CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/05/04

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02995616
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: May 4, 1956

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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
TOP SECRET
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLAS
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS S
14EXT nEviEw DATE:
AUTH:
4 May 1956
copy NO. 103
DA
REVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
70-14-6296RET
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CONTENTS
1. MOROCCANS PRESS FOR FULL DIPLOMATIC RECOG-
NITION (page 3).
2. USSR ESTABLISHES ARCTIC OCEAN INSTALLATION NEAR
NORTH AMERICA (page 4).
3. JAPAN CONSENTS TO REPLACEMENT OF SOVIET MISSION
CHIEF (page 6).
4. ITALIAN GOVERNMENT MAY SPONSOR TRADE WITH
COMMUNIST CHINA (page 7).
5. COLOMBO POE[WERS_CifIDERING SECOND AFRO-ASIAN
CONFERENC (page 8).
* * *
4 May 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
page 9)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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alb iLt/INT 1.1112N 11.711_4 4014
1. MOROCCANS PRESS FOR FULL DIPLOMATIC
RECOGNITION
Moroccan foreign minister Balafrej
exhibited anger when the American
charg�n Tangier told him on 2 May
that the United States would not im-
mediately recognize Morocco as being
fully responsible for its foreign rela-
tions. Balafrej complained that the
United States was continuing to support
Frencfi colonialism and said that the US government should
change this position now if it wished to enjoy cordial rela-
tions with Morocco.
The American consul general in Rabat
believes that Balafrej's remarks should not be considered
bluster and states that he is one of the determined nation-
alists who are now emerging as dominant forces in a gov-
ernment generally pro-Western.
Comment The Moroccans are moving more rapidly
than desired by Paris toward setting up
their diplomatic establishment. The French Foreign Minis-
try maintains that the 2 March accord is not valid until ap-
proved by the French National Assembly, a step as yet un-
scheduled. It does not plan to transform its high commission
in Rabat into an embassy until all negotiations with Morocco
are concluded, probably this fall.
4 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
MUNI-T-44;
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a %LI
2, USSR ESTABLISHES ARCTIC OCEAN INSTALLATION
NEAR NORTH AMERICA
The USSR has established an installa-
tion in the Arctic Ocean approximately
30 nautical miles northwest of Prince
Patrick Island.._Canada. Aerial recon.-
aissanceL Irevealed an air-
trip of approximately 3,000 feet, seven
win-engine and one single-engine trans-
ort aircraft, eight tents, 50 persons,
d one tractor and scraper.
Supply flights to this location by Polar
Aviation TU-4's and twin-engine transports were initiated
on 17-18 April.
SOVIET ARCTIC INSTALLATION
0 1000
\ 6=em=simmemomal
\ NAUTICAL MILES
3 MAY 1956
60503-6
4 May 56 , Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
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4.0., TOP RE71 AIlk
indicated that at least 30 tons of freight had been flown to
the site.
Comment The speed with which the station was
activated demonstrates a capability to
set up on short notice forward facilities usable for mili-
tary activities such as aerial and weather reconnaissance,
early warning, or communications monitoring in Arctic
areas.
the installation is either another in the series Of
Soviet drift stations or, more likely, a base for mobile
scientific detachments developed by the USSR since 1941.
The probability that it is the latter is strengthened by con-
current flights of Polar Aviation transports to a large num-
ber of locations in the area. Some of these locations have
been tentatively identified and may be the sites of scientific
observation teams. (Concurred in by ORR and OSI)
4 May 56
Current Intelli .nce nulletin
Page 5
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3. JAPAN CONSENTS TO REPLACEMENT OF SOVIET
MISSION CHIEF
A Japanese Foreign Ministry offi-
cial considers that the Japanese
government's assent to the USSR's
request to replace the chief of its
on in Tokyo demonstrated the power
of Japanese fishery. negotiator Kono over the Foreign
Ministry. Ambassador Allison reports that this official
believed the Soviet request was designed as a "test of
strength" of the Japanese position which should have been
categorically rejected. Kono had advocated the grant of
"minor concessions" to create a favorable atmosphere
for the fishery talks at Moscow.
Comment Kono remained in Stockholm, unwilling
to go on to Moscow unless the Japanese
government reached a decision on the Soviet reauest to re-
place Domnitsky, the mission chief.
4 May 56
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N 11. .11.271.1-1
4� ITALIAN GOVERNMENT MAY SPONSOR TRADE WITH
COMMUNIST CHINA
The American embassy in Rome believes
the Italian government may be forced to
take an active part in sponsoring trade
with Communist China in order to counter-
act inc activities oi Dino Gentili, head of the Italian Commu-
nist-controlled trading firm COMET. An Italian commercial
mission headed by Gentili, which arrived in Peiping on 30
April, is composed largely of commercial agents never pre-
viously engaged in trade with China. The Foreign Ministry
denies the mission's claim that it represents major Italian
firms in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and textile fields.
Comment Gentili% move seems to be an attempt to
head off a projected mission which would
have official sanction and bona fide industrial backing. He
may be trying to create the impression that the Communists
are the only Italians interested in and capable of expanding
Sib-Italian trade.
Negotiations in London for a trade agree-
ment between Italy and China have been stalemated for months
over the issue of diplomatic recognition.
The Italian government is extremely sensi-
tive to pressure from public opinion and business interests on
the subject of trade with China. Such trade has, however, never
been extensive at any time in the past, and in 1955 Italian ex-
ports to China amounted only to about $6,000,000 with im-
ports of about $4,500,0000 Nevertheless, the left-wing parties
accuse the government of depriving Italy of the benefits of tre-
mendous business opportunities. (Concurred in by ORR)
4 May 56
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3/Ltd/tr.,
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5. COLOMBO POWERS CONSIDERING SECOND AFRO-
ASIAN CONFERENCE
Comment
A spokesman of the Indonesian Foreign
Ministry stated on 2 May that the Colombo
powers are now studying the "possibilities
and needs" for holding a second Afro-Asian
conference.
Premier Ali Sastroamidjojo told the Indo-
nesian parliament last month that serious
consideration should be given to calling such a conference.
Other leaders of the Colombo powers--the countries respon-
� sible for arranging any new meeting--have not yet made any
announcement about a meeting.
The enthusiasm with which the anniversary
of the Bandung conference was observed by Communist and
neutralist countries suggests that another such meeting may
be held in the not too distant future.
An "Afro-Asian Students' conference" is
to meet at Bandung between 26 and 31 May.
4 May 56
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 3 May)
Secretary. General Hammarskjold's pre-
liminary report to the UN upon completion of his mission to
reduce border tension between the Arab states and Israel an-
nounced success in obtaining a cease-fire agreement between
Israel and Egypt and "positive results" in the negotiations in-
volving Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Details of the secretary
general's report will not be released until next week. Both
sides have reserved the right to act in self-defense and the
critical issue of Arab-Israeli agreement on Banat Yacov re-
mains unsettled. (Press)
In Israel, press reaction to Hammarskjold's
mission continued uniformly skeptical. The press dismissed the
latest agreements to strengthen the number of UN observers along
the Gaza strip as "palliatives." (Press)
Distussiorfs are now taking place am6ng the
Arab states on the possibility of asking the Latin American nations
which have supported the Arabs in the United Nations to stop exports
of oil to Israel's refinery at Haifa. (Press)
Israeli military sources remarked that they
were not worried by the rumored "mass march" into Israel of Gaza
refugees in June, because they consider the Gaza Arabs "unorgan-
ized, unco-ordinated, and lacking leadership capable of inspiring
such action."
4 May 56
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