CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/06/24

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03185118
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: June 24, 1956

.,Approved for Release: 2019/10/21
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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
CCW
24 June 1956
Copy No.
103 3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
NO. _
IN CLAS3,
1 DLA5SIFIED
CLASS. CHANCED TO: TS S C 2/01
NEXT REVIEW DATE--
AUTH: HRali -2
CATE12,7h 'Of REVIEWER:
Pe-II-SEC-REF
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CONTENTS
1. SHEPILOV AND NASR CONCLUDE MEETINGS
(page 3).
2. PINEAU STRONGLY CRITICIZED IN FRANCE
(page 4).
3. COMMUNISTS MAKE FRIENDLY OFFERS AFFECTING
BERLIN (page 5).
4. POLITICAL TENSION IN VENEZUELA
(page 6).
5. TITO REPORTED CONCERNED OVER FUTURE DEVELOP-
MENTS IN USO (page 7).
6. NEW SYRIAN CABINET REPORTED DISINTEGRATING
(page 8).
7. BRAZILIAN COMMUNISTS BREAK WITH KUBITSCHEK
REGIME (page 9).
24 June 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 10
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L SHE PILOV AND NASR CONCLUDE MEETINGS
The week-long visit of Soviet foreign
minister Shepilov with Premier Nasr
in Cairo ended on 22 June with a bland
joint communique reaffirming friend-
ship, professing agreement on political,
economic and cultural co-operation and
voicing a desire to promote international
peace.
The communique, which probably reflects
Lgyptian arming and which the Egyptian foreign minister re-
portedly hoped would not be received badly in the West, does
not, however, alter the significant aspects of the meeting.
Shepilov's visit leaves no doubt of Moscow's appreciation and
approval of the Nasr regime as the undisputed leader of the
Arab world. Regardless of how general or specific Shepilov's
offers may have been, they are giving Nasr new confidence in
his ability to pursue an independent course.
Egyptian business circles are reported
continuing to speculate on the possibility that new economic
arrangements might have been made, including one on the
Aswan High Dam. They are fearful that additional Soviet
bloc deals will further disrupt their traditional commercial
ties with the West.
Ambassador Byroade has been given the
impression that Nasr is actually now becoming more moderate
and is anxious to keep relations with the West from becoming
any worse. Regardless of whether or not Nasr has concluded
extensive new deals with the USSR and is merely awaiting the
appropriate timeto announce them, the Shepilov visit is another
step in the process by which Egypt is being drawn into closer
alignment with the Soviet Union,
24 June 56
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2. PINEAU STRONGLY CRITICIZED IN FRANCE
The reaction of Frenchmen to Foreign
Minister Pineau's East-West policies
and to the views he expressed in his
Washington visit has been highly un-
favorable, according to the American embassy in Paris.
Many ranging from Socialist
Party to conservative deputies, strongly oppose actions
which might weaken ties between France and NATO and
especially with the United States and Britain.
In some quarters, Pineau is regarded
as the worst French foreign minister since the war. Pre-
mier Mollet, whose popularity continues high and who is
believed aware of the growing dislike for Pineau, is un-
likely, however, to risk breaking up the cabinet by remov-
ing him.
Comment The French probably regard the high-
lighting of wide differences between
Secretary of State Dulles and Pine4u on East-West prob-
lems as untimely and unwise, particularly since France
now wants more than minimum American support for its
position on Algeria. Pineau's views will also be consid-
ered as giving unnecessary aid to the French Communist
Party's popular-front efforts. The growing conservative
opposition to the Mollet government may now crystallize
against its foreign policy rather than such domestic issues
as increased taxes.
24 June 56
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3. COMMUNISTS MAKE FRIENDLY OFFERS
AFFECTING BERLIN
The Soviet embassy in East Germany
informed the West Berlin government
on 21 June that the USSR was prepared
to return the Rundfunkhaus radio sta-
tion in the Western sector, which the
Russians have held since the end of the
war. He said there were no strings
attached to this offer. The embassy also hinted that per-
mission might be granted for the West German airline to
use West Berlin's Tempelhof Airfield rather than Schoene-
feld Airfield outside of East Berlin.
On 22 June East German interior min-
ister Maron disclosed to the press that measures would soon
be taken to ease control and travel regulations throughout
Berlin.
Comment During recent years the Soviet Union has
refused to participate in the four-power
administration of the city and has, in fact, declared that
Berlin is the capital of East Germany. It has never, how-
ever, actually disclaimed Berlin's quadripartite status. By
these friendly gestures the Soviets may wish to ensure a
preservation of the quadripartite status of the city and hence
their own interest in the affairs of West Berlin,
24 June 56
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4. POLITICAL TENSION IN VENEZUELA
The present political situation in
Venezuela is believed to be serious,
but not critical,
, there
is an unusual degree of tensions with
"the possibility that significant devel-
opments may take place." The tension
is ascribed to discontent among the
military over recently announced promotions, increasing
popular vexation over large-scale government graft, in-
efficiency throughout the government, and "disaffection of
National Guard commander Tamayo Suarez."
the possibility of a developing "opposition front" with
some military support, or of a palace coup sparked by
Tamayo and exiled Colonel Moreno.
President Perez Jimenez believed that the ti June
rumors of a revolt led by armed, forces chief of staff
Fernandez might have been a premature revelation of a
real plot. As a result, the president immediately put into
effect a successful emergency plan, including effective con-
trol of all strategic installations and direct contact between
the garrison commanders and himself.
