CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1955/02/15

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03157421
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: September 20, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2019
• Publication Date: February 15, 1955

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15 February
Copy No.
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANGE IN CLASS,
, �
1.1 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: IS p
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
AUTH: HR 70-2
DATE. IS n4ASO REVIEWEF
Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
1955
7)
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
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SUMMARY
SOUTHEAST ASIA
1. Laotian prince criticizes government's attitude toward Commu-
nists (page 3).
SOUTH ASIA
2. Pakistan urges close Philippine co-operation at Afro-Asian con-
ference (page 3).
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Comment on new Syrian cabinet (page 4).
EASTERN EUROPE
4. Hungarians fear Malenkov's fall means end of new course liberal-
ism (page 5).
WESTERN EUROPE
5. Comment on Pineau's chances of forming a French government
(page 5).
* * * *
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SOUTHEAST ASIA
1. Laotian prince criticizes government's attitude toward Commu-
nists:
Laotian crown prince Savang criticized
the government of Premier Katay on
12 February for persisting in "useless
negotiations" with the Communist-backed
Pathet Lao group while the Communists consolidate their control
in the two northern provinces. He told the American minister in
Vientiane that action should be taken within one month, by force if
necessary, to restore royal authority over the disputed provinces.
The crown prince hinted he might bring
about the fall of the Katay government by sanctioning opposition to
the prime minister within the cabinet. Referring to Katay's re-
cent trip to Thailand, the crown prince remarked that the Thais
had made a serious mistake in throwing their weight behind Katay,
first because his policies endanger Thailand as well as Laos, and
second because Bangkok has alienated some other Laotian leaders
with larger followings.
Comment: Katay's removal would prob-
ably not result in a sharp change in the Laotian government's
vacillating policy toward the Pathet Lao. Pressure for some sort
of compromise with this Communist-backed organization has come
from many officials of the royal government, as well as from the
Indians and Poles on the International Control Commission.
SOUTH ASIA
2. Pakistan urges close Philippine co-operation at Afro-Asian con-
ference:
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Pakistan believes that nonparticipation
would be taken by the Communist countries, particularly Commu-
nist China, to mean that Asian nations fear Peiping.
since Pakistan and the Philippines are now allies,
they should work together for the preservation of freedom in Asia
and world peace.
The Philippines recently decided to at-
tend the Afro-Asian conference.
NEAR EAST - AFRICA
3. Comment on new Syrian cabinet
Syria's new cabinet is a weak, heteroge-
neous coalition which may break up on the
issue of co-operation with the West.
The cabinet, which was formed on 13 Feb-
ruary, is headed by Sabri al Asali, who
is considered friendly to the West and
who was prime minister for a month and a half after Shishakli was
overthrown a year ago. The portfolios of foreign affairs and de-
fense, however, are held by presidential aspirant Khalid al Azm,
who represents a leftist, anti-Western grouping of independents,
Arab Socialists and Communists.
This cabinet is such an unnatural coali-
tion that it is not likely to last longer than its three predecessors
of the last year. Its demise will only accentuate the growing con-
flict in Syria between pro-Western and anti-Western elements and
invite interference by military commanders. This would probably
result in a strong government unwilling to take positive pro-Western
action.
15 Feb 55
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
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EASTERN EUROPE
Hungarians fear Malenkov's fall means end of new course liberalism:
The recent events in Moscow have strength-
ened the growing apprehension among the
Hungarian population that the relaxation of
domestic tensions associated with the new
course is at an end, according to the Amer-
ican legation in Budapest. The public is
already speculating that Premier Nagy,
who has been closely associated with the
policy of concessions to the man in the
e rep ace probably by party secretary Mihaly Farkas.
s ree
Comment: No mention of Premier Nagy
has been noted in the Hungarian jess since 25 January. The new
course emphasis on consumers' goods and agricultural production,
which was strongly reiterated under Nagy's direction last October,
has been played down since mid-January in favor of increased stress
on the need for developing the heavy industrial base and improving
labor discipline. Rakosi and Nagy were reported to have received
instructions in Moscow in mid-January to follow this new policy.
Farkas, a former minister of defense,
a politburc member and party secretary, would probably be the
leading candidate for the position of premier if Nagy were removed.
WESTERN EUROPE
5. Comment on Pineau's chances of forming a French government:
�15 Feb 55
French Socialist Party leader Christian
Pineau's chances of forming a govern-
ment depend on his party's willingness
to forego some of its rigid economic and
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``tarie
social program. The Socialists used this
program as an excuse to refuse to partici-
pate in the Mendes- France government
Pineau will try to form a left-center coali-
tion with the Radical Socialist and the Popular Republican blocs, but
he will also need some Gaullist support. Some Radicals may find
the Socialist domestic program hard to swallow, and the Gaullists
probably regard him as "too European."
Pineau is a strong supporter of the West-
ern alliance and as premier he could be expected to press the Coun-
cil of the Republic to act favorably on the Paris accords. He would
also probably continue Mendes-France's North African policy. While
he would probably be less opposed to Vietnamese premier Diem than
his predecessor, he could not be expected to change current French
policy in regard to North Vietnam.
Should Pineau abandon his attempt, a Radi-
cal Socialist, probably Acting Foreign Minister Edgar Faure, would
be next in line. Faure would have a good chance of resolving the
cabinet crisig.
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