CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/04/06

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02995593
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: April 6, 1956

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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
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CO29955937,"
6 April 1956
Copy No.
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS
NEXT HE VIEW DATE�
AUTH: -IR
DATE
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OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
1. THE FIGHTING ALONG THE GAZA STRIP
(page 3).
2. PRAVDA DENOUNCES CRITICISM OF PARTY BY MEMBERS
(page 5).
3. FIRST CHINESE COMMUNIST COMMENT ON DENIGRATION
OF STALIN page 6).
4. SOVIET LEADERS ASSIGN TOP PRIORITY TO DISARMAMENT
(page 7).
5. DIEM CONSIDERING MILITARY ACTION AGAINST ISLANDS
CLAIMED BY CAMBODIA (page 8).
6. LAOTIAN URGED TO MEET PATHET LAO LEADER
IN HANOI FPBENIEllpage 10).
7. POSSIBLE MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST DISSIDENTS
IN SOUTHWEST CHINA (page 11)
6 Apr 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
page 13)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. THE FIGHTING ALONG THE GAZA STRIP
A series of armed clashes between
Egyptian and Israeli forces along the
Gaza strip culminated in a general ex-
change of small arms, mortar and
artillery fire on 5 April. This is the
most serious incident in this sector since the Israeli raid
on Khan Yunis on 31 August-1 September 1955. While it
is possible that Egypt or Israel may find in this incident
the occasion for further action which could lead in turn to
all-out war, the circumstances suggest that neither side is
deliberately seeking war at this time.
During the past week casualties, includ-
ing fatalities, have become more numerous in the Gaza
314
CM National Guard
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la Infantry
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Brigade
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Company or Battery
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isions in forward area
EGYPT
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APRIL 1956
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El Quseima�
6 Apr 56
10 20 30
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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clashes. The latest incident appears to have developed
out of the earlier patrol actions in which three Israelis
and one Egyptian were killed.
Egypt has charged that, commencing
at 0030 on 5 April, Israeli forces opened fire on Egyptian
strip settlements of Gaza, Deir el Balah, Khan Yunis, and
Abasan. Egyptian forces then claim to have returned the
fire and a general exchange took place all along the border
throughout the day.
According to an Israeli military spokes-
man, Egyptian forces early in the morning launched the
first of a series of seven attacks against the three Israeli
border1 settlements of Kissufim, Ein Hashelosha, and
Nahaloz. Other reports assert that the settlements of
Miflassim and Been i were also attacked. In each case
Egyptian forces withdrew after receiving Israeli fire.
UN truce supervisor General Burns on
5 April ordered a cease-fire by midnight. Earlier on 5
April, Israeli foreign minister Sharett had warned of "grave
results" unless Egypt halted its attacks, asserting that
Israel "reserved freedom of action in self-defense."
6 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
ITi'il1i7'iJT 41
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2. PRAVDA DENOUNCES CRITICISM OF PARTY
BY MEMBERS
Comment on:
Pravda% latest comment on the anti-
Stalin drive indicates that destruction
of the Stalin myth has led to criticism
of the Communist Party itself.
In an editorial on 5 April, Pravda states
that at recent party meetings, including one held in a scien-
tific institute, certain members "utilized inner party de-
mocracy to make slanderous statements directed against
the party's policy and its Leninist foundations." "Under the
guise of condemning the cult of the individual some rotten
elements are trying to question the correctness of the party's
policy."
According to Pravda, the party permits
free discussion of policy but "has never tolerated and will
not tolerate petty bourgeois licentiousness, and particularly
antiparty statements, in its midst, even if they are few in
number."
Pravda's statement of the permissible
limits of criticism is an attempt to keep the reaction to the
anti-Stalin drive within safe bounds. Criticism of the party
is equivalent to criticism of the regime itself. The attack
on Stalin is apparently produping more freedom of dis-
cussion than the leadership will countenance. The regime
faces a dilemma in attempting to stimulate intellectual ini-
tiative among such crucial groups as scientists without en-
couraging criticism of fundamentals.