Venezuelan exiles may see in the tense
situation an opportunity to make a push now for a return to
power of the outlawed Democratic Action Party. They prob-
ably believe that the assasination of high government offi-
cials, particularly President Perez Jimenez and security
chief Pedro Estrada, would be sufficient to bring about a
popular revolution. The Venezuelan exiles can also probably
count on at least moral support from President Figueres of
Costa Rica, who has begun again to inveigh against "the
colonels," in which category he places Perez Jimenez, Pres-
ident Somoza of Nicaragua and Generalissimo Trujillo of the
Dominican Republic.
24 June 56
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5, TITO REPORTED CONCERNED OVER FUTURE
DEVELOPMENTS IN USSR
Yugoslav president Tito has consid-
erable doubts as to the future course
of events in the USSR,
I he is by no means sure the "younger gen-
eration in party leaders, such as Shepilov, Suslov, Saburov
and others" are serious in their intention to continue the
present course of liberalization in Soviet internal and for-
eign policy.
Tito fears that when they supplant the
older members of the Soviet presidium, who he feels are
sincere in changing Stalin's policies, they may "perhaps
unconsciously revert more to the Stalinist methods in which
they have been uniquely trained."
Soviet attempts during
the visit to present Yugoslav relations, particularly in the
military field, as closer than they actually were had been re-
sented by the Yugoslays and that Tito was concerned by the
possible effect his visit would have on his relations with the
United States.
Comment
Tito has often disclosed in private con-
versations with Westerners his suspicions
regarding the intentions of certain unnamed members of the
Soviet hierarchy. He has emphasized, however, the need to
encourage the present Soviet policy changes, maintaining that
any strong public criticism would only strengthen the Stalin-
ist faction in the Soviet leadership.
24 June 56
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6. NEW SYRIAN CABINET REPORTED DISINTEGRATING
The new Syrian cabinet headed by
Prime Minister Sabri al Asali, which
was formed on 15 June, probably will
be short-lived and may not even last
ong enoug o o stain parliamentary confirmation. The
onservatives initially agreed to a "national" cabinet rep-
resenting all political groups. They are now opposed to
iving the Foreign Ministry and National Economy port-
olios to the left-wing, anti-Western Arab Socialist Resur-
rection Party and to its proposal that the ministerial state-
ent include advocacy of some form of Syrian union with
gypt. The conservatives are reportedly now considering
ithdrawing.
On the other hand, powerful army spokes-
men are demanding that proposed minister of defense Raslan
be dropped. The army, if not satisfied, may force the for-
mation of a cabinet amenable to its wishes. The dominant
officer group in the army is strongly nationalist, opposes
collaboration with the West and any association with Iraq,
favors a tough policy toward Israel, and desires close co-
operation with Egypt.
The embassy has a report that the con-
servatives were trying to prevent the formation of a respon-
sible cabinet at this time. In this way they planned to make
it impossible for Soviet foreign minister Shepilov to nego-
tiate an agreement while in Syria. However, even without
any planned disruptive tactics, the deep-seated differences
in the cabinet, which includes archconservatives and out-
right leftists, suggest that bickering and disintegration will
be inevitable.
24 June 56
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7. BRAZILIAN COMMUNISTS BREAK WITH
KUBITSCHEK REGIME
The central committee of the
Brazilian Communist Party on
20 June decided to "break com-
pletely" with the regime of Presi-
dent Kubitschek,
the Communists have decided their
policy of attempting o gain party objectives through in-
fluencing members of Congress and by means of public
demonstrations has been a failure and that emphasis should
be shifted to penetration of government ministries and
agencies and the labor unions.
President Kubitschek has taken some
strong measures during the past month which have probably
caused this change in Communist policy. Through his in-
fluence a broad amnesty measure which would have benefited
the Communists was narrowly defeated in Congress; Kubitschek
publicly blamed the Communists for the recent student riots in
Rio de Janeiro; the federal courts have revived the trial in
absentia of leading Communist leader Prestes; and the admin-
istration has closed down two important Communist fronts.
Ambassador Dunn on 21 June commented that these anti-Com-
munist actions are noteworthy in view of Brazil's strategic
position in the East-West struggle and the importance the Com-
munists are known to attach to their operations there.
In spite of these measures, Kubitschek's
success in controlling Communism will depend on the economic
conditions in Brazil. Should the economic position deteriorate
further, the Communists would probably gain both in numbers
and in influence, particularly since many of Kubitschek's oppo-
nents�including conservatives and ultranationalists�have been
willing to go to any extremes to embarrass his administration.
24 June 56
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 24 June)
An Israeli army spokesman said two
Israeli soldiers were killed on 24 June during several hours
of fighting on the Israeli-Jordanian border about 12 miles
northeast of Tel Aviv. Jordan claimed Israel was trying to
burn Arab crops and said the incident was a fight between
Israeli and Jordanian farmers. (Press)
During a recent Israel-Lebanon Mixed
Armistice Commission meeting concerned with incidents on
this border which presumably resulted from a family feud, the
Israeli representative truculently criticized the Lebanese for
not controlling the border villagers and threatened "official" re-
taliatory action by Israel if incidents there continued, accord-
ing to the American army attach�n Beirut. The attach�e-
lieves the Lebanese, aware of their military weakness, will
"bend over backwards" to prevent further incidents.
24 June 56
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