CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/11/11

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02995585
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: November 11, 1955

Approved for Release: 2019/09/16 CO2995585
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11 November 1955 3.5(c)
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Copy No. 100
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO 6/
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. Vi
Ci DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: 2 0 /
AUTH: HR 10.2
DATEi. tt 51VIEWER: _
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
1. THE BRAZILIAN SITUATION (page 3).
2. AFGHANISTAN PREPARING NEW POLICY TOWARD
PAKISTAN BASED ON CLOSER TIES WITH USSR (page 4).
3.
MEETING BETWEEN BULGANIN AND THAI PREMIER
(page 5).
4. INDONESIA SUGGESTS NEW MEETING OF COLOMBO
POWERS TO DECIDE ON SECOND AFRO-ASIAN CON-
FERENCE (page 6).
5. LAO GOVERNMENT MAY START MILITARY CAMPAIGN
AGAINST PATHET LAO IN JANUARY (page 7).
6. JAPANESE CONSERVATIVES AGREE ON FIRM STAND
TOWARD USSR AT LONDON TALKS (page 8).
7. RIGHT WING OF BOLIVIAN GOVERNMENT PARTY
REPORTEDLY TO ATTEMPT COUP (page 9).
11 Nov 55
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 10)
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vl ..)41.-64,11.3.-, I NOW'
1. THE BRAZILIAN SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 11 November)
The coup of 11 November in Brazil
which resulted in the ouster of Act-
ing President Carlos Luz and his
replacement by Senate vice president
Nereu Ramos was launched by General
Henrique Teixeira Lott apparently in
order to forestall a move by other mil-
itary leaders to prevent the inaugura-
tion of president-elect Juscelino Kubits-
chek and vice president-elect Joao
Goulart. Lott, himself, had been dis-
missed as war minister by Luz on 10
November for insisting on disciplin-
ing one of the anti-Kubitschek officers.
Army troops loyal to Lott took over key
positions in Rio de Janeiro early on
11 November, while the navy and air
force declared their loyalty to Luz. Bad weather immobilized
the 1,000-plane air force, but navy vessels in Rio harbor were
apparently responsible for some shooting. Congress met in
special session and after a brief, acrimonious debate approved
the appointment of Ramos as acting president by better than a
two-to-one majority in both houses.
There were some indications late in the
day that the navy and air force might accept congress decision.
The extent of division in the army is still not known.
Ramos, who as vice president of the
Senate was constitutionally next in the presidential succession,
is generally regarded as personally ambitious. He is reported
to be strongly pro-US and anti-Communist.
Lott had previously been adamantly op-
posed to any military intervention in political affairs. Although
conditions in Brazil may be tense for some time, Lott will
probably try to use his present position of power to assure the
inauguration of Kubitschek and Goulart as scheduled on 31 Jan-
uary 1956.
11 Nov 55
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2., AFGHANISTAN PREPARING NEW POLICY TOWARD
PAKISTAN BASED ON CLOSER TIES WITH USSR
Afghanistan will support its demands
for independence for the Pushtoon
areas of Pakistan with a more vigor-
ous policy, according to Afghan finance
minister Malik.
Malik indicated to an American em-
bassy official on 8 November that Prime Minister Daud
expects (1) to obtain public support of his Pushtoonistan
policy from the Grand Assembly of the Tribes scheduled
to convene on 14 November, (2) to eliminate Kabul's de-
pendence on Pakistan by use of Soviet transit routes, and
(3) to develop Afghanistan's military strength with Soviet
bloc arms. Malik feels that Afghanistan could then press
the Pushtoonistan issue from a "position of strength" and
that Pakistan would negotiate in a "more reasonable frame
of mind."
Comment An increase in border incidents, the
recent shipments to and from West
Germany through the Soviet Union, and reported deliver-
ies to Afghanistan of arms from the bloc suggest that Kabul
is already embarked on this course and is prepared to risk
reimposition of the Pakistani blockade.
