CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/05/16

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03160453
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: May 16, 1957

eApproved for Release: 2019/12/04 CO3160453
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c) /
f**5
TS 1//44
0*�
/0
/ .11:11ffA
z
CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
16 May 1957
Copy No. 134
DOCUMENT NO. 19-s
NO CHANGE IN CIA, �
0 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO.
NEXT REVIEW DAI E:
AUTH: 70-2
ckAT
REVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160452..
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
La V L.4 I
Noe
CONTENTS
KA REAFFIRMS INDEPENDENT POLISH ROAD TO
SOCIALISM (page 3).
2. MOLLET MANEUVERS ON CANAL ISSUE
(page 4).
3. AUSTRIA'S NEW PRESIDENT MAY STRESS ABOLITION OF
NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS
(page 5).
4.77H TREASURY SITUATION CRITICAL
(page 6).
5. HUSSAIN-SAUD RELATIONS
(page 7).
6. REVOLUTIONARY ACTION IN CUBA REPORTED IMMINENT
(page 8),
7. NEW OUTBREAKS THREATEN HAITI WITH ANARCHY
OK- (page 9).
16 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
--Tur-sEeRgT
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
01.11-41.-4-LILI-I
1. GOMULKA. REAFFIRMS INDEPENDENT POLISH ROAD
TO SOCIALISM
In his key address to the ninth plenum
of the Polish party, Gomulka on 15 May
vigorously reaffirmed his "National Com-
munist" policies, as approved by the
eighth plenum in October. He defended
his agricultural policies, which since October have been crit-
icized by the party as causing the large-scale dissolution of
collectives. Although pitched in a conciliatory tone presum-
ably intended to be palatable to the Kremlin, Gomulka made
clear that he intends to go ahead with three major points in
his program--development of workers' councils, greater
powers for local governments and establishment of certain
forms of peasant co-operatives termed "circles" or "teams'
Referring to the Soviet Union, Gomulka
declared that even if it had avoided the "disease" of Stalin-
ism, the Russian road to socialism would probably not have
been acceptable to other countries and certainly would not
have been necessary. He declared further that the victory
of socialism in the Soviet Union and the progress toward
socialism of other countries had created a "historically new
situation" which permits the pursuit of different roads to so-
cialism and enables Poland to adopt a slower speed in social-
ization, particularly in agriculture
Gomulka's statements probably will give
a measure of reassurance to most Poles, since it does not
indicate any reversal of his middle-of-the-road program. At
the same time, the speech has been carefully tailored to ap-
peal to as many elements of the party as possible in an effort
to restore party unity.
16 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
.11-1�...4J. Lid
"%We IWO
2, MOLLET MANEUVERS ON CANAL ISSUE
Comment on:
French premier Mollet's proffered resig-
nation on 15 May was probably intended
merely as a tactical move to improve his
position on the Suez Canal issue. Britain's
decision to use the canal on Nases terms faces France with the
necessity of modifying its stand on use of the canal.
Mollet may have in mind an attempt to save
face by having the decision seem to be forced on France. By
referring the canal issue to the UN Security Council, Mollet
may hope to accomplish this end.
To the French, Nases success has direct
bearing on the outcome of the Algerian rebellion. The possi-
bility of French-Israeli collusion in a move against Egypt can-
not be ruled out in the event that Cairo acts to block transit b
an Israeli ship of the Tiran Strait or the Suez Canal,
16 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
-SECRET-
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
ILL/
NW'
3, AUSTRIA'S NEW PRESIDENT MAY STRESS ABOLITION
OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Comment on:
American ambassador Thompson in
Vienna reports that President-elect
Schaerf intends to make a plea for the
abolition of nuclear weapons a prom-
inent feature of his inaugural address on 22 May. Thompson
told Schaerf that such a course would play into the hands of
the USSR, but doubts that Schaerf can be influenced in view
of his recent successful use of the issue in the presidential
campaign.
