CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/05/16

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03161861
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RIPPUB
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U
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10
Document Creation Date: 
October 25, 2019
Document Release Date: 
October 31, 2019
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Publication Date: 
May 16, 1956
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PDF icon CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULL[15740233].pdf260.55 KB
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Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 re/ � i----757:r5Eze'R-Ef-r- CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN 16 May 1956 Copy No. DOCUMENT NO.._ NO CHANGE IN CLAS. f 1 DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS NAEuXTT REVIEW DATE: _ Htl DAT REVIEWER: 3.3(h)(2) 1)3 3.5(c) OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 324/; Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 Amik oak Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C0361861 --W CONTENTS 1. BRITISH PROPOSE EFFORT TO GET SOVIET SUPPORT FOR UN MOVES TOWARD ARAB-ISRAELI SETTLEMENT (page 3). 2, CAMBODIA LIKELY TO ACCEPT CHINESE COMMUNIST AID OFFER (page 4). 3. HUNGARIAN FACTIONALISM LEADS TO SPECIAL CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING (page 5). 4. USSR REPORTEDLY OFFERS TO SUPPLY JET TRANSPORTS TO INDIA (page 6). 5. STRIKE SITUATION COULD LEAD TO COUP IN URUGUAY (page 7). 6. ECUADORAN-CZECH ARMS NEGOTIATIONS (page 8). 16 May 56 * * * * THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION (page 9) Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 01,4 1. BRITISH PROPOSE EFFORT TO GET SOVIET SUPPORT FOR UN MOVES TOWARD ARAB-ISRAELI SETTLEMENT British UN chief delegate Dixon has pro- posed to the French and American dele- gates that the Soviet delegation be sounded out on its willingness to support UN moves toward a Middle East settlement during the next two or three months. Dixon implied that Prime Minister Eden envisages consultation on an early Security Council resolu- tion congratulating Secretary General Hammarskj old. The Russians should be asked at the same time to support diplo- matically Hammarskjold's plan under which troops would be withdrawn from the El Auja-Sinai area and Egypt would lift its blockade of the Suez Canal. Dixon indicated the British were prepared to go further and ask the Russians if they are willing to support a "full settlement" of Palestine problems. According to Dixon, London believes the Soviet government is now "more manageable," and that the West should now "cash in." He expressed his view that the only way to solve the Palestine problem is to bring Soviet pressure to bear on the Arabs. Comment The British evidently consider that they were moderately successful in getting Khrushchev and Bulganin to comprehend the gravity of the situation in the Middle East during their recent visit to the United Kingdom, and want an early test of the professed Soviet willingness to co-operate in the UN to relieve tension. 16 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21_C03161861 2. CAMBODIA LIKELY TO ACCEPT CHINESE COMMUNIST AID OFFER Under the terms of an economic aid agreement initialed by Communist Cbina and Cambodia, Peiping will ex- pend about $23,000,000 in Cambodia years in the fields of irrigation, hy- draulic engineering, light industry, transportation and communications, schools and hospitals, and electric power. The program is to be supervised by mixed commissions operating in Peiping and Phnom Penh. Cambodia will prob- ably ratify the agreement. Comment There is no doubt of Peiping's ability to meet its commitments under this aid agreement, which is the first made by the Chinese with a non-Communist country. Peiping has made repeated offers dur- ing the past several months to give Cambodia aid "without strings!' The type of aid offered fits in with Cambodia's two-year economic development program. The aid program would give the Chinese Communists an opportunity to establish themselves firmly in Cambodia and to develop contacts in South Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. 16 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 SECHEll 3. HUNGARIAN FACTIONALISM LEADS TO SPECIAL CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING issension within the Hungarian central ommittee has reached such proportions hat a special meeting has been scheduled or this week, according to well-qualified s.ource of the American legation in Budapest. One source reports that party leader Rakosies tactics will be to make a show of yielding to mounting pressure, but he "will continue to maintain control without giving too much ground." The latest in a series of public displays of Soviet support for Rakosi appeared in a 9 May Szabad Nep article which quoted Voroshilov's message of "ardent and best greetings to his dear friend Rakosi." Comment Several recent reports indicate that oppo- sition to Rakosi is centering in a group of younger nationalistic Communists, headed by politburo mem- bers Kovacs and Szalai, Colonel General Nogradi, and Janos Kadar, now a local party secretary. Kadar was ousted from the politburo in 1950 in the wake of the Rajk Titoist trial. In the face of increased opposition to Rakosi, Soviet leaders, including Bulganin and Khrushchev, have en- dorsed Rakosi three times in the past six weeks. The USSR probably fears that his removal now would only worsen the Hungarian political situation. 16 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 SMALL__ `.ter 4. USSR REPORTEDLY OFFERS TO SUPPLY JET TRANSPORTS TO INDIA The USSR has made an offer to Prime Minister Nehru of TU-104 jet trans- ports for the government-owned Air Indi[a International, This type of aircraft, three of which flew to London during the Bulganin-Khrushchev visit, only recently went into production. Until commercial aviation has had more experience with jet transports, India is unlikely to accept either this offer or another reported Soviet offer to India Air Corporation, also government-owned, of an unspecified jet transport for its internal airways. India, however, is considering� British and Soviet offers of jet light bombers. (Con- curred in by ORR) 16 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6 SaltET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 S 5. STRIKE SITUATION COULD LEAD TO COUP IN URUGUAY /the serious Uruguayan political crisis precipitated by a strike in the important meat packing industry might eventually lead to a declaration of mar- tial law and a coup by General Juan Ribas, then heading the Defense Ministry. Such developments would have the support of former council president Luis Bathe Berres. An unconfirmed press report late on 15 May announced a new cabinet in which Gamarra was shifted to the Foreign Ministry post and a new defense minister ap- pointed. This cabinet shuffle was necessitated by the resig- nation last week of three ministers over a minor issue. Uruguay is ruled by a nine-man council wielding the authority of the chief of state, with the title of president rotating on an annual basis. Both Bathe, who was president of the council until 1 March, and the opposition Nationalist Party have been reported working for the past six months toward abolition of the council. The present coun- cil was established in 1952, largely to prevent Batlle from becoming too powerful under a presidential system. The composition of the new cabinet, drawn exclusively from Battle's faction of the majority party, further narrows the government's already slim congressional base and could prolong the present stalemate over important legislation. Although Uruguayan politics are chronically turbulent, the last coup took place in 1933 under similar cir- cumstances, when economic conditions were difficult and there was a split in the executive. 16 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7 SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 6, ECUADORAN-CZECH ARMS NEGOTIATIONS Because of Ecuador's foreign exchange shortage, Czechoslovakia is reported willing to allow credit. Old armaments held by Ecuador would be acceptable as part payment while rice, coffee, cocoa, and possibly a small amount of crude oil would make up the balance. Comment Arms negotiations between Ecuador and Czechoslovakia have been under way for about a year and a half. Ecuador has been engaged in an arms race with Peru and has turned to the Soviet bloc countries for arms because of its inability to secure arms from free world sources on the terms it desires. (Concurred in by ORR) 16 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861 LS ET THE ARAB -LSRAE LI SITUATION (Information as of 1700, 15 May) Israel charged that two Israeli workers were wounded by gunfire from a Syrian position in upper Galilee. (Press) / There has been no previous indi- cation that the Arab states are thinking in terms of such a con- ference, which would presumably be outside the United Nations. A conference in which the Arab states would sit down with Israel to discuss the Palestine problem would be unprecedented, and the assortment of countries supposedly to be invited appears to be an unlikely combinatio 16 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9 :4E4(1 �1]'T Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03161861