6 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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3. FIRST CHINESE COMMUNIST COMMENT ON
DENIGRATION OF STALIN
Comment on:
Communist China's first comment
on the Soviet re-evaluation of Stalin
appears in a 4 April People's Daily
editorial based on discussions held at a meeting of the
Chinese Communist Party's politburo. The Chinese com-
ment follows, in general, Moscow's justification of its
attack on Stalin.
The editorial does not indicate that the
Kremlin's denigration of Stalin has created any real prob-
lems of party or government policy for Peiping. It calls
for "serious" study of the works of Stalin, especially those
"correctly summarizing Soviet experience in construction."
The Chinese formula has been that Stalin's theories were
applied and developed--i.e. , altered where necessary--by
Mao Tse-tung. In the current comment, Stalin's theories
are said to have been "crudely applied" by previously dis-
credited Chinese leaders up to 1935--the year in which
Mao became the party's leader.
The editorial suggests that the Chinese
Communist Party will not abandon its special treatment
of Mao Tse-tung, which has continued since the Soviet party
congress, Stalin's "serious mistakes" are said to have de-
rived primarily from his isolation from "the masses," where-
as the Chinese party is said to be based firmly on the "mass
line." Peiping has justified Mao's personal leadership of the
Chinese party in recent months on the ground that he above
all other Chinese leaders "feels the pulse of the broad masses."
6 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
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SECKEl.
4. SOVIET LEADERS ASSIGN TOP PRIORITY
TO DISARMAMENT
At a Kremlin reception on 3 April,
Premier Bulganin told the French am-
bassador and the American charg�hat
the Soviet government attaches first
priority to disarmament. At the same reception, Khru-
shchev said that "the question of peace, that is to say that
of disarmament, takes first place while the German ques-
tion and all others come next." He expressed agreement
with French premier Mollet's published statement that the
West had been mistaken in placing German unification
ahead of disarmament at the Geneva foreign ministers'
conference.
The American charg�elieved that
the Soviet government is confident that it has made such
appealing concessions that the West will find it difficult to
avoid discussing them seriously or to reject them. He also
suggests that the Soviet leaders believe their new proposal
on reduction of conventional armaments will evoke sympathy
in the uncommitted areas and among some circles in Europe
and, if accepted, will increase Soviet resources for self-
development and foreign assistance.
6 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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5. DIEM CONSIDERING MILITARY ACTION AGAINST
.SLANDS CLAIMED BY CAMBODIA
South Vietnam's Presictent .urern nab
stated
that his government probably will soon
be involved in a serious controversy
with Cambodia over two small islands near Phu Quoc. Ac-
cording to Diem, these islands, which he claims are clearly
Vietnamese territory, were occupied recently by Cambodian
troops. He is therefore considering sending Vietnamese
army elements without warning to drive out the Cambodians.
Comment
Cambodia's claim to the islands is vague
and is apparently based on the conten-
tion that sovereignty was illegally transferred when Indo-
china was under French control. Phnom Penh issued a
6 Apr 56
5 APRIL 1956
2.5 5,0 75 100
Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 8
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strongly worded communiqu�everal months ago denounc-
ing Vietnamese intrusion and interference with Cambodian
fishing vessels.in the area.
Relations between Cambodia and South
Vietnam have recently been severely strained as a result
of a series of border incidents and bitter recriminations
which have led to the closing of the border -between the two
countries. Phnom Penh, however, last week indicated a
willingness to seek a settlement of this dispute. Any mili-
tary action as proposed by Diem would seriously prejudice
the possibility of a settlement and stimulate anti-Western
sentiment in Cambodia, where the view is widely held that
the Diem government is under Western influence.
