CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/06/23

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03015168
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: June 23, 1956

Avproved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168,
TOP SECRET (A.;
z
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
23 June 1956
Copy No. 103
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
_
bOCUlv;ENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. pit
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C up,/
NEXT REVIEW DATE'
'DA LAITTFEllatht4 REVIEWER: Li
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
TOP SECRET
CONTENTS
1. SHEPILOV'S FORTHCOMING VISIT TO ATHENS
(page 3).
20 NATIONALIST CHINA SEEN MOVING TOWARD INCREASING
ISOLATION page 4).
3.
TTMVl/frt A pan
(page 5).
4. INDONESIAN COMMUNIST PARTY'S ATTITUDE TOWARD
STALIN "UNCHANGED" (page 6).
5. PROPOSED AGENDA FOR COMMONWEALTH TALKS
(page 7).
6. GOVERNMNTJLN UNEASY OVER POLITICAL
SIT UATIO (page 8).
23 June 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 9)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
TOP SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
EC/UT i4usio
1. SHEPILOV'S FORTHCOMING VISIT TO ATHENS
The Greek government has taken pains
to emphasize the nonofficial nature of
Soviet foreign minister Shepilov's visit
to Athens from 28 to 30 June. Athens
expects theiJSSRTo offer "something in the economic and
cultural field" as well as support on Cyprus when Shepilov
meets informally with Prime Minister Karamanlis and For-
eign Minister Averoff, the USSR
has already been told that an economic aid offer is not wel-
come. Since Greece cannot dispose of its surpluses in the
free world, however, it would be vulnerable to Soviet offers
to buy them.
Constantine Rodopoulos, the president of
the Greek parliament, whose attitude probably reflects that
of the Greek government, rebuffed the Soviet ambassador's
suggestion that Shepilov lay a wreath on the tomb of Greece's
unknown soldier and that he attend King Paul's Name Day
ceremonies.
Rodopoulos also rejected the ambassador's
suggestion that he head the Greek parliamentary delegation in-
vited to visit the USSR. Rodopoulos said the visit could take
place only if he selected the delegates, if no political discus-
sions were held, and if the delegation were received by Soviet
officials as a body.
23 June 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Niue
2. NATIONALIST CHINA SEEN MOVING TOWARD
INCREASING ISOLATION
President Chiang's policy of boycotting
even nonpolitical conferences in which
Communist China participates is likely
to diminish Taipei's international con-
acts and influence still further, according to Ambassador
Rankin in Taipei. He observes that the Nationalist attitude*
stems from Chiang's fears that Nationalist participation in
such meetings will indicate acquiescence in a "two Chinas"
concept.
Ambassador Rankin adds that Chiang and
most Nationalist leaders appear convinced that the United
States is moving in the direction of a two-Chinas policy, and
that the present trend is likely to bring Communist China into
the UN within two years over gradually decreasing American
opposition.
Comment
Many Nationalist officials, including Foreign
Minister George Yeh, have come to believe
that Taipei must actively participate in international activities
in competition with Peiping.
23 June 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
SECRET-
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Noe
3. UN EMBARGO RESOLUTION
Comment
Use of the CHINCOM "exceptions pro-
cedures" by UN members as a device
for increasing trade with Communist China is undermining
the moral force exerted by the May 1951 UN embargo on
shipments of strategic materials to Communist China.
The embargo resolution is based directly
on the February 1951 censure resolution which is often cited
as a bar to Peiping's entry into the United Nations. Neutrali-
zation of these UN resolutions would aid Peiping's drive to
gain entry.
2.3 June 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
Page 5
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Approved for Release: 2919/F19/21 C03015168
%ad Nftgre
INDONESIAN COMMUNIST PARTY'S ATTITUDE TOWARD
STALIN "UNCHANGED"
M. H. Lukman, deputy secretary general
of the Indonesian Communist Party, told
the press on 22 June that "Stalin was not
free from faults and mistakes, but he did
much for Russia and the Communist Party. Our attitude
toward Stalin remains the same as before." Lukman's state-
ment largely echoed that made by the party's secretary gen-
eral, D. N. Aidit, on 3 June in which he denied that "Stalin
had been set aside" and emphasized that "Stalin's services
continue to be appreciated and respected."
