CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/12/18

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03178387
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: December 18, 1956

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$18 December 1956
COPY No. 112
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 4/ 4
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1 lir 31:41,-11LL.
C ON TENTS
1. SOVIET-POLISH AGREEMENT
(page 3).
2. NASR SEES SETTLEMENT WITH ISRAEL "OUT OF THE
QUESTION" (page 4).
3.rLSRAEL AMBASSADOR STATES POSITION ON SINAI
(page 5).
4. INCREASED EAST GERMAN CONTROL OVER OFFICIAL
ALLIED TRAVEL INDICATED (page 6).
5. ATHENS' REJECTION OF BRITISH CONSTITUTION FOR
CYPRUS (page 7).
6. EGYPT CONTINUES NORTH AFRICAN ARMS TRAFFIC
(page 8).
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1. SOVIET-POLISH AGREEMENT
Comment on:
The Soviet-Polish agreement signed in
Warsaw on 17 December, although pro-
viding for the retention of Soviet troops
in Poland, is otherwise highly favorable
to the Poles and appears in all major
respects to carry out the promises the Soviet leaders made
to Gomulka at the time of his trip to Moscow a month ago.
In essence the agreement grants Warsaw the right to exer-
cise its sovereignty in respect to Soviet forces stationed in
Poland.
Conclusion at this time of an agreement
so clearly recognizing Polish sovereign prerogatives sug-
gests that the USSR acted in the interest of bolstering the
prestige of Gomulka's regime and of strengthening its abil-
ity to cope with sporadic anti-Soviet outbreaks.
The Soviet delegation, headed by Foreign
Minister Shepilov and including Defense Minister Zhukov and
several Foreign Ministry officials, resembles the type that
would normally be sent to negotiate with a foreign power other
than a Soviet Satellite. This will serve to enhance Gomulka's
stature, particularly within the party, while the agreement it-
self undoubtedly will be regarded by many Poles as demonstrat-
ing Gomulka's ability to deal effectively with the Soviet leaders.
Shepilov's comment following the signing
of the agreement that it "opens a new phase in the relations
between Socialist countries" suggests that the Soviet leaders
may be prepared to discuss the question of the position of
Soviet troops stationed in the other Warsaw pact countries
as outlined in their declaration of 30 October.
18 Dec 56
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�
2. NASR SEES SETTLEMENT WITH ISRAEL "OUT OF
THE QUESTION"
Comment on:
Nasr is inclined to believe that settle-
ment with Israel is now out of the ques-
tion, according to Ambassador Hare in
Cairo. In a three-hour discussion on
16 December, Nasr indicated he considers the present al-
ternatives in Egypt's relations with Israel to be either con-
tinuing tension or peace without settlement. While Nasr
said he would be prepared to co-operate to achieve such a
de facto peace, he believes that an attempt now to try for
settlement with Israel would only make things worse. Nasr
gave the impression that on this question he found it diffi-
cult to see the road ahead clearly.
Nasr commented that he did not see how
the problem of Israel could be settled prior to a settlement
among the Arabs themselves. As long as the Egyptian-Iraqi
tension continued, he intimated, Egypt could not take the lead
for fear that Iraq would exploit any concessions Cairo might
offer Israel to align the other Arab states against� Egypt.
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411
3. ISRAELI AMBASSADOR STATES POSITION ON SINAI
Israeli ambassador to i:ne United States
Eban told United Nations secretary gen-
eral Hammarskjold on 12 December that
Israel seeks an eventual permanent de-
militarization of the Sinai Peninsula.
an said that "history and geography had designed the Sinai
Peninsula in such a way it could serve as an effective barrier
between the two countries." Israel for the immediate present,
he said, sought a condition of "nonbelligerency," brought about
by a wide separation of Egyptian and Israeli forces.
