CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/05/20

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03194446
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: May 20, 1955

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20 May 1955
Copy No.
� CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO -
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
Cl DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: .1:2 /0
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE: -9// A90. REVIEWER
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Czechs suggest resumption of normal trade and diplomatic
relations with Colombia (page 3).
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Vietnam may seek closer relations with India (page 3).
3. Thailand's attitude toward Communist China held unchanged
(page 4).
4. Diem envoy asks conference at foreign minister level in Saigon
(page 5).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
5. Comment on latest Israeli-Egyptian border incident (page 5).
6. Possibility of imminent Algerian revolt
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GENERAL
1. Czechs suggest resumption of normal trade and diplomatic rela-
ozT h Colombia:
Comment: Czechoslovakia has been inter-
ested in the Colombian market for some time. Along with Poland
and Hungary, it has been making strong efforts to develop trade
and expand its diplomatic representation in Latin America.
Colombia has never recognized the Prague
government since the Communist coup in Czechoslovakia in 1948,
but because of the falling world prices for coffee, by far Colombia's
principal export, it is being driven to seek new markets, even be-
hind the iron curtain.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
2. Vietnam may seek closer relations with India:
e Vietnamese government would like to
Me India step into the role, now filled by
the French, of intermediary between Viet-
nam and the Viet Minh,
By such means Vietnam
hopes to rid itself of the colonial stigma and gain the support of
India and other Asian countries.
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The Vietnamese government also wants
to convince Nehru that Ho CM Minh is primarily a Communist,
not a nationalist. It would like a conference, at which Vietnam
would be truly represented, to discuss the Geneva accords
Comment: India's tendency has been to
write off South Vietnam as falling within the Chinese sphere of in-
fluence. This tendency might be moderated by Vietnam's clear
emergence from colonial status, by Premier Diem's austerity and
patriotism, and by the disillusionment of the Indian nationals who
lived briefly in Hanoi following the Viet Minh takeover.
3. Thailand's attitude toward Communist China held unchanged:
Comment: Prince Wan was impressed by
Chou's conciliatory attitude at Bina ung, but there is no evidence
that he has undertaken any moves to alter Thailand's anti-Commiinist
policies. Premier Phibun recently reaffirmed Thailand's pro-
Western orientation in unequivocal terms.
The Thai, however, both at Bandung and
subsequently have indicated a willingness to negotiate with the Viet
Minh for the repatriation of the Vietnamese community in north-
east Thailand. In the event of a successful solution to this problem,
Bangkok's attitude on dealing with Communist China might undergo a
change. The Thai might then consider recognizing the Peiping re-
gime and opening negotiations on the status of the 3,000,000 Chinese
in Thailand.
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4. Diem envoy asks conference at foreign minister level in Saigon:
Ngo Dinh Luyen, Diem's brother and
envoy in Europe, told the American
embassy in Paris that the proposed
conference of Vietnamese and Western
Big Three representatives in Saigon should be at the "highest
level possible." He said that he would like to see Secretary Dulles
attend for the United States and mentioned the possibility that the
presence of the foreign ministers in San Francisco in June might
enable them to proceed to Saigon.
Comment: The French government has
already indicated its preference tiTat the conference be limited to
one between the Vietnamese and the Western powers' permanent
representatives in Saigon. One reason for Paris' opposition to a
high-level conference may be apprehension over the effect of such
a meeting on the North African situation.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
5. Comment on latest Israeli-Egyptian border incident:
Israel's blunt public labeling of its attack
on an Egyptian outpost near Gaza on
18 May as a "raid of retaliation" follows
Prime Minister Sharett's declaration of
the day before that Israel "must continue
its policy of military reprisals against
�Egyptian and Jordanian attackers despite
'UN censure." This attack followed less than 36 hours after an
Egyptian land mine planted inside Israel destroyed an Israeli pa-
trol car.
Israeli frustration over international de-
velopments, as well as the government's desire to win the general
elections in July, is apparently responsible for the hardening of
the Israeli frontier policy, which has general public approval.
This hardening has become evident at a
time when the Egyptian regime is particularly tense and suspicious
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and might be goaded into rash action if other serious Israeli "re-
taliatory" raids occur.
6. Possibility of imminent Algerian revolt
Comment:
The serious French view of the situation
Is reflected in the troop reinforcements en route to Algeria, which,
according to the press, will raise the total army strength there
from 70,000 to 100,000. More than 15,000 men in quasi-military
forces are also stationed in Algeria.
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