CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/10/29

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03002341
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: October 29, 1955

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29
October
1955
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
Copy No.
100
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO �CO
NO CHANGE IN CLASS,
El DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE. P 0 /
ALITH:
DATElls REVIEWER:
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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TOP SECRET
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CONTENTS
1. USSR REPORTEDLY TELLS ISRAEL ARMS CONDITION-
ALLY AVAILABLE FOR ALL MIDDLE EAST STATES
(page 3).
2. EGYPTIANS SATISFIED WITH SOVIET CONDUCT IN
ARMS DEAL (page 4).
3. EGYPT APPROACHES FRANCE ON ARMS SHIPMENTS
(page 5).
4. THAI PREMIER REPORTEDLY FAVORS SHIFT TOWARD
NEUTRALITY (page 6).
5. INDONESIAN CABINET SELECTS NEW ARMY CHIEF OF
STAFF (page 7).
6.
(page ti).
7. COLOMBIA AGREES TO EXCHANGE CONSULS WITH
CZECHOSLOVAKIA (page 9).
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I. USSR REPORTEDLY TELLS ISRAEL ARMS CONDITION-
ALLY AVAILABLE FOR ALL MIDDLE EAST STATES
Moscow has informed Tel Aviv that
it is prepared to deliver arms to all
the Middle East powers, including
Israel, if they will commit them-
selves not to tolerate foreign bases
on their territory,
This Soviet statement was reportedly made
in reply to an Israeli protest against the furnishing of
arms to Egypt.
Comment
a Polish broadcast
to North America on 23 October commented that if
Israel had shown "a minimum of independent policy,"
it could have obtained arms from the Soviet bloc on the
same basis as Egypt
the USSR had
"dropped hints" through Polish officials that it might
offer arms to Tel Aviv if Israel abandoned the idea of
a security treaty with the United States,
While there have been press reports
that Israel may seek arms from the Soviet bloc if the
Western powers do not fulfill Israel's request for as-
surances and arms, it is unlikely that Israel will make
any attempt to obtain Soviet arms at this time
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2. EGYPTIANS SATISFIED WITH SOVIET CONDUCT IN
ARMS DEAL
in con-
nection with the arms deal the USSR
has leaned over backwards to clemon-
strate its desire to avoid involvement
in Egyptian affairs. The USSR has given the impression
it is not interested in sending technicians and other per-
sonnel unless requested. The Egyptians said they are
convinced that the principal Soviet objective is to build
the reputation of the Soviet Union as a great, advanced,
civilized power, friendly to the Arab states.
Comment
The promptness with which the bloc
has made initial deliveries has con-
tributed to Egypt's confidence in pursuing its current
policy of closer ties with the Orbit.
Since the conclusion of the Egyptian-
Soviet bloc arms deal, the United States has been the
target of a vitriolic Egyptian press and radio campaign.
(Concurred in by ORR)
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3, EGYPT APPROACHES FRANCE ON ARMS SHIPMENTS
The Egyptian ambassador to Paris
upon his return from Cairo told
French under secretary for foreign
affairs Rene Massigli that Egypt
would adopt an "understanding policy" toward France
in North Africa provided Paris recommenced the sus-
pended arms deliveries. The ambassador added that
Cairo is now prepared to eliminate the anti-French
line in Radio Cairo broadcasts to North Africa.
Massigli told Ambassador Dillon
that Paris has decided to accept this offer provided
Cairo makes a public move which would justify re-
sumption of arms deliveries
Comment Egypt has said that the Soviet bloc
arms deal is a one-time commercial
agreement and may hope to forestall a complete estrange-
ment with the West through this approach to France.
Egypt is unlikely to make a fundamental change in its
North African policy.
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4. THAI PREMIER REPORTEDLY FAVORS SHIFT TOWARD
NEUTRALITY
PremierPhTtUtheb�
accruing to India and Burma as a
result of their neutral foreign poli-
cies and suggested that Thailand should be more inde-
pendent of the United States.
he is said to have been
critical of American negotiations with the Chinese
Communists, expressing the fear that Thailand might
be left in the lurch. The premier said Thailand should
not continue "a tough policy" toward Communist China.
He added that the Thai legation in
Moscow had been informed that the USSR was pleased
with Thailand's conduct in international affairs and
had commended Foreign Minister Prince Wan.
Comment Since the Bandung conference last
spring there have been other indi-
cations that Thailand would like some "normalization"
of its relations with the Orbit.
It is unlikely, however, that Thailand
is preparing any abrupt shift in its policy that would in-
volve the rejection of American aid or withdrawal from
the Manila pact.
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5. INDONESIAN CABINET SELECTS NEW ARMY CHIEF
OF STAFF
The Indonesian cabinet decision on
28 October to appoint Colonel Abdul
Hans Nasution as army chief of staff
is a victory for the army and for anti-
Communist political elements. Nasution
is a capable military leader who has
demonstrated his anti-Communist
sentiments. He was chief of staff
from 1949 to 17 October 1952, when he was forced to re-
sign over conflicting views on the army's future,
The position of chief of staff has been
vacant since last May. The army's refusal to accept an
appointment by the pro-Communist defense minister re-
sulted in the fall of the All government in July.
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7. COLOMBIA AGREES TO EXCHANGE CONSULS
WITH CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Comment
Since 1948 Colombia has had no
formal diplomatic or commercial
relations with any member of the Sino-Soviet bloc.
Czechoslovakia has been interested
for some time in expanding its Colombian market, while
the always uncertain international outlook for coffee,
Colombia's principal export, has been driving Colombia
to seek new markets. (Concurred in by ORR)
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