Thompson intends to carry his appeal to
Bruno Pittermann, newly elected leader of the Socialist
Party, in the hope that he will restrain the president-elect,
but Pitterma.nn favors a search for a common ground between
NATO and Soviet bloc powers on which nuclear abolition can
be based. Thompson thinks that this may be "even more dan-
gerous" to Western unity than SchaerTh appeal because it
could easily develop into a mass demand in Europe for the
abolition of nuclear weapons.
Schaerf used the nuclear weapons issue
effectively against his conservative opponent in the closing
days of the presidential campaign by charging him with de-
manding such weapons for the Austrian army. This was an
important factor in reversing the anti-Socialist trend in
Austria and electing Schaerf. Western European Socialists,
especially in West Germany and Austria, are eager to ex-
ploit the prevailing sentiment for a ban on nuclear weapons.
16 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
SECRET-
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
.1.1-1.1LaL .1.1-3LJLI
NW"
Noire
4, FRENCH TREASURY SITUATION CRITICAL
Both the director of the French Treas-
ury and the governor of the Bank of
France informed the American embassy
on 14 May that the French Treasury sit-
uation is precarious and direct advances from the Bank of
France are now an urgent necessity.
They are discussing with Finance Min-
ister Ramadier methods of obtaining National Assembly ap-
proval for such advances before President Coty leaves for
the United States at the end of this month. The government's
financial situation was aggravated when, in addition to the
drain imposed by the military costs for Algeria and a fall
in normal Treasury income, its recent bond issue produced
less than 60 percent of the amount anticipated.
Comment New taxes and budget economies are now
being pushed by Mollet with an eye to get-
ting his house in order before seeking external loans when
France's credit with the International Monetary Fund is ex-
hausted in mid-June. Requests for new taxes and for National
Assembly authorization to use the gold and dollars held in the
Bank of France will considerably increase right-center irrita-
tion over the government's financial policies.
16 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
-CONFIDENTIAL
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
"Noe
Nur'
5, HUSSAIN-SAUD RELATIONS
Comment on
r
King Hussain's decision on 14 May not
to go to Baghdad for a meeting with King
Faisal and King Saud was prompted by
Saudi intimations that such a meeting
might be "misinterpreted" by Arab pub-
lic opinion. Desire to avoid public prov-
ocation of Egypt with a meeting of the
three monarchs was also indicated by a
high Iraqi Foreign Ministry official who
expressed belief that such a meeting
would excite suspicions in other parts
of the Arab world which would be out of
proportion to its possible benefits. Jor-
danian authorities now desire to invite Saud to Amman about
27 May. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry, however, does not rule
out a possible flight by Hussain to visit Saud at the Habbaniya
air base in Iraq on 16 May, after the official part of Saud's
state visit is concluded.
16 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin
TOP-SEERE-71
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
Page 7
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
L7.112.1tALIJU1 .L
6. REVOLUTIONARY ACTION IN CUBA
REPORTED IMMINENT
Comment on:
New revolutionary attempts are expected
in Cuba between 15 and 22 May,
The action
may be touched off by several assassina-
tion attempts. Eusebio Mujal, secretary general of the Cuban
Workers Confederation, who has been accused by opposition
elements of "selling out" to President Batista, is considered
a likely victim.
an at-
mosphere of tenseness exists in Havana and that various
Cuban government officials are showing apprehension and
anxiety. Outbreaks and assassination attempts have been ex-
pected to increase prior to 20 May, Cuban independence day.
16 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 8
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453
NINO, '%0A100-
7. NEW OUTBREAKS THREATEN HAITI WITH ANARCHY
Comment on:
Pre-election tensions have erupted into
widespread violence, threatening Haiti
with anarchy. Strikers and demonstra-
tors are demanding the resignation of
the executive council, Haiti's fourth government since last
December. The army appears to be the only remaining
stabilizing element, but popular pressures against military
rule forced army leaders to back down after attempting to
assume control of the government earlier this month.
Current disturbances broke out after five
presidential candidates accused the two leading candidates
who control the executive council of attempting to rig the elec-
tion, now scheduled for 16 June. The five candidates have an-
nounced that they will boy ion, and are urging their
followers not to register.
16 May 57
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 9
-SECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/12/04 C03160453