CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/05/09

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03161771
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2019
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2019
• Publication Date: May 9, 1956

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TOP SAVHET 7-
0 CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
7�'
Copy No. 103
DOCUMENT NO. 31"
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.S
DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO. TS S C012001
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
REVIEWER
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
P-S-E-eR
9 May 1956
,f
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
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CONTENTS
1. YUGOSLAVIA OPPOSES EXPANSION OF US MILITARY
AID STAFF (page 3).
2. FRENCH WARN AGAINST ESTABLISHING FOREIGN
EMBASSIES IN MOROCCO (page 4).
3. -SOUTH KOREAN POLICE MAY MAKE MASS ARRESTS PRIOR
TO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS (page 5).
4. JAPANESE AMBASSADOR STRESSES TIMING IN ESTAB-
LISHING TRADE MISSION IN PEIPING
(page 6).
5. POLES REPORTEDLY TO BLAME KATYN MASSACRE ON
STALIN (page 7).
6. USSR ENDORSES PROPOSAL FOR POLITICAL SETTLEMENT
IN LAOS (page 8).
* * * *
9 May 56
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 9)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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APIN
I. YUGOSLAVIA OPPOSES EXPANSION OF US MILITARY
AID STAFF
Yugoslav acting foreign secretary Prica
told Ambassador Riddleberger on 5 May
that his government at this time opposes
any increase in the American Military
Assistance Staff (AMAS) and the reopening of US-Yugoslav
talks on future military aid.
In reply to Riddleberger's complaints
over the difficulties to date in implementing the agreement
reached last October between Deputy Under Secretary of
State Murphy and Tito, Prica said that his government felt
that the world situation has changed considerably. An en-
largement of AMAS at this time, he said,would be tanta-
mount to an undesirable "political manifestation" and con-
trary to Belgrade's policy of propagandizing nonmilitary
co-operation.
Prica said that his government had not
lost interest in military aid, but indicated that nothing could
be done before Tito returned from his visit to Moscow in
June.
Riddleberger concludes from his interview
that the Yugoslays are now willing to risk not honoring the
October agreement in hopes that the United States will none-
theless complete the present military aid program
Comment The Yugoslays probably feel that the ques-
tion of American military aid will be raised
in Moscow and new activity now would prove embarassing to
Tito's course of "detachment and active coexistence." Belgrade,
however, has always been reluctant to permit Western activi-
ties to expand in Yugoslavia, particularly in the military sphere.
9 May 56
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2. FRENCH WARN AGAINST ESTABLISHING FOREIGN
EMBASSIES IN MOROCCO
Comment France insists on maintaining the
diplomatic status quo in Morocco un-
til existing treaties have been formally abrogated by the
French National Assembly.
Spain� which has been carrying on
direct diplomatic negotiations with the Moroccan government
and has consistently tried to improve its position in Morocco
at French expense, seems ready to exchange ambassadors
despite French objections.
9 May 56 Current Intelligence Bulletin
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3. SOUTH KOREAN POLICE MAY MAKE MASS ARRESTS PRIOR
TO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
if Liberal Party success in the vice-presi-
dential race appears in doubt, the police plan to arrest
certain opposition leaders.
Comment
opposition Democratic Party will
not merge with the leftist Progressive Party to defeat Rhee,
but will concentrate upon defeating President Rhee's running
mate, Yi Ki-pung, for the vice presidency. �
Observers in Seoul note that tension is
rising, and that the populace anticipates the employment of
violent measures to ensure the election of Yi Ki-pung.
9 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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79J?.-SECRET *fief
4. JAPANESE AMBASSADOR STRESSES TIMING IN
ESTABLISHING TRADE MISSION IN PEIPING
Japanese ambassador. Tani in Wash-
ington advised his government
to wait and see "how the situa-
tion develops" in regard to the pro-
-.posed establishment by France of a
permanent trade mission in Commu-
nist China, before notifying the United
States that Japan plans to do likewise.
He suggested that the Hatoyama govern-
ment should first tell Washington it is
tryi g to resist popular pressure but may not be successful;
and then, later, that "domestic conditions make it inevitable
that we establish this agency!'
