CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/01/31

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02039272
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: January 31, 1957

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Tap SECRET
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
/ CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
31 January 1957
Copy No.
nOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
[1 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED Tailri344trt_
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
REVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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111* itak
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CONTENTS
1. SOVIET ARMY OFFICERS REPORTED BITTER OVER
SATELLITE DEVELOPMENTS (page 3).
2. SOVIET P RET LETTER CRITICIZES IDEOLOGICAL
HERESIES (page 4).
3. ALGERIAN STRIKE APPARENTLY SUSPENDED
(page 5).
4. AFGHANISTAN PREPARED TO VOTE AGAINST INDIA IN UN
ON KASHMIR ISSUE page 6).
. CHOU EN-LAI REPORTED BIDDING FOR US SUPPORT
(page 7).
6. SINGAPORE'S GOVERNMENT PARTY REPORTED CONSID-
ERING MERGER WITH COMMUNIST-INFLUENCED RIVAL
(page 8).
7. BURMESE BORDER DISPUTE SETTLEMENT EXPECTED SOON
(page 9).
8. BULGANIN PREDICTS US PLANS FOR MIDDLE EAST WILL
FAIL AFTER "SEVERE STRUGGLE" (page 10).
9. LEBANON WORKING FOR SAUDI-IRAQI RECONCILIATION
(page 11).
10.FIAPATIESE�DIPLOMATS1. VIEWS ON MIDDLE EAST
(page 12).
31 Jan 57 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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1. SOVIET ARMY OFFICERS REPORTED BITTER OVER
SATELLITE DEVELOPMENTS
a
"majority of intelligent" Soviet army
officers are openly criticizing the So-
viet regime over the Polish and Hun-
garian uprisings. They believe the disorders would never
have occurred if Stalin were still living, and that they were
possible only because Khrushchev gave the Satellites free
rein.
Soviet army officers do not understand
why the restoration of order in Hungary was delayed, per-
mitting the "reactionary" groups to gain strength. They are
indignant that the Soviet army has been the butt of insults
from the people of Hungary and Poland, "countries which
were liberated by the Soviet army:' They resent the Soviet
army's status as a "guest" in East Germany, with practically
all controls in the hands of the Germans. They are further
dissatisfied with the USSR's policy of giving assistance to the
Satellites which results in a higher standard of living than that
of the Soviet people.
The officers characterize Ithrushchev and
Bulganin as upstarts trying to consolidate their power.
Comment Since Stalin's death there has been an at-
mosphere more conducive to expressions
of dissatisfaction, which probably have increased as a result
of recent events in the Satellites. Possibly reflecting the So-
viet concern over this dissatisfaction, Marshal Malinovski re-
cently demanded a campaign against ideological weaknesses in
the ranks of the Soviet army, similar to the propaganda cam-
paigns directed toward other segments of the population.
In the past the army has shown no inclination
to act in an independent way. Its leaders have reportedly been
zealous in safeguarding the interests of the military, but seem-
ingly have been willing to leave general political questions to
other leaders.
This is the first report of such criticism
within the Soviet army. Its extent and significance cannot be
determined at this time.
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110
2. SOVIET PARTY SECRET LETTER CRITICIZES
MEOLOGIC A T HE RESTES
The central committee of the Commu-
nist Party sent a secret letter to lower
party units in early January deploring
the increasing laxness in Marxist-
Leninist discipline, The
letter ascribed the laxness to misunderstandings by party
members of current international developments and of the
regime's policy of "democratization!'
The letter cited as an example a view-
point expressed and supported by members
of the Leningrad Union of Soviet Writers advocating relaxa-
tion of party controls over authors. It also mentioned unrest
in universities in Sverdlovsk, Tbilisi and Kaunas, where
students called for the abolition of the Komsomol organiza-
tion and elimination of compulsory Marxist-Leninist courses.
Comment In the past, secret letters of this type
have been sent out by the central com-
mittee only on matters of deepest concern to the regime
The party leadership may be handling
the ideological problem in this way instead of discussing it
at a central committee plenum. Despite rumors last fall
that ideological problems were to be discussed at the Decem-
ber plenum, this was apparently not the case.
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1,v/ NE //.5114/ 11 /111.
3. ALGERIAN STRIKE APPARENTLY SUSPENDED
Comment on:
A general return to work of Algerian
workers who began an eight-day strike
on 28 January probably indicates a sus-
pension rather than an end of the strike
threat. A resumption of the strike, pos-
sibly accompanied by serious disorders,
seems probable when the UN General
Assembly begins its debate on Algeria.
The American consul general in Algiers
reports that almost all Moslem workers and merchants in that
city complied with the strike call on Monday. The strike did
not, however, disrupt all activities, as essential services
were maintained on a reduced scale by Europeans with the
help of the military and, for the first time, convicts.
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4. AFGHANISTAN PREPARED TO VOTE AGAINST INDIA
IN UN ON KASHMIR ISSUE
The Afghan Foreign Ministry has in-
structed its UN delegation to support
the UN Security Council's recent call
for a plebiscite in Kashmir if the issue
comes before the General Assembly.
The ministry added that it expects
the Pakistan government in turn to agree to a settlement
of the Pushtoonistan dispute lby self-determination.
Comment Kabul's decision to support Pakistan
is a major switch in Afghan policy.
Afghanistan has received considerable support from India.
in its quarrel with Pakistan over Pushtoonistan, and its rela-
tions with New Delhi since 1947 have been much closer than
with its other Asian neighbors. Afghanistan is apparently
willing to sacrifice this long-standing friendship to strengthen
its case for the Pushtoon tribesmen in Pakistan.
