CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/01/11

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02989471
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: January 11, 1956

Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2989471
ri/
0
/./
/./
/./
0
de-?"
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
TOP
11 January 1956
Copy No. 103
DOCUMENT NO 4-cV
NO CHANGE IN ei.ASS
LI DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: Ts 8 C
-NEXT FIEVIEW DATE. Z2010
MITI+ HA
DATE: _TAR__ REVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
z
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2989471
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2989471
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2989471
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2989471
A %-"A �,1.1:A..1%1:J
NW"
CONTENTS
1. PROSPECTS FOR COMMUNIST SUPPORT OF A FRENCH
GOVERNMENT page 3).
2. COMMUNIST CHINA SEEKING TRADE PACT WITH
SAUDI ARABIA page 4).
3. END OF BURMA COMMUNIST PARTY REBELLION MAY
BE IMMINENT page 5).
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 6)
11 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
_Top__sgicitra,
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 002989471
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2989471
1. PROSPECTS FOR COMMUNIST SUPPORT OF A FRENCH
GOVERNMENT
The American embassy in Paris specu-
lates that the French Communist Party,
despite rebuffs of its overtures for a
popular front, may now be trying to
force Mendes-France's Republican Front to accept its
parliamentary support for a new government without Com-
munist representation in the cabinet. The Communists
emphasize that with their support the Republican Front
could control the assembly. Except on foreign policy,
their political program has been readjusted to include
objectives which in most cases probably would be pursued
by a Republican Front government. The Communist Party
under these circumstances would probably avoid obstruc-
tionist tactics in order to create the fiction of a popular
front for propaganda purposes.
Comment The uncompromising stand of Republican
Front leaders Guy Mollet and Mendes-
France suggests that they are considering a minority gov-
ernment which the Faure-Pinay forces would be obliged to
tolerate.
The constitution permits a government
to be invested with less than an absolute majority of the
whole assembly, and Republican Front leaders might at-
tempt a minority government if they were to get a majority
of those voting exclusive of Communist support.
Socialist leaders are particularly sensi-
tive to the threat of Communist co-operation because of
pressure within many Socialist local federations for a
popular front. It may be in an attempt to counter this threat
that ex-president Auriol is reportedly prepared to head a
coalition which would include right-center ministers. A
compromise coalition of ministers from both the Republican
Front and Faure-Pinay forces remains the most likely so-
lution,
II Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2989471
Approved for Release: 2019/101/21 CO2989471
'kJ I 4L4i RI-
wv.
2. COMMUNIST CHINA SEEKING TRADE PACT WITH
SAUDI ARABIA
The announcement from Peiping on 9
January that a high-level Chinese Com-
munist trade delegation is now in Saudi
Arabia indicates that the Chinese prob-
ably expect to conclude a trade agree-
ment with the Saudis along the lines of their recently con-
cluded pacts with Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon.
The Chinese consider this mission
important in their vigorous campaign to foster relations
with Arab states, and it is led by Chiang Ming, a deputy
minister of foreign trade. The mission, according to a
press report from Jidda, was invited by the Saudi Arabian
government to discuss co-operation in trade between the
two countries.
11 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
TflP .c,FrriTT
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2989471
Approved for Release:_2019/10/21 CO2989471
*Rol
3. END OF BURMA COMMUNIST PARTY REBELLION MAY
BE IMMINENT
The statement by Burmese premier Nu
on 10 January that his government is
willing to legalize the insurgent Burma
Communist Party if it will renounce
force as a means to achieve its aims
suggests that the unobtrusive peace
talks under way for the past few months are about to reach
a successful conclusion. The Communists, who have been
fighting the government since February 1948, have offered
publicly to surrender in return for guarantees that Burma
not join "the Anglo-American blocr that political prisoners
be released, and that full constitutional freedoms be ac-
corded to all "democratic groups."
Nu said, "We have nothing against Com-
munist ideology," but made it clear that the Communists
would not be taken into his present government He indi-
cated that if a settlement were reached, the Communists
would be free to participate in the parliamentary elections
scheduled for April.
The Communists command a sizable
following, which includes the pro-Communist Burmese
Workers and Peasants Party--already represented in
parliament�influential student groups, and peasant sup-
port in areas that have been under their control. In open
political action, the Communists would be able to exploit
to their own advantage any benefits Burma may derive from
its increasingly close economic and political ties with the
Sino-Soviet Orbit.
11 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2989471
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 CO2989471
4 L-AIA +J444.441,4
NW"
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 10 January)
No significant military activity has been
reported. Minor firing has occurred across the Egyptian-
Israeli and Jordanian-Israeli frontiers. (Press)
Egypt intends to station torpedo boats at the mouth of
the Gulf of Aqaba.
it should send specifications for the necessary
pipes for supplying torpedo boats from a 5,000-gallon stor-
age tank. Heretofore Egypt has Stationed only a single
patrol craft at the mouth of the gulf. The Israelis have re-
cently transported three toroedo boats overlan?. to Eilat
at the head of the gulf.
The Soviet freighter Genera
khovsky, carrying heavy cases on deck, arrived at the
Egyptian port of Alexandria on 6 January and berthed in
the closely guarded security zone there. This is the fourth
vessel believed to have carried arms from the Black Sea
to Alexandria since the beginning of the year. Each of
them declared a cargo of machinery for Albania as it
passed Istanbul. A fifth Soviet freighter, the Krasnodar,
which reportedly made the same declaration when it
passed Istanbul with large cases on deck on 8 January,
may also be proceeding toward Alexandria. The Krasnodar
has made two previous voyages carrying military equip-
ment to Alexandria.
11 Jan 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 002989471