CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/07/02

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03448311
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
September 20, 2019
Document Release Date: 
September 26, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
July 2, 1955
File: 
Body: 
Ap roved for Release: 2019/09/16 C034W48311 ///1 TOP SECRET 2 July 1955 Copy No. 99 3.5(c)� 3.3(h)(2) CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN NO CHANGE IN CLASS. V Ii DECLASSIFIED CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C NEXT REVIEW DATE:. P0/0 DOCUMENT NO. AUTH: HR 70-2 DATE: /J/L/6 REVIEWER: Office of Current Intelligence CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03448311 � � - Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03448311 TOP SECRET SUMMARY SOVIET UNION 1. Widespread drought in Soviet "new lands" (page 3). SOUTHEAST ASIA 2. Ba Cut's Hoa Hao forces reported defeated by Vietnamese army (page 3). 3. Indonesian president attempting to split army opposition (page 5). WESTERN EUROPE 4. Pinay suggests Big Three meeting on North Africa (page 6). * * * * 2 July 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2 17eULPr'en2C7' Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03448311 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03448311 1 J.E.Litc, NtieV SOVIET UNION 1. Widespread drought in .Soviet "new lands": Members of a United States Quaker delegation returning to Moscow in te June from Akmolinsk, deep in the "new lands" region reported us "shoe mouth deep" on the streets, reported similar dust conditions in Residents of Novosibirsk commented that there had been no rain for several months. The drought was reported to be the main topic of conversation in the areas visited in Western Siberia and Kazakhstan. Comment: Similar drought conditions have been reported recently in Chkalov Oblast and northwest Kazakh SSR. These reports, together with available weather data, indicate that the entire "new lands" area has suffered from lack of rainfall. Even if weather during July is favorable, crops in the "new lands" will be only mediocre at best. Crop prospects in European USSR con- tinue to be favorable. Therefore, despite apparent difficulties in the "new lands" area, the total Soviet harvest for 1955 could equal or might possibly exceed the mediocre level of 1954, when there was a drought in the Ukraine. (Prepared by ORR) SOUTHEAST ASIA 2. Ba Cut's Hoa Hao forces reported defeated by Vietnamese army: Rebel Hoa Hao leader Ba Cut was de- feated and driven from his stronghold near the Cambodian border on 29 June, namese informant. His remaining forces total approximately The only escape for Ba Cut's remnants, states, is to be evacuated by the French navy from their present small enclave on the southwest coast. 2 July 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3 TOP SECRET Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03448311 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 003448311 WESTERN U. S. S. R. ESTABLISHED AND NEW WHEAT PRODUCING AREAS PRESENTATIONS DIVISION Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 003448311 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03448311 TOP SECRET although military action against the Hoa Hao west of Saigon was proceed- ing very well, the political phase was unsatisfactory. The ma- jority of the population in the formerly rebel-held territory remains under the influence of either the Hoa Hao or the Viet Minh. Comment: The rapid progress of the Vietnamese national army in neutralizing organized Hoa Hao op- position has tended to obscure the fact that the government may still be faced with substantial guerrilla activity by die-hard rebel elements. The army is now engaged in mopping-up operations intended to forestall such a development. 3. Indonesian president attempting to split army opposition: President Sukarno is believed to have begun efforts to undermine army unity In order to prevent a cabinet reshuffle or a cabinet collapse. He has sum- moned to his Bogor summer home the territorial commander in East Java, Colonel Sudirman, and the commander of the military police, Colonel Prajogo, presumably o discuss army opposition to the appointment on 27 June of Colonel Utoyo as the new chief of staff. Since Sudirman had been careful prior to 27 June not to commit himself to any army faction and had stated that his primary loyalty was to Sukarno and the govern- ment, the president may be able to persuade him to withdraw his support from Acting Chief of Staff Lubis and the five other terri- torial commanders. Should Sukarno be successful in undermin- ing the army's united opposition, it is unlikely that the motion of no confidence in pro-Communist Defense Minister Iwa, intro- duced in parliament on 29 June, would be passed. Meanwhile, however, normally pro- government Indonesian newspapers reflect a continuing loss of cabinet prestige. 2 July 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5 Trip .cFCRFT Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03448311 Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03448311 TOP SECRET Noy WESTERN EUROPE 4. Pinay suggests Big Three meeting on North Africa: French foreign minister Pinay urged Ambassador Dillon that during Secre- tary Dulles' stay in Europe, representa- tives of the United States, Britain and ranee hold a meeting to discuss all aspects of the North African problem. He considered that it might even be advisable to have such- a meeting at the chiefs-of-government level. Pinay also said that he hoped a simple statement of an agreed position would come out of the meeting. This, he said, would greatly help to put at rest the many rumors of American and British opposition to the continued presence of France in North Africa. Comment: On 20 June Premier Faure suggested a high-level meeting with the United States on the North African situation and mentioned that Marshal Juin might head a French delegation to Washington. The increasing French charges during the past month of American interference in North African affairs may be a build-up for a demand that the United States agree to a forthright statement backing French policy in North Africa. 2 July 55 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 6 rnp crcRrT Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 C03448311