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4
5. CHOU EN-LAI REPORTED BIDDING FOR US SUPPORT
In an interview he granted to select
Polish journalists while he was in
Poland, Chou En-lai reportedly re-
marked that US support would strength-
en t-ommunirst. L.nind. "against the USSR:' Chou is said to
have commented that if Communist China had been a mem-
ber of the UN, Soviet tanks would not have been used in
Hungary. The US and British embassies have received
the same story from different sources. The American em-
bassy believes Chou expected his remarks to reach the
Western press.
Chou reportedly also told the newsmen
that Soviet leaders were jittery over the present situation
in Eastern Europe, the Near East and elsewhere and ar-
gued that for this reason "no provocation" should be per-
mitted which would give an excuse for Russian intervention.
Chou also underscored the fact that continued US opposi-
tion required the interdependence of Communist countries,
especially in economic matters.
Comment The Chinese have often stated that
they would welcome diplomatic rela-
tions with the United States, and Chou probably said little
more than that to the Poles.
Many visitors have come away from
private talks with Chou En-lai with the impression that Com-
munist China regards a Sino-American relationship as a
potential hedge against the USSR. Nevertheless, the Chi-
nese share with Moscow a strong hostility to the West and
are unlikely to take any steps in the foreseeable future
which would jeopardize the extensive economic and mili-
tary support they are receiving from the USSR.
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6. SINGAPORE'S GOVERNMENT PARTY REPORTED CONSID-
ERING MERGER WITH COMMUNIST-INFLUENCED RIVAL
Singapore's Chief Minister Lim Yew
Hock of the Labor Front (LF) and
Chairman Toh Chin Chye of the Com-
munist-manipulated People's Action
Party (PAP) have announced that a
m r r un er iscussion. The chief minister is quoted
as saying, "We want to work for a united socialist front
with the PAP and other socialists:' The secretary of the
Labor Front stated that the time is ripe for a merger and
said that "certain difficulties" blocking the alliance are not
unsurmountable.
Comment Although the two parties have been
political enemies for the past six
months because of the PAP's Communist connections, some
form of co-operation has practical appeal for both parties.
Co-operation with the Labor Front would enable the PAP to
overcome the setback it has suffered as a result of Chief
Minister Lim's antisubversion program and to infiltrate
Singapore's administrative machinery.
For its part, the poorly organized
Labor Front would welcome the support of the PAP's ex-
cellent organization and mass following.
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T. BURMESE BORDER DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
EXPECTED SOON
An early signing of the Sino-Burmese
border agreement, under negotiation
for some months, appears likely.
a special
meeting of the Kachin State Council on
14 February is expected to approve the
cession of three Kachin villazes to Com-
munist China.
Despite a formal settlement which would
appear to remove a major source of friction between the two
governments, tension in the border area is likely to develop
from time to time as the result of local incidents.
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8. BULGANIN PREDICTS US PLANS FOR MIDDLE EAST
WILL FAIL AFTER "SEVERE STRUGGLE"
Premier Rtilwanin
sees
the "wisdom" of Egypt's present posi-
tion on American Middle East plans
and that while he expects the lolans to
" fall in the end. "a severe struggle will be needed"
Khru-
shchev considers the proposed American policies "a plan
of thieves to plunder the Middle East!'
Comment The USSR's main effort to counter the
proposed American plans has been
directed at persuading middle Eastern states to reject them.
Moscow has also indicated that it is prepared to extend eco-
nomic aid and to continue its military assistance to those
states in the area that reject the American plans.
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alk 4111,
9. LEBANON WORKING FOR SAUDI-IRAQI RECONCILIATION
resident Chamoun of Lebanon has re-
uested Foreign Minister Malik to offer
ebanon's "services" to Iraqi crown prince
bd al-Ilah and King Saud and "try to
econcile their points of view:'
Comment
Since the removal of the pro-Egyptian
Prime Minister Yafi, Lebanon has been attempting to resume
its traditional role of mediator of disputes among the Arab
states and between the Arab states and the West. Lebanon has
recently offered to mediate the Suez, Yemen and Buraimi dis-
putes. It is also anxious to restrict Egyptian influence, par-
ticularly in Syria, and believes that if Egypt can be deprived
of Saudi financial support, Egyptian influence will wane.
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'two'
10.. JAPANESE DIPLOMATS' VIEWS ON MIDDLE EAST
The chiefs of Japanese diplomatic
missions in the Middle East have con-
cluded that Tokyo must work in the
United Nations for a settlement of the
Suez Canal dispute, taking care not to
support any plan which is unacceptable to the Arab nations.
During their recent regional conference in
Beirut, the diplomats clearly indicated they identify Japan
with the "Asian-African group of maritime powers!'
The Japanese officials reportedly agreed
that despite Communist progress in the Middle East, Arab
nations are not likely to become Soviet satellites, since they
are "united under the banner of Islam in a struggle for racial
independence!' They also believe the American Middle East
proposals will provoke serious trouble in the area because the
Arab nations wish to settle their problems "without foreign
interference!'
Comment Japan already has indicated that it will
not participate in the Suez Canal Users'
Association unless Egypt recognizes the organization, but
has not committed itself on the Arab-Israeli dispute.
The diplomats were informed at Beirut
that the Ishibashi government intends to place greater emphasis
on collaboration with the Asian-African bloc. An oil explora-
tion mission has been sent to Saudi Arabia, and several impor-
tant Japanese officials have been on good-will tours through the
Middle East in the past few weeks to prepare the way for closer
Japanese economic co-operation with the area.
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