CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/04/21

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02995605
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: April 21, 1956

Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2995605
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/ 21 April 1956
/ Copy No. 103
/
/ CURRENT q �
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
I-IOC:WENT NO
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
DECLASSiFIED
CLASS CHANGED TO: TS Siool
NEXT liEViEW DATE:
4:-)LIIV41412.111fEVIEVVER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP-SECRET
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CONTENTS
1. TURKISH AMBASSADOR GORK SUGGESTS TACTICS FOR
INCREASING US AID ( (page 3).
2. SERIOUS DISORDERS IN SINGAPORE BELIEVED LIKELY
(page 4).
3. SOVIET TECHNICIANS DEPART FOR BURMA
(page 5).
4. FORMER PREMIER PRIDI REPORTEDLY SEEKING TO
RETURN TO THAILANE (page 6).
5. PARAGUAYAN COMMUNISTS REPORTED PLANNING
GENERAL STRIKE (page 7).
21 Apr 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 8)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. TURKISH AMBASSADOR GORK SUGGESTS TACTICS FOR
INCREASING US AID
Turkish ambassador Gork in Washington
believes that Ankara should, for the time
being, either accept the American deci-
sion not to increase aid to Turkey or
raise the question of reappraising Turk-
h political relations with the United States,
He regards the
latter alternative as potentially effective.
He suggested that additional aid de-
pends on a belief in Washington either that Turkish-American
political relations may be damaged if aid is not granted or
that there might be "violent shake-ups" in Turkey which
would benefit the Soviet Union.
Ankara's re-
quest for additional aid could be renewed after the American
elections, stating that "negative political factors" and "a
group working against" Turkish interests in Washington make
improbable any substantial increase in economic aid at this
time.
Comment The suggestion for a policy reappraisal
is in line with the attitude expressed by
other Turkish officials that a threat of neutralism encourages
more American aid. In the absence of a substantial increase
in American financial assistance, these officials, and some
Turkish businessmen, believe that Soviet aid offers should be
exploited.
21 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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2. SERIOUS DISORDERS IN SINGAPORE BELIEVED LIKELY
erious disturbances are anticipated
n Singapore if the talks in London
cheduled to begin on 23 April break
own. A breakdown may occur, since
mgapore's Chief Minister Marshall is
repared to make demands for complete
ndependence, which the British govern-
ent does not intend to meet. The crit-
sibility for internal security. Should
Marshall reject compromise proposals and widespread dis-
order subsequently develop, the British may be forced to
resume direct control of the colony.
In anticipation of difficulty, troops from
Malaya have been sent to Singapore and to adjacent main-
land areas
Large-scale demonstrations, with Com-
munist participation, are expected in any event on 1 May,
and on 13 May, the anniversary of student-labor riots last
year. Marshall's delegation includes representatives of the
Communist-influenced People's Action Party. � This party
undoubtedly had a voice in Marshall's eleventh-hour demands,
which go beyond those made by the separately administered
Federation of Malaya last February.
21 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
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30 SOVIET TECHNICIANS DEPART FOR BURMA
the
USSR wishes to send the "best avail-
able men and material" to Burma for
the technological institute offered by
BulgYnin and lelrushchev last December.
Eight experts, including a director
and deputy directors of a technological institute in Moscow,
left for Rangoon by air on 17 April,
Comment
If Moscow fulfills its commitments to
Burma promptly and competently, with-
out making any political demands, it would probably allay
Burmese suspicions of Soviet intentions and reduce Burmese
reluctance to admit large numbers of Soviet advisers and
technicians.
21 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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4. FORMER PREMIER PRIDI R:EPORTEDLY SEEKING
TO RETURN TO THAILAND
Comment
Pridi has been in exile since 1947
and in mid-1954 broadcast from Pei-
ping an appeal to the Thai people to overthrow the Phibun
regime because of its pro-Western orientation. Phibun
recently stated in public that Pridi, as a Thai national,
was free to return to Thailand, but made no promises re-
garding his future if he did return.
Peiping may consider it useful for
Pridi to return--as a nonprovocative, retired "elder
statesman"--as a token of its "earnest" desire for friend-
ship and coexistence. Pridits presence in Thailand would
probably revive his still substantial following among civil
servants and in nongovernmental intellectual circles, which
Peiping might be able to exploit in the future.
21 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
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5. PARAGUAYAN COMMUNISTS REPORTED PLANNING
CIVNTPRAT. STRTKV
The Paraguayan Communist Party (PCP)
is planning to instigate a general strike
starting 1 May against "hunger, the high
cost of living and Yankee imperialism,"
The PCP reportedly
plans to bomb the US military mission headquarters on that
day.
the
Communists alone are too weak to stage a general strike,
but that in the present climate of general dissatisfaction with
the government, they could probably obtain outside support
for a strike and direct it.
Comment A high government official in effect ad-
mitted to the American embassy in Asun-
cion recently that unrest, arising from economic distress,
had reached a danger point. Recent student clashes with the
police, moreover, have contributed to an unusually turbulent
political atmosphere.
The hard-core membership of the illegal
PCP is estimated at under 2,000, but the party has consider-
able influence among the rank and file of various labor unions,
and has infiltrated some political parties. All severely re-
pressed opposition parties might be disposed to support the
strike in line with their increasing antigovernment plotting
and propaganda activities.
21 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 20 April)
Despite the Egyptian-Israeli cease-fire
agreement, minor incidents continue to occur between Israel
and its Arab neighbors. Egypt has charged that an Israeli pa-
trol crossed into the Gaza strip and fired on an Egyptian post,
and that Israeli aircraft continue to overfly the Gaza area. An
Israeli military spokesman charged that armed Jordanians
crossed into Israel and fired on an Israeli military vehicle.
(Press)
Egypt and Saudi Arabia continue their cam-
paign to align the "uncommitted"' Arab states with the Egyptian-
Syrian-Saudi bloc, despite the limited military value of their
adherence. A Yemeni delegation headed by Imam Ahmad is meet-
ing with King Saud and Egyptian prime minister Nasr in Riyadh
to sign Saudi-Yemeni and Eavotian-Yemeni military treaties
Lebanon and Syria are under strong pressure from Saudi Arabia
and Egypt to finalize a Lebanese-Syrian military pact which the
two countries have intermittently discussed without reaching an
agreement for the past five months.
King Husain of Jordan has relusea byrian
entreaties to join the Egyptian-Syrian-Saudi bloc on the basis
that it is necessary for Jordan to maintain its tie with Britain,
according to the American embassy in Amman. Hussain is re-
ported to believe that there is no need for anything beyond ex-
change of military information and some co-operation in military
planning.
21 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
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