjumi participation in the next cabinet. Sukiman is personally more acceptable to the opposition National Party and the Nandlatul Ulama and also to President Sukarno than is � Natsir. He is also reported to be more skilled at po- litical maneuvering. 25 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6 CONFIDENTIA-L-- Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 4Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 ,--TOP-SErefik&T- 5. INDONESIAN CHARGE IN PEIPING SEES NO CHINESE DISSATISFACTION WITH SOVIET MOVES IN ASIA Comment Representatives of foreign govern- ments in Peiping are almost unani- mous in the opinion that there are no signs of policy di- vergence between the USSR and Communist China. Yugo- slav officials, however, have usually emphasized that Peiping is relatively independent of Moscow and that the potential exists for an increase in China's freedom of action. Despite the possibility that more direct participation by the USSR in Asian affa,irs rivals Peiping's bid for leadership in Asia, the Chinese Communists public- ly supported the recent Soviet moves toward Asian coun- tries. They publicized the concept of Chinese Communist- Soviet-Indian solidarity On international matters, identi- fied the USSR as a member of the Asian community, and "welcomed" the offers of Soviet assistance to other Asian couhtries. 25 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7 �"}:"01)--SteRELT Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 � 6. SOVIET AMBASSADOR SUGGESTS RE-ESTABLISHING DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL 25 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8 --TOP-SEeRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 iekpproved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 JC.L.AE. 1 7. SOVIET EMBASSY OFFICIALS IN MEXICO TO MAKE SECOND TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA Ambassador Kulazhenkov and First Secretary ICazantsev of the Soviet embassy in Mexico City are sched- uled to depart by air on 27 February ior Argentina, Comment The Argentine ambassador in Wash- ington stated recently that the two Soviet representatives were planning an "immediate" four-day visit to Buenos Aires as guests of the Soviet ambassador there. The Soviet ambassadors may be planning to co-ordinate their efforts for future ap- proaches on the diplomatic level to Latin American gov- ernments in support of Soviet premier Bulganin's public bid on 16 January for diplomatic and economic relations with Latin America. Kulazhenkov and Kazantsev visited �Ecuador two months ago on their first trip in Latin America outside of Mexico. They expressed interest in establishing diplomatic relations and reportedly made "attractive" offers of arms and economic assistance to the Velasco government. 25 Feb 56 Current Intelligence ISulletin Page 9 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C0316184T OE-A,I 1..EJ New � THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (Information as of 1700, 24 February) An exchange of fire between Egyptian and Israeli patrolsIalong the Gaza strip has been reported by Cairo. (Press) Syrian chief of staff Shuqayr told the American army attach�n 22 February that an agreement in principle has been reached with Czechoslovakia to supply arms. All that remains to be done is to select the types and quantities desired. Shuqayr said the total amount of money involved was not knnwn hiif he hplieyerl Syria would get all the arms it needs. 25 Feb 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10 Approved for for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161847