CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/11/27

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03019095
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: November 27, 1955

pproved for Release: 2019/09/16 CO3019095
re#121:
27 November 1955 3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
Top SECRET
Copy No.
100
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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CONTENTS
1. PRESIDENT DIEM'S BROTHER COMMENTS ON SEATO
(page 3).
2. INDIA UNLIKELY TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION CENSURING
PATHET LAO (page 4).
3. AMERICAN FIRM REPORTS ON RELATIONS WITH AFGHAN
GOVERNMENT (page 5).
4. STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED ON CYPRUS (page 6).
27 Nov 55
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 7)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. PRESIDENT DIEM'S BROTHER COMMENTS ON SEATO
President Diem's brother and princi-
pal adviser, Ngo Dinh Nhu, believes
the military value of SEATO is greatly
overrated by British Commissioner
General for Southeast Asia Sir Robert Scott, who recently
visited the Indochina states. Nhu thinks Scott's suggestion
of the possible future adherence of Indonesia and Burma
to SEATO is academic and observes that combining mili-
tarily weak states in Southeast sia to the neitralist states
would be adding "zero to zero."
Comment President Diem has recently been show-
ing interest in a more formal association
with SEATO. However, his brother's opinions, which nor-
mally carry weight in the development of South Vietnamese
policy, may cause Diem to temper his attitude toward the
Manila pact organization.
27 Nov 55
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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2. INDIA UNLIKELY TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION CENSURING
PATHET LAO
In a conversation with the Indian chair-
man of the International Control Com-
mission in Laos, Ambassador Yost
gained the impression that New Delhi
is now chiefly concerned with prevent-
ing an intensification of hostilities in
Laos and is most unlikely to join in any
report condemning either party. The
chairman pointed out his government had failed to censure
the Diem government for its failure to comply with the terms
of the Geneva accords and is therefore now reluctant to de-
nounce the Pathet Lao.
The Indian chairman in Phnom Penh,
meanwhile, told Ambassador McClintock on 24 November
he is convinced the Laotian problem is linked to that of
Vietnam and that the probable indefinite partitioning of
Vietnam would lead to a de facto partitioning of Laos.
Comment Failure of the control commission to
support the royal government's case
against the Pathet Lao before the Geneva co-chairmen
would probably serve further to persuade Laotian govern-
ment leaders that a military offensive, despite insufficient
logistic resources, is the only alternative to a partition
of the country.
27 Nov 55
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
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3. AMERICAN FIRM REPORTS ON RELATIONS WITH AFGHAN
GOVERNMENT
bfficials of
an American construction company,
believe Afghanistan is "very rapidly join-
ing Russia" and that it is time for the
company's position in the country to be clarified,
Kabul has (a) ordered all shipments stopped until the
firm can guarantee uninterrupted passage through Pakistan,
(b) requested that, failing this, the firm explore routes
through Iran, and (c) requested in writing that the firm per-
mit Afghanistan to participate in handling land shipments by
"unspecified routes." The company officials said they had
heard other importers had been instructed to start shipping
via Russia.
27 Nov 55
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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4. STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED ON CYPRUS
The British declaration of a state of
emergency on Cyprus on 26 November
is partly a reaction to the mounting
tide of violence and guerrilla attacks
by Cypriot terrorists and is intended
as a stern warning of Britain's determi-
nation to restore order in the colony.
On 25 November the terrorist organi-
zation EOKA issued a call for "retri-
bution in blood" and Cypriot National-
ist leader Archbishop Makarios indi-
cated to the American consul in Nicosia
his belief that London would soon be forced to give Cyprus
an unconditional guarantee of self-determination.
Makarios has already rejected London's
latest�and not yet public--reiteration of its offer of "a
large measure of" self-government, which for the first
time included an offer to consider Cypriot self-determi-
nation at some unspecified future time. In denouncing
the emergency declaration, which touched off a new wave
of Nationalist violence, Makarios appears publicly to have
aligned himself with the Nationalist extremists.
London, for prestige and strategic
reasons, and because of strong reaction from Turkey,
will probably refuse any further concession toward self-
determination. Since Makarios probably could not accept
the British plan in any case without forfeiting his leader-
ship of the Cypriot cause, the prospect is for a period of
violence bordering on guerrilla operations, with the possi-
bility of incidents involving American personnel.
27 Nov 55
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
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THE ARAB- IS RAE LI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 27 November)
Incidents continue to be reported on
Israel's frontiers with Egypt and Jordan. The Israeli
army's listing of incidents, including two casualties,
suggests that it is continuing to prepare the record in
anticipation of retaliatory action. (Press)
The Jordanians are taking additional
steps to tighten border security between Jordan and Israel
and to prevent Arab infiltrations into Israel. General
Glubb, commander in chief of the Jordanian Arab Legioni
believes Egyptians in Jordan are not only directing commando
raids into Israel, but are also instilling such dissatisfaction
with British leadership of the Arab Legion that it ultimately
may have to be withdrawn.
General Glubb fears Cairo
may hope, with Saudi Arabian assistance, to bring about a
coup d'etat in Jordan and establish an Egyptian satellite re-
public.
Egyptian minister of war Amir, who is
also commander in chief of the armed forces, is currently
conducting military talks in Damascus, and has publicly pro-
claimed his objective as making "the Arab states one state
and the Arab armies one army." In New York, the Egyptian
deputy foreign minister said on 25 November that Egypt would
accept outside mediation on the Palestine situation but would
not agree to direct meetings between the Arab states and
Israel. At the same time recent press reports have been
indicating that Marshal Tito, who probably would welcome the
opportunity, might act as a possible mediator in the dispute.
Tito is expecting to start his visit to Egypt on 20 December.
There is no indication he will stop in Israel. He told Secre-
tary Dulles on 7 November, however, he would point out to
Nasr and all the Arab states that they must recognize the fact
that Israel has become a state.
Further indication that King Saud intends to
maintain close relations with the US, at least for the present,
27 Nov 55
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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while King Saud would
not seek a meeting with the Soviet leaders, he might en-
counter them during the course of his two-week tour which
began on 26 November. Crown Prince Faisal had advised
the king on 20 November to avoid a meeting with the Soviet
leaders.
Following up the recent French agreement
to resume shipments of jet planes to Egypt, France has re-
portedly signed contracts to sell Mystere Mark II aircraft to
Israel, according to a Paris press report of 26 November.
However, the French counselor in Tel Aviv told an American
embassy official on 23 November that Israel is no longer in-
terested in obtaining Mark II Mysteres because there is doubt
that these planes can compete with MIG-15's. Israel, he said,
would like to get Mark IV Mysteres but the French government
has thus far made no commitment to deliver Mark IV's. It
is part of the French plan to balance arms shipments to Egypt
by authorizing delivery of Mystere jets to Israel. Israel is
most anxious to obtain F.-86 jet aircraft from the US and from
Canada. Israeli officials have suggested to the American air
attach�n Tel Aviv that if the F-86's were delivered. Israel
might drop efforts to procure Mysteres.
27 Nov 55
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
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