Eban, who stated that the problem of
Sharm al-Shaik and the Gulf of Aqaba could be left for later
discussion, told Hammarskjold that Israel would take further
steps to implement its policy of phased withdrawal from Sinai
in co-ordination with the arrival of the UN forces. He said
that if everything went smoothly, UNEF positions should ex-
tend over nearly the whole of the peninsula by the end of De-
cember or early January.
The Israeli ambassador said occupation
by UN forces should not be accompanied by simultaneous oc-
cupation by Egyptian forces, as this would merely restore
the situation from which "the explosion" arose. He said
Israeli policy is to reduce the likelihood of Sinai being mili-
tarized as a base against Israel, and that the UN forces should
function so as to prevent acts of belligerency in Sinai, in the
Gulf of Aqaba, and the Suez Canal. UN troops should stay long
enough to permit, if not a complete Israeli-Egyptian settle-
ment, at least "local settlements" which would establish a
position of "nonbelLigerency and nonconflict" when the UN
troops withdrew.
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4. INCREASED EAST GERMAN CONTROL OVER OFFICIAL
ALLIED TRAVEL INDICATED
Comment on:
The Soviet Union appears to have de-
cided to grant the East German author-
ities almost complete control over
Western Allied travelers entering East
ermany. This constitutes another effort to gain at least de
acto recognition of the East German regime by the Allies as
ell as another means of harassment of the Allies' vulnerable
utpost in West Berlin.
A Soviet vice consul in Berlin on 14 De-
mber told an American official that visas for Western Al-
ied travelers through East Germany were now more difficult
to obtain because of delays in getting clearance from the East
Germans. He also said that since 5 December Soviet person-
nel, "including Ambassador Pushkin," are required to get East
German documentation for travel in East Germany.
The Soviet Union apparently is taking the
position that it has no authority over travelers in East Germany
except those persons connected with the Allied garrisons in Ber-
lin. Soviet authorities, in their recent intensified control of Al-
lied rail and road traffic between Berlin and West Germany, have
attempted to define very strictly those persons they consider to
be connected with the garrison. Probably attempts will be made
to force all other official Allied travelers, such as diplomatic
personnel not actually stationed in Berlin, to apply to the East
German authorities for visas.
The Russian deputy commandant in Berlin
stated on 15 December that "Americans traveling through
Schoenefeld Airport will have documents checked by East Ger-
man authorities since all Soviet control officials have been with-
drawn." This will primarily affect diplomatic personnel going
to and from Moscow and Warsaw, who normally use this field a
few miles outside East Berlin.
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4.-3L1._11..C. 1
5. ATHENS' REJECTION OF BRITISH CONSTITUTION
FOR CIRRUS
The Greek government's rejection of the
latest British constitutional proposals
for Cyprus will further strain Athens'
relations with Britain and Turkey and
will almost certainly lead to bitterness
in the debate on Cyprus in the UN Gen-
eral Assembly.
The recent visit of British colonial sec-
retary Lennox-Boyd to Athens was probably designed part-
y to provide evidence for Britain's charges of Greek ex-
tremism. According to the American embassy in London,
Britain did not expect Greece to accept the constitution, alit.,
not intend to permit any changes in the proposals, and planned
to permit Greece to consult the exiled Cypriot archbishop Ma-
karios only if Athens were prepared to accept the constitution.
Following discussions with Lennox-Boyd on 14 December, Greek
government leaders agreed unanimously to reject the constitu-
tion because it made no provision for self-determination and did
not offer real self-government, since many powers were re-
served to the British governor.
The Greek reaction ensures that the UN de-
bate expected in early February will be acrimonious. Both
sides will probably be forced to take more rigid positions, mak-
ing a compromise virtually impossible and prolongin indefinite-
ly the tension among Greece, Britain and Turkey.
18 Dec 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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OEFLII.E.�
%se itme
6, EGYPT CONTINUES NORTH AFRICAN ARMS TRAFFIC
Comment
18 Dec 56
The arms are probably part of the Arab
supplies being routed through Tunisia to
the Algerian rebels.
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