Recent Egyptian and Saudi Arabian in-
volvement with the Soviet bloc has minimized the possi-
bility of successful Arab opposition to closer Afghan rela-
tions with the USSR. While Daud still faces some internal
opposition, he appears strong enough to carry out the policy
suggested by Malik.
11 Nov 55
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3.
MEETING BETWEEN BULGANIN AND THAI PREMIER
rhai premier
Phibun's forthcoming visit to Rangoon
will coincide with that of Bulganin so that the two can have
"a good talk." an important
change in the Thai government's attitude on world affairs
after Phibun meets with Burmese premier Nu next month.
Comment
There have been a number of indica-
tions that Phibun desires to improve Thailand's relations
with Asian neutrals as well as to soften his government's
stiff anti-Communist policies. It is not likely, however,
that there will be a major modification of Thailand's pro-
Western orientation.
11 Nov 55
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*114.11-d
4. INDONESIA SUGGESTS NEW MEETING OF COLOMBO
POWERS TO DECIDE ON SECOND AFRO-ASIAN CON-
FERENCE
Comment
Although India and Pakistan are not now
eager for another meeting of the Colombo
powers or a second Afro-Asian conference, the prospects now
are that both will be held�
11 Nov 55
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Noir
5. LAO GOVERNMENT MAY START MILITARY CAMPAIGN
AGAINST PATHET LAO IN JANUARY
The Laotian government intends to
retake the northern provinces from
the Pathet Lao by force of arms if
diplomatic methods are not success-
ful by January, according to the defense minister. He
stated this in considerably more definite terms than
Laotion leaders have used heretofore and asserted that
royal forces could reoccupy the main portions of the two
provinces within 15 to 30 days, provided the Viet Minh
did not intervene in force.
The American ambassador comments
that he believes this also represents the view and inten-
tion of Crown Prince Savang. The premier and foreign
minister are less certain, but are tending in this direc-
tion as diplomatic efforts to reach agreement with Pathet
leaders continue to prove futile.
Comment Similar plans in the past have not been
implemented, owing to disagreements
within the government. Recently, however, there seems
to be a growing trend toward agreement that forceful ac-
tion is necessary.
The royal government has approximately
5,000 troops in isolated outposts in the provinces and would
have difficulty in rapidly reinforcing them. The Viet Minh
has 18,000 troops capable of quickly augmenting the 6,300-
man Pathet Lao force.
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6, JAPANESE CONSERVATIVES AGREE ON FIRM STAND
TOWARD USSR AT LONDON TALKS
Prime Minister Hatoyama's Japan
Democratic Party has swung behind
the tough policy advocated by former
prime minister Yoshida's Liberals for negotiations with
the USSR in London. Leaders of these two conservative
parties, who are negotiating a party merger, have agreed
to demand repatriation of Japanese war prisoners prior to
the signing of a peace treaty. Among the terms of the peace
treaty would be the return of the southern Kurils and the
calling of an international conference of the former Allied
powers to dispose of the northern Kurils and South Sakhalin.
This policy decision represents a de-
feat for Hatoyama and his advisers who, along with the
Socialists, have favored a quick resumption of diplomatic
relations with the Soviet Union, with settlement of most out-
standing questions deferred to a later date.
A merger of the conservative parties
will be necessary if the Japanese are to maintain a firm
position in the London talks when they are eventually re-
sumed. Should the conservatives fail to merge, there is a
good possibility that Hatoyama would move for a quick agree-
ment with Moscow to bolster his political position in Japan,
a possibility that might include his going to Moscow to con-
clude the settlement.
II Nov 55
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I.J V LI
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7. RIGHT WING OF BOLIVIAN GOVERNMENT PARTY
REPORTEDLY TO ATTEMPT COUP
The right wing of the governing
Nationalist Revolutionary Move-
ment (MNR) in Bolivia, aided by
the army and national police, plans
to seize control of the government,
Possible dates for the coup
were given as 10 and 15 November.
