CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/08/04

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03448333
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: August 4, 1955

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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO. _yr
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
I DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: C /
ALITH: HR 70-2
DATE: / W30 REVIEWER: _
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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SUMMARY
GENERAL
1. Mexico refuses to receive Soviet agricultural delegation
(page 3).
FAR EAST
2. South Korean generals unwilling to take action to regain lost
territory (page 3),
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Faure sees need for early Moroccan settlement (page 4)0
* * * *
4. Indians seen backing Democratic Party in Cambodian elections
(page 5).
5. Comment on Soviet announcement of planned earth satellite
(page 5).
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
(page 7)
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GENERAL
I. Mexico refuses to receive Soviet agricultural delegation:
Comment: The refusal is in line with
Mexico's reserved attitude toward friendly gestures from the
USSR. Mexico is one of the Three Latin American nations main-
taining diplomatic relations with Moscow.
FAR EAST
2. South Korean generals unwilling to take action to regain lost terri-
tory:
Lieutenant General Won Yong-tok, chief
of the Provost Marshal General Command
re-
marked no other South
Korean general officer intended to parucipate in military actioi to
recover Communist-occupied territory below the 38th parallel,
Won said that he had already sent a small
force to Kanghwa Island, off the west coast, for eventual action
against North Korea, but that he now stood alone on the matter.
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Comment:
South Korea is in no position to
military action to recover the lost territory.
raids by South Korean
Increasing, are likely
further in an effort to promote tension.
carry out a major
On the other hand.
to be augmented still
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Faure sees need for early Moroccan settlement:
In a friendly and outspoken discussion
on Morocco on 1 August, French premier
Faure told Ambassador Dillon that he ac-
cepts the fact that positive action with
respect to the dynastic question cannot be long delayed. It was ap-
parent to the ambassador that such action would be politically dis-
tasteful to the premier. Faure expressed confidence that enough
deputies share his opinion that Marshal Juin's thesis of repression
is hopeless to produce the support he needs for a new liberal policy.
A solution will depend on the recommenda-
tions forthcoming from Resident General Grandval in Morocco. Be
has warned the premier that almost the entire Moslem population
of Morocco has rallied to the symbol of the deposed sultan Ben
Youssef. The necessity for Ben Youssef's public approval of any
settlement appeared to be a new idea to Faure, but "he seemed to
take it in stride."
Comment: Much of Fa,ure's parliamentary
strength rests on influential elements of the former Laniel govern-
ment, which deposed Ben Youssef in 1953, and they are exerting
pressure on the premier to delay a decision on Morocco. �The as-
sembly's decisive vote on the Tunisian convention, however, and its
willingness to forego a Moroccan debate at this time are encourag-
ing the premier to deal with the Moroccan problem now.
Grandval is expected shortly to present
a realistic report with positive suggestions for a policy acceptable,
at least for the time being, to nationalist leaders.
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4. Indians seen backing Democratic Party in Cambodian elections:
The Indian chairman of the International
Control Commission for Cambodia is
growing increasingly open in his support
of the Communist-penetrated Democratic
an ommunist Party in the current election cam-
the
Indians, with the ready assent of the Polish delegation, are going
out of their way to protect the interests of the Democratic and
Communist candidates. Instead of awaiting receipt of election
complaints, the Indians and Poles are actively canvassing the
country for evidence that electoral rights are being violated.
Comment: India considers Cambodia
to be within its sphere of influence and undoubtedly feels that its
interests can best be served through a Democratic Party victory.
There have been other indications of Indian sympathy and support
for the Democratic Party.
5. Comment on Soviet announcement of planned earth satellite:
The USSR has responded to publicity
about the American plan for launching
an earth satellite with an announcement
that it intends to launch a satellite it-
self within eighteen months. The announcement was made on
2 August by Professors Leonid I. Sedov and Kyrill F. Ogorodnikov,
Soviet delegates to the International Astronautical Congress in
Copenhagen.
The USSR may well possess the capability
to launch its first uninstrumented satellite in 1958 without inter-
fering with its guided missile program. The satellite probably
could be launched within eighteen months if no cost or effort
were spared.
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In view of the American offer to share
information about the American project, the Soviet response may
be directed at pressing the United States to make its project an
international one in which the USSR would have an opportunity to
participate. Ithrushchev said on 1 August that the USSR would
co-operate with the American satellite program "if it is in the in-
terests of mankind." This remark, made at the Swiss national
day reception, has not been reported in the Soviet press and radio.
However, Moscow did broadcast on 2 August a factual account of
the American announcement.
The quick response of the Soviet scien-
tists in Copenhagen reflects Moscow's sensitivity to impressions
of American superiority in scientific fields. The USSR has been
eager to show that it has first-rate scientific and technical compe-
tence, and to emphasize its willingness to co-operate in interna-
tional scientific projects. The Soviet approach to the question of
earth satellites probably will be similar to its approach to the
peaceful uses of atomic energy. In that field it has put on a show of
willingness to co-operate and at the same time publicized its
capability to develop its own program.
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WEEKLY SUMMARY
(28 July - 3 August 1955)
THE FORMOSA STRAITS
Report of the IAC Current Intelligence Group
for the Formosa Straits Problem
1. The military situation has remained quiet.
2. The remaining elements of the Chinese Nationalist
81st Division arrived at Quemoy on 1 August from Formosa.
Nationalist garrisons on the offshore islands now represent
about 35 percent of MDAP-supported units.
3. The Chinese Communists in the past week have con-
tinued to assert that they hope to arrange negotiations with the
United States on major matters. Chou En-lai said in his 30 July
speech that Peiping will try to use the Geneva talks to "pave the
way" for further negotiations with Washington, and on 1 August
the official People's Daily called for "higher-level" meetings to
follow the Geneva talks.
Chou in the 30 July speech reaffirmed Peiping's long-
standing position on major substantive issues. Arguing that the
basic question is the American "occupation" of Formosa and
American "interference with the liberation" of Nationalist-held
offshore islands, Chou reiterated that since there is no war be-
tween Communist China and the US there is no basis for a cease-
fire, that the United States should withdraw its armed forces
from the Formosa area, and that Peiping is prepared to arrange
a "liberation" of Formosa through negotiations with "local author-
ities" on Formosa but is unequivocally opposed to any "two Chinas"
concept.
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