The Indonesian Communist officials probably
feel the denunciation of Stalin is largely an internal affair of
the USSR. In this attitude they may have been influenced by the
reluctance to criticize Stalin in Communist China, where Aidit
spent two months following the Soviet 20th Party Congress.
23 June 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
CONFIDENTIAL
5. PROPOSED AGENDA FOR COMMONWEALTH TALKS
The Commonwealth prime ministers'
conference beginning in London on
27 June will be Britain's first formal
attempt to exercise its leadership in
Commonwealth planning to meet the conditions of peaceful
coexistence with the Soviet Union. The agenda the British
have informally proposed to Pakistan,
suggests
that they wish to impress Asian Commonwealth leaders, es-
pecially Nehru, with the dangers of Moscow's drive for eco-
nomic penetration.
In addition to the Commonwealth stake
in the Middle East and European security, the British wish
to discuss future relations with Communist China, includ-
ing the UN representation issue and Chinese relations with
the United States.
The conference will study the sterling
area's financial condition. The British will make a state-
ment on the development of Britain's nuclear energy program,
including consideration of its export potential, which it be-
lieves may eventually prove to be decisive in meeting the
Soviet economic challenge.
23 June 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
L7Ld4ILI1
Nalle NINO'
6. GOVERNMENT IN GUATEMALA UNEASY OVER
POLITICAL SITUATION
Comment on:
Reports that "trouble" is expected in
Guatemala at the end of June or early
in July are consistent with other signs
of uneasiness over the political situa-
tion in the country.
the opposition
is planning a demonstration in Guatemala City on 25 June
in order to provoke the government into action which might
create martyrs or lead to a spontaneous uprising.
The period specified covers the anni-
versaries of the beginning of the action which led to the
overthrow of dictator Ubico on 25 June 1944, the downfall
of pro-Communist president Arbenz in 1954, and the tri-
umphant return to Guatemala City on 3 July of the present
president, Castillo Armas.
Castillo Armas is reported confident that
the army is loyal and that the situation is well in hand. The
disaffection of some military personnel, however, has been
pointed out in connection with information that Guatemalan ex-
iles in Central America and Mexico are actively plotting an
attempt against the government.
Apparently feeling a decline in its popu-
larity, the government has taken a few steps to improve its
position. One such step was the government party's announce-
ment of its intention to celebrate the Ubico ouster, confidently
challenging the opposition to break up this rally. Pro-Commu-
nists and leftist students broke up a government-sponsored
rally on May Day.
23 June 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
-SECRET-
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168
-09241THDEN-Thit Nue
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 22 June)
An Israeli army spokesman said on
22 June that Egyptian machine gun fire on Israeli positions
in the Gaza area had broken a week of quiet there. (Press)
Egypt reportedly told the owners of the
Greek cargo ship Panng4, detained since 25 May from pass-
ing through the Suez Canal, that the vessel would be released
provided it did not continue on its course to the Israeli port
of Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba. Israel made an official protest
to the UN Security Council in early June over Egypt's continued
blockade of the Suez Canal and stated Egyptian authorities were
detaining this ship from completing its trip from Haifa to Eilat.
Last February Egypt permitted another Greek ship on a simi-
lar trip to transit the canal after detaining thvessel f9r sev-
eral days at Port Said.
During the political debate in the Israeli
parliament following the 17 June resignation of Sharett as for-
eign minister, the chairman of the Foreign Relations and De-
fense Committee said the truth should be told that Israel has
received military arms in recent months which give it "qualita-
tive" superiority over any or all of the Arab states. The chair-
man was stopped by Prime Minister Ben-Gurion and others be-
fore he could elaborate further on this remark.
The two destroyers Israel purchased from
Britain arrived in Haifa on 20 June,
Three British meteor MK-8 jet aircraft
with Syrian markings left Rome on 20 June for Malta,
He said the aircraft
were probably not new but appeared to have been completely
overhauled.
23 June 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 9
Approved for Release: 2019/10/21 C03015168