6 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9
.SECR ET
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6. LAOTIAN PREMIER URGED TO MEET PATHET LAO
LEADER IN HANOI
The Indian charg�n Vientiane is
promoting the idea of a "courtesy
visit" by Laotian premier Souvanna
Phouma to Hanoi as the best means
et Lao problem, according to Ambas-
sador Yost. The charg�aid he felt the Viet Minh would
lend its "good offices" for talks in Hanoi between Souvanna
Phouma and Pathet Lao leader Prince Souphannouvong. He
added that the Viet Minh might well "advise" the Pathets
to accept the government's authority in the two northern
provinces in return for a government pledge not to partic-
ipate in military alliances or to permit the presence of
foreign military installations or personnel in Laos.
Ambassador Yost believes the Indian
diplomat is expressing the views Hanoi wants conveyed to
the Laotian government.
Comment Souvanna Phouma has asserted he will
treat any Commtinist approadh with
"great circumspection." Unless he feels his government's
grievances against the Pathet Lao are adequately taken
care of at the forthcoming talks of the Geneva co-chairmen
in London, he may be attracted by a Communist offer to
settle the problem without reference to the Geneva agree-
ment.
Viet Minh terms for "persuading" the
Pathet Lao to relinquish control of the two provinces would
presumably include exclusion of American influence in Laos,
6 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 10
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1 /
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7. POSSIBLE MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST DISSIDENTS
IN SOUTHWEST CHINA
Comment on:
Chinese Commu-
nist military forces may have been en-
gaged in action against dissident forces
in ou China. At least five piston bombers, probably
BAT (TU-2) planes, from Sian reported that they had car-
ried out bombing and strafing missions on targets in the
village of Hsiangcheng. Ground forces were reported en-
gaged with the "enemy" at Hsiangcheng and Litang.
There is some possibility that the activity
reflected co-ordinated air-ground exercises, but several
messages seem to indicate combat operations. One of the
liklesk �
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POSSI COUNTER�DIS
OPERATIONS IN SOUTHWEST CHINA
6 APRIL 1956
6 Apr 50
Area of antl-guerrilla
,activity in 1952-53
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bombers was told on 31 March that it was not necessary
again to bomb an "enemy"-held Lama temple which had
already been hit, since "the important thing is to intimi-
date."
Communist ground units claimed that
"the enemy was completely destroyed" on 30 March, and
no aircraft have been reported in the vicinity since 31 March.
The area involved in this activity is not
far from the scene of Communist China's heaviest anti-
guerrilla action against Nationalist remnant forces and
restive local tribes, which teamed up against the regime
in the Szechwan-Sikang border area in 1952. They were
not eliminated as an organized force until late in 1953,
after Manchurian-based fighters and bombers were moved
to the area to support cavalry units in attaeks on mountain
strongholds.
The Chinese Communists can expect
occasional trouble from dissident local tribes and religious
sects in western China. It has been rare, however, that
such trouble has required strong military countermeasures.
6 Apr 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 12
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�11110
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 5 April)
See item 1, page 3, for comment on
Egyptian-Israeli fighting along the Gaza strip.
Israeli regular units have been with-
drawn from the Lebanese border during the past two weeks,
according to the Lebanese chief of staff. A similar Israeli
withdrawal from the Syrian frontier was reported previously.
These movements may indicate that Israel is more imme-
diately Prmari nypr nnsgihle tion along the Egyptian
border.
- Fbiai Soviet bloc mine, craft and a Polish
merchant vessel, suspected of being en route to Egypt, have
been reported west of Ireland. The mine craft probably are
ex-Soviet T-43 class mine sweepers known.to have been or-
dered under the Egyptian-Soviet bloc arms deal. They are
equipped for both mine sweeping and laying, and often operate
as escort vessels as well.
The Egyptian naval attach�n Pgland has
stated that, in addition to some 200 Egyptian naval personnel
who have received training in Poland, approximately the same
number are training in Czechoslovakia and the USSR.
the Egyptian list
of requirements for additional Soviet bloc arms includes 55,000
rifles and 25,000 submachine guns as well as the previously re-
ported 40 MIG fighter aircraft and at least 20 light jet bombers.
A new program is being worked out for the training in Czechoslo-
vakia of Egyptian technical personnel in the maintenance and
servicing of bloc aircraft.
6 Apr 56
6urrent Intelligence Bulletin
Page 13
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