CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/05/30

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03020485
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: May 30, 1956

2019/10/21 C03020485
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
TOP SECRET
30 May 1956
opy BO. 103
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
DOCUMENT NO,
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
1 I DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CFiAN'3ED TO: IS S
NEXT REVIEW DATE: WY_
AUTH� HF3 7041
DATE-044v_
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
TOP SECRET
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1.." 1 L., 1 1. 19 I
Vole
CONTENTS
1. BERIA SUPPORTERS EXECUTED
(page 3).
2. FINNS PROPOSE RECTIFICATION OF BORDER TO USSR
(page 4).
3. WEST GERMAN SOCIALIST LEADERi
ING USSR ON REUNIFICATION
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 7)
ti.PPROACH-
(page 6).
30 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. BERJA SUPPORTERS EXECUTED
Comment on:
The execution of M. D. Bagirov and
three former secret police subordi-
nates, following a public trial in Baku
from 12 to 26 April, is another step in
the long-drawn-out process of liquidat-
ing former proteges of L. P. Beria. In July 1953, shortly
after Beria's ouster, Bagirov was criticized for serious in-
fringement of the principle of collective leadership and re-
moved from all his positions.
The indictment against Bagirov and his
accomplices, drawn up almost three years after their re-
moval from office, charges them with treason, the use of
improper methods of police investigation, and setting the
state security organs against the government and party.
These accusations serve, as did those in the earlier trials
of Beria's proteges, to emphasize the regime's public posi-
tion that "illegality and arbitrary action" by the secret police
will no longer be tolerated.
30 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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Nay'
2. FINNS PROPOSE RECTIFICATION OF BORDER TO USSR
Comment
The present economic value of the Saimaa
Canal, which connects the Finnish inland
lake system with the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea, is
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31 MAY 1956
30 May 56
606292
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questionable, according to the Finnish committee of experts
which recently studied the canal. However, the return of
any part of Karelia, and the city of Vyborg in particular,
which they lost to the USSR in 1944, has a strong emotional
appeal to the Finns. President Kekkonen reportedly hopes
to regain as much of Karelia as possible during his tenure.
While it would require' only a minor border
adjustment to meet Finnish desires, the USSR will not make
any territorial change lightly--which might inspire similar de-
mands by other countries--but would time such a concession
for the maximum political effect throughout Scandinavia.
30 May 56
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3. WEST GERMAN SOCIALIST LEADER REPORTED
APPROACHING USSR ON REUNIFICATION
the
leader of the left-wing faction of the
Social Democratic Party (SPD), Herbert
Wehner, has been attempting in recent weeks to establish
contact with the Kremlin in order to discuss the conditions
under which the Soviet government would agree to the reuni-
fication of Germany. Wehner, dur-
ing a visit to Stockholm in early May, asked Swedish foreign
minister Unden to intercede with Unden's acquaintances in
high Soviet circles. Later in the month, while in Yugoslavia,
Wehner tried to persuade Tito to raise the German
reunification question during his coming trip to Moscow,
tivities have the full knowledge, if not ap
man 011enhauer and other SPD leaders.
Wehner's ac-
royal, of SPD chair-
Comment While there have been reports in the Ger-
man press of informal talks between SPD
functionaries and Soviet officials on German reunification,
this is the first assertion that the party may approve such ac-
tivities.
The SPD has publicly condemned the Bonn
government for failing to explore reunification possibilities
with Moscow, and may now for political reasons want to dem-
onstrate its greater interest and activity in this respect.
30 May 56
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ATREIN,
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1 'Jr JEA,....1[E,
THE ARAB ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 30 May)
Syrian president Quwatli, accompanied
by a Syrian military delegation under Chief of Staff Shuqayr,
has arrived in Jordan to conduct military talks. The Syrian
According to public announcements, this agreement in-
volved co-ordination of war plans against Israel and exchange of
information. It appears, however, that Egypt did make a condi-
tional offer to Jordan of military equipment and financial aid. It
is possible, therefore, that the current Syrian-Jordanian talks
involve another offer of Soviet bloc arms to Jordan if the Jorda-
nians will agree to further curtail British influence. According
to the Cyprus radio on 26 May, Egypt's Premier Nasr will visit
Jordan in the next few days to join the Jordanian and Syrian lead-
ers in military and political discussions.
:he American army
attach�n Damascus reports that Syria's total order of MIG-15
jet fighters may have been raised from 20 or 25 aircraft to 60.
30 May 56
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