CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/05/26

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03161864
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: May 26, 1956

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/ CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
/1.
Approved
TOP SECRET
26 May 1956
Copy No. 103
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS
DECLASSIFIED
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AUTH:
DATE,
TS S
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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1 1,11 JLjLILr
77-t -7 3 76
CONTENTS
. USSR ASKS WHETHER MIKOYAN COULD VISIT COLOMBIA
(page 3).
/2. MOROCCAN FINANCE MINISTER ESTIMATES ANTICIPATED
INCOME FROM US BASES (page 4).
/3. FRANCE READY FOR "FIRST STEP" TOWARD RECOGNITION
OF PEIPING page 5).
4. JAPANESE TREND TOWARD RECOGNITION OF PEIPING
GAINING STRENGTH (page 6).
26 May 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 7)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
-7-013-SEGRET
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1� USSR ASKS WHETHER MIKOYAN COULD VISIT COLOMBIA
Comment
This confirms that the Soviet government
is considering a Latin American trip by
Mikoyan. It seems likely that persistent rumors of the trip
have been encouraged by the USSR as a means of testing
Latin American receptivity to such a visit. Uruguay has ex-
pressed its willingness to receive Mikoyan.
The excess of world production of coffee,
Colombia's principal source of revenue, has caused the
latter to seek new markets in Eastern Europe and the USSR.
(Concurred in by ORR)
26 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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2. MOROCCAN FINANCE MINISTER ESTIMATES ANTICIPATED
INCOME FROM US BASES
Moroccan minister of finance Bqnjelloun
recently informed a member of the
French National Assembly's Foreign
Affairs Committee he considered an annual
rental of 150 billion francs (about $430,000,000) a reasonable
rental, considering the indispensability of the bases to United
States security. Benjelloun reportedly indicated that he is
planning to meet many of Morocco's obligations, particularly
in the field of defense, with revenues from the rental of base
sites to the United States,
Comment Benjelloun is a member of the minority
party participating in the present care-
� taker Moroccan governme'nt and does not necessarily repre-
sent the views of the sultan or the majority Istiqlal party.
Nevertheless his suggestion is in line with other reports
that the new Moroccan government will be bargaining sharply
on the bases.
French officials have thought that Morocco
would seek a rental large enough to cover its expected annual
fiscal deficit--estimated by the French at $200,000,000.
26 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
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3. FRANCE READY FOR "FIRST STEP" TOWARD
RECOGNITION OF PEIPING
France had informed Communist China
that it was ready to open negotiations
for the exchange of commercial repre-
sentaLives. this would be a first step
toward the resumption of diplomatic relations,
Comment France had limited this offer to com-
mercial relations, and proposed re-
strictions against any other activity. The Mollet govern-
ment expects increased cultural contacts, however, such as
the government is seeking with Poland, Czechoslovakia and
the USSR.
Recognition of Communist China is a
long-standing demand of Mollet's Socialist Party and there
is considerable pressure for it in the National Assembly
generally. The French see "normalization of relations"
with Communist China as a step which cannot be long post-
poned�
26 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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4. JAPANESE TREND TOWARD RECOGNITION OF PEIPING
GAINING STRENGTH
The prospect of early restoration of
normal relations between Japan and
the USSR is accelerating the strong
trend in Japan toward the recognition
of Communist China. Japanese foreign minister Shigemitsu
emphasized this view to Ambassador Allison on 23 May by
stating that he believed his government would do little to
reverse this trend.
A majority of Japanese, on the political
right as well as the left, have long held that Japan must
ultimately establish diplomatic relations with Communist
China, and Tokyo's primary concern has been only the tim-
ing of moves in that direction, Shigemitsu, in noting the
recent Egyptian recognition of Communist China, the presi-
dent of Pakistan's suggestion that the United States recognize
Peiping, and the prospective establishment of a French trade
mission, apparently was expressing official anxiety that
further delay might isolate Japan from its most important
Asian neighbor.
26 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
�007.11T�TIAL--
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S.ECRET
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 25 May)
The Soviet military attach�n Syria
stated in a conversation with the American army attach�
that while the T-34 medium tank was suitable for use in
Syria, he was opposed to Syria receiving JS-3 heavy tanks
and had so recommended. He added that the Syrians would
be better off fighting on camels than in tanks. The Soviet
assistant military attach�lso declared that even the new
military equipment which Syria was receiving would dete-
riorate rapidly because of Syria's improper maintenance
of tanks and vehicles. \
gyptian armored forces now
include two companies o S-3 heavy tanks, each with 17
tanks mounting I22-mm guns; three companies of SU-100
assault guns, each with 17 100-mm self-propelled guns; a
regiment of T-34 medium tanks organized into three
companies of 17 tanks each, mounting 85-mm guns; a
similar regiment in which each company is reported
equipped with 17 T-34's mounting 100-mm guns; and a
regiment of Centurions organized into two companies u.
17 tanks each. Existence of a T-34 with a 100-mm gun
has not been confirmed; however, the new Soviet medium
tank, the T-54, mounting a 100-mm gun, has been issued
in large quantities to Soviet forces in Germany. No T-54
has previously been reported in connection with the Soviet
bloc arms shipments to Egypt. It is not known whether
the above units are part of Egypt's newly formed tank
division
According to Beirut radio, Syria will
shortly follow Egypt's example in strengthening its navy
by equipping it with modern naval units. At present Syria's
naval combat forces consist of three small ex-French sub-
marine chasers. (Press)
26 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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26 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
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