CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/05/06

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03181207
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: May 6, 1955

r�er7e#/#A;roved=leAa.M'17
ff/A 513#17
CO3p/70207.( 10.,
EITb
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
6 May 1955
Copy No. 94
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO .2 6
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. 07L
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 2c.)/ 0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE:-,9//tel0_ REVIEWER-
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRL
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
Approved for Release: 2019/09%17 C03181207
Nor- New'
SUMMARY
SOVIET UNION
1. Soviet cruisers possibly engaged in atomic defense exercises
(page 3).
FAR EAST
2. Private Japan-North Korea fisheries pact reported (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3.
4,
French say they will not recognize authority of Saigon "Revolu-
tionary Committee" (page 5).
SOUTH ASIA
5. Comment on Afghan-Pakistani situation (page 6).
EASTERN EUROPE
6. Hungary reportedly may stage trial to support retention of Soviet
troops (page 7).
6 May 55
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
(page 8)
* * * *
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
TOP SECRET
SOVIET UNION
1. Soviet cruisers possibly engaged in atomic defense exercises:
A Soviet Sverdlov-class cruiser was sighted
recently in Danzig Bay emitting a high-
pressure spray, probably of water, which
covered the ship from bow to stern. The
spraying lasted for approximately 30 min-
utes,
Comment: These are the strongest indi-
cations that extensive atomic deTerise measures are being taken by
units of the Soviet fleet. The first suggestion of Soviet experimenta-
tion in the decontamination of warships was reported on 9 April 1954
when major warships were reported washed down in Odessa harbor
by a vessel resembling a. fireboat. In August and September 1954
a cruiser in Neva Bay,
Leningrad, with hoses crudely rigged over the entire ship. A
Soviet fleet newspaper suggested on 9 January 1955 that atomic de-
fense training had been extended to naval shore installations.
(Concurred in by OSI)
FAR EAST
2. Private Japan-North Korea fisheries pact reported:
6 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3
ApproveTlf&-Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
or" n rrirs
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
Same Nue
Comment: This proposal fits in with the
over-all Communist peace offensive toward Japan, but may also
have an economic basis, as evidenced by the special efforts of the
North Korean regime to modernize its fishing industry. The Japa-
nese government is unlikely to approve the arrangement because
of the probability of retaliation by South Korea, whose trade is
important to Japan.
Despite the unofficial nature of the reported
pact, President [thee will undoubtedly seize upon it to further his
current propaganda campaign against Japan' aimed at reducing
Japan's share of the American aid program for the next fiscal year. I
SOUTHEAST ASIA
3.
6 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 4
rryip crrurrr
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
a 1.0 SLON.,11 ALJ
Nlose
4. French say they will not recognize authority of Saigon "Revolution-
ary Committee":
French officials in Paris state that they
will not recognize any action by the
Saigon "Revolutionary Committee" or
any similar body to change the form of
government in South Vietnam.
Ambassador Dillon comments, however,
that French officials at all levels are more cono,erned with re-
storing the American-French entente on Indochina than with any
specific policy questions. The French have stated categorically
that they have no intention of taking any steps to reduce the author-
ity of Premier Diem's government.
Comment: Paris is eager for a face-
saving solution which would obviate the need for French military
involvement. The Foreign Ministry is emphasizing rumors of
Communist influence over the "Revolutionary Committee" in the
hope of undermining the standing of this group. If Bao Dai should
be deposed and no disorders ensue, however, Paris will probably
accept the fait accompli.
Diem himself favors constitutional change
at the instance of an elected assembly. His ambassador in France
has stressed to American officials the importance of a conciliatory
policy toward France, and the official Vietnamese radio on 3 May
brciadeast a strong plea for French Vietnamese amity.
6 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5
TOP Sre:RFT
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 003181207
Approve-Cr Reirace72-013)09/17 C03181207
Nor
SOUTH ASIA
5. Comment on Afghan-Pakistani situation:
The proclamation on 4 May of a state
of emergency in Afghanistan, and
Foreign Minister Naim's official re-
quest on the same 'date that the United
States mediate Afghan-Pakistani dis-
putes brought to a head by the attack
on the Pakistani embassy in Kabul on
30 March, suggest that Kabul is giving
way under heavy diplomatic and economic pressure applied by
Pakistan.
Afghanistan has received a Pakistani
ultimatum foreshadowing a rupture of diplomatic relations and
closure of the country's sole outlet to the sea if Pakistan's de-
mands are not met by 15 May. Afghanistan is also suffering its
first shortages of such essential commodities as aviation gaso-
line and cement. Thus, the government is faced with the decision
of giving in to Pakistan and probably of dismissing Prime Minis-
ter Daud, or ultimately of turning to the USSR for large-scale
assistance when the economic situation becomes intolerable.
The request for American mediation
and Naim's accompanying dissertation on Afghan friendship and
the need for American military and economic aid in preparing
for the cotlective defense of the Near East indicate that Kabul is
not now willing to throw in its lot with the Soviet Union.
Though official statements of the king
and top Afghan officials contain no hint of giving in to Pakistan's
demands, the government has failed to gain support for its cause
from any other nation. The request for American mediation there-
fore appears to be a last-minute maneuver to avoid having to make
an immediate decision.
6 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 6
-TTYP-RFELRE-T
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C0318207
4,1 Li
kW,
EASTERN EUROPE
6. Hungary reportedly may stage trial to support retention of Soviet
troops:
and military espionage,
Andrew Marton, a Hungarian formerly
employed by the Associated Press in
Budapest, will be brought to trial in the
near future on charges of conspiracy
The legation fears that one of its former
Hungarian employees arrested at the same time may be wed with
Marton in an effort to implicate the American mission. Such a
trial might be timed to coincide with the establishment of the
Soviet-Satellite defense bloc, to "prove" the existence of an
American-directed conspiracy sufficiently important to necessi-
tate the maintenance of Soviet troops in Hungary.
Comment: For the past three months a
campaign of increasingly virulent anti-American propaganda has
been under way, reaching peaks at the 4 April Liberation Day and
May Day celebrations. A trial implicating the American legation
would fit into this campaign.
The last show trial in Hungary involving
the American legation was that of Archibishop Grosz in 1951.
6 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 7
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
�r"
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
Note Nee
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group
for the Formosa Straits Problem
This report is based on information received in Washington
up to 1100 hours 5 May 1955.
1. The Chinese Nationalists are reluctant for "political
reasons" to abandon the Wuchiu Islands. They have decided to
send a regular army reconnaissance battalion to occupy these
islands until 30 June at which time it would be relieved by a re-
liable guerrilla unit presently in training. This has been approve4
by Chief MAAG Formosa who previously recommended that the
Wuchius either be abandoned or that the unreliable 600-man guer-
rilla unit there be replaced by a regular army unit.
The Nationalist decision avoids a recent CINCPAC pro-
posal that the Wuchius and possibly other similar islands be a-
bandoned because of their limited military value.
6 May 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 8
TOP SFKET
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/09/17 C03181207