CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/12/08

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03019104
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: December 8, 1955

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3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
8 December 1955
Copy No. 100
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO /
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
LI DECLASSIFIED
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NEXT REVIEW DATE: ft, 0/0
RUTH; HI 70-2
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a
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
1. BRITAIN TO OFFER JORDAN MILITARY INDUCEMENT
TO JOIN BAGHDAD PACT (page 3).
2. USSR REPORTED OFFERING TO BUILD OIL REFINERY
IN SYRIA (page 4).
3. BUCHAREST MEETING MAY DECIDE FUTURE OF
COMINFORM (page 5).
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 6)
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1. BRITAIN TO OFFER JORDAN MILITARY INDUCEMENT
TO JOIN BAGHDAD PACT
Britain is planning to offer to strengthen
the Jordanian Arab Legion at an initial
cost of 4,500,000 pounds ($12,600,000)
plus an increase of 1,000,000 pounds
($2,800,000) in its annual subsidy to the
legion, as an inducement to Jordan to
enter the Baghdad pact.
According to the British War Office, the
citirent visit to Jordan of General Templer, chief of the
Imperial General Staff, reflects London's concern with the
general problem of anti-Western influences in Jordan as well
as with strengthening the Baghdad pact.
Templer hopes his visit will bolster the
morale of the Arab Legion and offset the effects of pro-Egyptian
propaganda on the prestige and popularity of General Glubb,
the legion's British commander.
Comment The recent deterioration of Britain's
position in Jordan has evidently caused
London to consider a substantial increase in its military aid
to that country. Britain had earlier refused a Jordanian re-
quest that it equip an additional infantry division and an armored
brigade as the price of Jordan's adherence to the Baghdad pact.
Britain now gives the Arab Legion the equivalent of $25,200,000
annually, and in addition gives Jordan each year the equivalent
of $980,000 for its national guard and $6,580,000 in financial
and economic aid.
8 Dec 55
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2. USSR REPORTED OFFERING TO BUILD OIL REFINERY
IN SYRIA
Moscow has reportedly offered to sup-
ply Syria with an oil refinery at a price
"lower than the international market."
The Syrians claim that the Iraq Petro-
leum Company recently agreed to supply a Syrian refinery
with crude oil and to construct a pipeline to replace the one
from Iraq to Haifa, which has been closed since the Arab-
Israeli hostilities began.
Soviet-Syrian trade talks which have
been under way since October centered around a trade and
payments agreement and envisaged financial and technical
aid for Syrian long-term industrial projects. The Syrian
refinery might cost as much as $15,000,000 in foreign ex-
change and require the presence of Communist technicians
to operate the refinery for a number of years.
The reported Soviet offer highlights the
recently stepped-up Soviet bloc activities in Syria. Czecho-
slovakia has contracted to build two cement factories esti-
mated to cost $4,500,000 and a sugar refinery at $1,600,000.
East Germany is supplying a cement plant costing $1,300,000,
and Poland is offering aid on Syrian railroad construction
which may reach $65,000,000. 1:)repared by ORR)
8 Dec 55
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3. BUCHAREST MEETING MAY DECIDE FUTURE OF
COMIN FORM
An official of the Italian Communist
Party reportedly left Rome on 24
November to attend a meeting of the
Cominform in Bucharest.
the meeting was called to decide whether
that organization should be dissolved or whether it should
adopt "a new formula for the organized exchange of experi-
ence." The Italian party favors dissolution and its repre-
sentative will propose that :in place of the Cominform an
international Communist conference be held every five
years.
Comment Although there has been recurrent
speculation in the past year that the
Cominform would be dissolved, the present report is
the firmest indication yet received that its status is un-
der consideration. In any event, its present functions will
probably be continued. These functions appear to be con-
fined to publication and pro,paganda, but Soviet regard for
the organization has been indicated by the presence of two
of the USSR's top ideologists on its publication board and
consistent support of the organization through periods when
it could have been quietly dropped or usefully sacrificed.
The Cominform is a liability to the
USSR at a time when Soviet propaganda stresses peaceful
coexistence and the independence of national Communist
parties. Its dissolution would have a favorable effect on
neutralist powers such as India and Yugoslavia. On the
other hand, dissolution would be a tacit admission that the
Cominform contributes to world tensions--a Western charge
the USSR has steadily denied.
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 7 December)
No significant Juilitary activity has been
reported.
The American embassy in Tel Aviv notes
accelerated civil defense measures there during the past week,
including the beginning of air raid warning trials.
Israeli prime minister Ben-Gurion's state-
ments on cease-fire agreement, as reportedby UN truce chief
Burns after his interview on 5 December, indicate that there
has been no change in Israel's views. Burns is not optimistic
regarding the outcome of his current efforts. He also told the
American consul general in Jerusalem that Ben-Gurion does
not appear to be in good health and expressed doubt that the
prime minister would remain in office long.
8 Dec 55
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