CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/09/20

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03155133
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: September 20, 1956

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TOP SECRET //'//
'A
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
Copy No. 105
DOCUMENT NO. _.._.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS. )1,
DECLASSRED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S C
NEXT REVIE'vV DATE: -_
AUTH: HR DATE:
REVIEWER REVIEWER
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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*ftse' NNW
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Noir
CONTENTS
1. ARAB STATES RECONSIDERING WPEXTRifiLOIF
ME MEASURES IN SUPPORT OF EGYPT
(page 3).
2. KARAMANLIS CONSIDERING POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT RULE
IN GREECE (page 4).
3. MAO TSE-TUNG OFFERS ECONOMIC AID TO EGYPT
) (page 5).
4. PATHET LAO NEGOTIATORS ARRIVE IN VIENTIANE
(page 6).
20 Sept 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 7)
THE TAIWAN STRAIT
(page 9)
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\le
1 ARAB STATES RECONSIDERING WISDOM OF
EXTREME MEASURES IN SUPPORT OF EGYPT
The Arab states are carefully reconsid-
ering their previous strong support for
Egypt in the Suez crisis,
Arab leaders
6,1 ave concluded that the "scorched earth" policy of sabotage
gainst Western oil facilities which they have advocated in
ase of a Western attack on Egypt is ridiculous, since almost
lithe states depend on oil income, and damage to facilities
ould in the long run hurt the Arabs more than the West. As
result of these second thoughts, the other Arab states are
quietly drifting away from the Egyptian cause.
even Egypt has
decided that extensive sabotage of the Suez Canal would be
foolhardy, and Cairo now plans only to sink several ships
filled with cement in order to block the canal temporarily
against hostile naval forces.
Comment Arab public opinion, played on by ex-
tremists and Egyptian agents, would
probably still compel government leaders of some of the
Arab states to acquiesce in sabotage of Western oil installa-
tions in the event of Western military action against Egypt,
regardless of the leaders' doubts of the wisdom of such ac-
tion.
However, the meeting scheduled for 20
September between King Saud of Saudi Arabia and King Faisal
of Iraq, as well as the recent trip of King Hussain of Jordan
to seek help from Iraq against Israel, are symptoms of a
possibly temporary lessening of Egyptian influence.
20 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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"gine
2. KARAMANLIS CONSIDERING POSSIBILITY OF
DIRECT RULE IN GREECE
Gieek prirhe minister KaramOlis is
faced with attrition of his party's ma-
jority in parliament and the certainty
that the opposition will wage an all-out
campaign to overthrow his government if the Greek appeal
to the UN on Cyprus fails. Apparently anticipating a UN
defeat, he is reported to be contemplating the establish-
ment of a dictatorship in Greece.
Karamanlis now controls 164 out of 300
seats in parliament, and there are signs that he is begin-
ning to lose control of his party's deputies. A deputy par-
ticularly close to the prime minister recently withdrew his
support and reportedly claims that others are ready to fol-
low suit.
Karamanlis says he will not hesitate to use force to "con-
trol the situation:' He asserts that dictatorship in Greece
is inevitable in any case if the Cyprus problem is not solved,
since the weak governments produced by future elections
would ultimately lead to dictatorship.
Both the king and the Greek army re-
portedly will back Karamanlis in any course he selects,
including the imposition of a personal dictatorship. With
this support, the prime minister could probably succeed
in establishing his absolute control.
20 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
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NW
3. MAO TSE-TUNG OFFERS ECONOMIC AID TO EGYPT
Mao indicated that economic assistance
provided to Egypt could be refunded at Cairo's convenience,
"up to a hundred years."
Comment The Chinese are not in a position to
provide more than token economic as-
sistance to Egypt but might hope for worthwhile propaganda
gains in the Near East through such a move.
20 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
TOP SECRET
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4. PATHET LAO NEGOTIATORS ARRIVE IN VIENTIANE
Pathet Lao representatives arrived in
Vientiane on 18 September for meetings
of mixed political and military commis-
sions to negotiate the details of a settle-
ment with the royal government. These
meetings are expected to begin within the 'next few days.
Comment In view of Pathet stalling on negotiations,
a speedy settlement appears unlikely.
In any event, the chief government negotiator has been in-
structed to refer all matters of major disagreement to Prime
Minister Souvanna Phouma who will not. return from France
until about 1 October.
20 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
CONFIDENT-17th
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vale �401.
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 19 September)
An Israeli military spokesman charged
on 18 September that two Israeli soldiers were wounded as a
result of rifle and machine gun fire from the Jordanian border.
(Press) /4 f
20 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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20 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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Page 8
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BIWEEKLY SUMMARY
(6-19 September 1956)
THE TAIWAN STRAIT
Report of the IAC Current intelligence Group
for the Taiwan Strait Problem
1. There were no significant combat operations in the
area during the period.
2. At the Eighth Congress of the Chinese Communist
Party meeting in Peiping, comparatively limited attention was
given to Taiwan, with speakers merely restating the Chinese
Communist position on the issue. While emphasizing the theme
of "peaceful liberation," Liu Shao-chi, the ranking Chinese Com-
munist after Mao Tse-tung, asserted that Peiping would not hes-
itate to use force against Taiwan "when all possibilities for
peaceful negotiations have been exhausted or when peaceful ne-
gotiations have failed."
20 Sept 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 9
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SECRef
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TAIWAN STRAIT SITUATION
CHINESE COMMUNIST AIRFIELD LEGEND:
DESIGNATIONS
PRIMARY AIRFIELD
CONSIDERED MOST IMPORTANT IN
AREA WITH PREPARED RUNWAY
GENERALLY 5000 FEET OR LONGER
_
SECONDARY AIRFIELD
AUXILIARY OR EMERGENCY BASES
OR FIELDS OF LESSER IMPORTANCE
RUNWAYS GENERALLY LESS THAN
5000 FEET.
ACTIVE BASE FOR MILITARY & CIVILIAN AIR-
CRAFT. SOME BASES USED BY PISTON TYPES
MAY BE USABLE BY JETS
�
OPERATIONAL
INACTIVE BASES CAPABLE OF USE BY AIRCRAFT
SERVICEABLE
CURRENT STATUS UNDETERMINED
Li NK NpWN
USABILITY
I 7
MIG-15
MIG-17
n 28
TU-2,
IL-10
1A-9 /11
LI-2
ETC.
UNKNOWN
$ FIELDS NOT CONSIDERED CAPABLE
OF SUPPORTING SUSTAINED OPER-
ATIONS AT PRESENT.
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NATIONALIST
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