Foreign Minister Shigemitsu replied
that it would be tremendously difficult to restrain
popular desire for a similar mission for any length of time,
if the French were successful. He concurred in Tani% rec-
ommendation, however, since it involved only a question of
timing.
Comment Tokyo has moved cautiously on the ques-
tion of relations with Communist China
in an effort to make each step appear to be the result of domes-
tic pressure.
(Concurred in by ORR)
9 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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5, POLES REPORTEDLY TO BLAME KATYN MASSACRE
ON STALIN
A Polish journalist recently told a
visiting American correspondent
that high officials of the Polish United
Workers (Communist) Party are con-
bility of blaming Stalin for the Katyn
Forest massacre of 10,000 Polish officers in 1941 and for
not aiding the 1944 Warsaw uprising, according to the
American embassy in Warsaw.
The embassy also stated that
a joint Soviet-Polish commission
is presently investigating the Katyn massacre; the "result"
reportedly will be that Stalin and former Polish first secre-
tary Bierut will be blamed for the crime.
Comment An admission that the USSR rather than
Germany was responsible for the Katyn
massacre probably would intensify Polish hatred of the
Soviet Union. The present Polish regime may feel that in
the long run, however, such an admission would convince the
people that a real break has been made with the past.
9 May 56
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10.1 Noe
6. USSR ENDORSES PROPOSAL FOR POLITICAL
SETTLEMENT IN LAOS
The American embassy in London
reports that Andrei Gromyko has
criticized the Laotian government's
use of force against the Pathet Lao
and said that the Geneva co-chairmen
should summon both parties to nego-
tiate a political settlement in conform-
ance with the 1954 armistice agreement.
Meanwhile, the influential crown prince
of Laos has reiterated to the American charg�is con-
cern over Viet Minh strength in the disputed provinces and
requested a "firm" guarantee of Western military support
in the event of "outside" aggression. The charg�omments
that the prince may feel the only alternative is for Laos to
turn toward neutralism.
Comment Gromyko% statement serves to put the
Soviet Union on record in support of
demands for negotiations advanced by Peiping, Hanoi and
the Pathet Lao. The Communists have intimated that they
would accept the Laotian government's sovereignty over the
disputed provinces in return for a pledge of strict neutrality.
Although the Laotian government is con-
ducting a fairly successful guerrilla war of attrition against
the Pathet Lao, it is under internal pressure to seek a polit-
ical settlement. In addition,
India is exerting strong pressure on Vien-
tiane to renew negotiations with the Communists.
9 May 56
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THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 8 May)
Secretary General Hammarskj old told
American representatives to the United Nations on 7 May that
he feels he has achieved a two to six months' respite from
hostilities in the Middle East. Hammarskj old appears to be
basically pessimistic; he does not care to return to the area
and is opposed to a Security Council meeting on the Middle
East. The secretary general advised a policy of "wait and
see" and urged that the Western powers, and later the USSR,
"in unilateral co-ordinated steps" exert diplomatic pressure
on the countries concerned to resolve the remaining problems.
These problems, which he said should be resolved in order,
are the military concentrations in the El Auja-Sinai area,
the Egyptian blockade of the Suez Canal, the "water problem,"
and the refugee problem.
ieurttrer mciaents between Israel ana tne
Arabs occurred late on 7 May. Israel charged that newly
planted mines damaged two Israeli vehicles near the Gaza
strip, and that Jordanians fired into the Israeli sector of Jeru-
salem. Egypt reported that an Israeli "armored force" crossed
into Egyptian territory near Khan Yunis and held down an Egyp-
tian patrol with automatic fire for a half hour. (Press)
France has agreed to send 12 more Mystere IV
jet fighters to Israel and intends also to approve an Israeli request
for 12 Mystere II's.
Between 5 and 8 May, at least 11 transport
aircraft flew from the Soviet Union via Plovdiv, Bulgaria, over
Greek territory to Cairo. These apparently were some of the
IL-14 twin piston-engined transports which Egypt is receiving
under its arms deals with the Soviet bloc. The Greek government
has given overflight permission to the government of Egypt for
about 20 of these aircraft,which are to carry Egyptian markings
and to be flown by Egyptian crews.
9 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin
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Press reports from Egypt had suggested
that a military pact similar to that signed with Syria and Saudi
Arabia had been signed.
9 May 56
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