The rightists' aim is reported as
an attempt to forestall a possible coup by MNR leftists
who have lost ground in recent party elections.
Comment Since President Paz Estenssoro has
invariably been associated with the
MNR's right wing, it is unlikely that the reported coup is
aimed at removing him from power. It may possibly be
planned with his connivance as a preventive move. Paz'
popularity with the rank and file of all party factions is
such that any attempt to force him from office would prob-
ably precipitate civil war.
11 Nov 55
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 11 November)
The Arab-Israeli military fronts generally
have been quiet since 8 November. Egypt's notification to all air-
lines that planes flying over the straits of Tiran (at the mouth
of the Egyptian-blockaded Gulf of Aqaba) will be shot down with-
out warning will provide Israel with a new basis to protest the
Egyptian blockade of the Gulf of Aqaba. As the Israeli airline
to South Africa has been using this route weekly, it must now
adopt a circuitous route, cancel its flights, or risk an attack.
According to a 10 November report from the
American army attach�n Tel Aviv, Israeli demobilization of
personnel and transportation equipment apparently assembled
for the 2 November action in the El Auja area is continuing. Mean-
while, the Egyptians assert that they have reoccupied the positions
at Sabha in the El Auja area. If true, this may provoke a new
Israeli thrust.
The Egyptians are reportedly taking Pales-
tine refugees from Jordan for military training in Gaza with the
aim of returning them for sabotage operations along the Jordan-
Israel border. The commander of the Arab Legion believes his
force has the border under good but not complete control
The week-long moderation in the Egyptian
press attitude toward the US has in the past several days given way
to increasingly vigorous attacks on US "sponsorship" and backing
of Israel.
11 Nov 55
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Egyptian foreign minister Fawzi told Am-
bassador Byroade on 9 November that he had had satisfactory
talks with Secretary General Hammarskjold and General Burns,
but his statements indicate no essential change on the Egyptian
position that both sides must withdraw entirely from the El Auja
demilitarized zone, and that the entire zone, rather than only
the Egyptian side, must be demarcated.
Israeli foreign minister Sharett, arriving in
the US to press for defensive arms, indicated to the press that
he would undertake a two-week speaking tour to raise funds here
for Israeli arms purchases. Sharett told the press that he had
no favorable reaction from Molotov to his request that the USSR
intervene in the Czech arms shipments to Egypt. Sharett said
in reference to British foreign minister Eden's offer of British
mediation in the Arab-Israeli dispute, that he was disconcerted
by Eden's reference to a territorial compromise. Sharett said
that those who believed that Israel would compromise any of its
territory would be disappointed. (Press)
22 planes, Mysteres
or Ouragans, have passed through Rome during October on their
way to Israel. The French authorities have claimed that Mys-
teres have not yet been shipped�
As for press reports of a bilateral military
pact between Lebanon and Syria, a high Lebanese Foreign
Ministry source told the American charg�n Beirut that the
draft agreement under consideration by Lebanon would merely
formalize already existing arrangements. This confirms pre-
vious information regarding Lebanon's intention, and indicates
that Lebanon is probably going through the motions of signing
an innocuous agreement only to keep the Syrians happy,
Egypt has signed a long-term trade agree-
ment with East Germany which calls for exchange during the
first year ranging from three million to six million Egyptian
pounds (about $8,000,000-$17,0002000). The new agreement ap-
pears to amount merely to a renewal of the earlier trade pact.
(Press)
11 Nov 55
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1 A.1 J-4 -.At
It is not clear how far the bloc would per-
mit Egypt to get into the production of Soviet-type aircraft.
Czechoslovakia and Poland are the only countries outside the
USSR which presently manufacture MIG's.
Neither is it clear whether Egypt is, at
this time, seeking construction of an assembly plant, a major
maintenance facility to service the aircraft already contracted
for, or a complete airframe factory. In any case, Egypt would
probably remain dependent on the bloc for jet engines.
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