CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1956/05/10

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03161772
• 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 10, 1956

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CURRENT
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
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10 May 1956 3.5(c)
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Copy No. 103
DOCUMENT NO.
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REVIEWER:
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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CONTENTS
1. THE NEW CYPRIOT CRISIS
2. CAIRO SEES FOREIGN AFFAIRS ENTERING CRITICAL
PHASE (page 4).
3. BATTLE ACT SEEN INSUPERABLE OBSTACLE TO US
AID TO BURMA page 5).
4. RED STAR WARNS AGAINST CRITICIZING ROLE OF
PARTY AND MILITARY IN WORLD WAR II
(page 6).
10 May 56
* * * *
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(page 7)
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 2
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1. THE NEW CYPRIOT CRISIS
The imminent execution of two Greek
Cypriots convicted of terrorist activi-
ties against the British will probably
result in increased violence on the
island and have serious repercussions
in mainland Greece.
Demonstrations began in Cyprus as soon
as Governor General Harding announced that clemency would
not be granted. The British have sufficient troops on the
island to control a general uprising. The Cypriot nationalist
organization EOK,A, whioh is responsible for the violence, will
lose some prestige if it fails to prevent the executions.
Possibly even more significant are the
reactions in Greece. Widespread demonstrations against the
British have already occurred in Athens and Salonika and dis-
order will probably increase if the executions are carried out.
Greek police and army units have been alerted to protect-Brit-
ish and American installations and should be capable of handling
large-scale disorders. Rioters are likely to attack both US
and British installations.
The executions, if they occur, would force
the Greek government to take a stronger stand against Britain.
Athens has already protested to London and has appealed to
the United States, the UN Security Council, and the European
Commission on the Rights of Man to prevent the executions.
Greece may break off diplomatic relations with Britain. For-
eign Minister Theotokis is almost certain to be removed and
the Karamanlis government, under strong attack by the oppo-
sition, could collapse.
10 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3
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2. CAIRO SEES FOREIGN AFFAIRS ENTERING
CRITICAL PHASE
Comment on:
Egypt may be reconsidering its for-
eign policy in the light of the Soviet
April on the Middle East and the subse-
quent British-Soviet communiqu�The USSR's apparent
desire to avoid war in the Near East may have upset Pre-
mier Nases calculations. He faces a dilemma in deciding
on future policy. He can now seek closer relations with
the USSR in the belief that this might encourage the Soviet
Union to permit Egypt to continue preparations for war
against Israel. Alternatively he can seek to strengthen
Egypt's ties with the West by moderating his attitude toward
Israel.
10 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 4
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3. BATTLE ACT SEEN INSUPERABLE OBSTACLE TO
US AID TO BURMA
Minister of Industries Kyaw Nyein
told the American charg�n Rangoon
on 7 May that the provisions of the
Battle Act were an insuperable ob-
stacle to Burma's acceptance of US economic aid. He
indicated that Premier Nu and other cabinet colleagues
were unwilling to give even informal assurances that
Burma would meet Battle Act requirements in order to
qualify for American loans. They believe suet, actiu,.
would be incompatible with Burma's policy of neutrality.
They also fear it would give the recently strengthened
Communist opposition in parliament grounds to launch
damaging attacks against the government.
Comment Burma is currently sending rubber to
Communist China, and its barter agree-
ments with other Communist countries include a number of
strategic metals subject to Western trade controls.
10 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 5
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4. RED STAR WARNS AGAINST CRITICIZING ROLE OF
PARTY AND MILITARY IN WORLD WAR II
Comment on:
In a 9 May editorial, the Soviet Defense
Ministry newspaper Red Star branded
as "incorect and harmful" the views on
the USSR's World War II war effort ex-
pressed in the April issue of the minis-
try's less-authoritative journal Military Herald. Red Star
did not take issue with the Herald's charge that Stall -ignored
clear warnings of the Nazi attack on the USSR, but expressed
"concern" at references to lack of military preparedness on
the eve of the attack and to the "confused, disunited action
of certain military units." The Nazi invasion, Red Star as-
serts, was anticipated by "the Communist Party, its central
committee, and the Soviet government," and the Soviet armed
forces were in a good state of preparedness owing to the
"forced development" of heavy industry before the war.
Attacks on Stalin should not, the news-
paper indicated, be carried to the point of minimizing the
role of the party and its central committee during the war.
Red Star's attempt to set the line straight
reveals once again that care is required in preventing the at-
tack on Stalin from passing beyond him to other institutions
and persons.
Red Star's insistence that a German attack
was foreseen by the USSR maintains the traditional Soviet jus-
tification of the Nazi-Sovir n21 rt which wag vizi-. rantly ri Afnded
by Khrushchev in London.
10 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 6
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ilk IOPECRET 00%
THE ARAB-ISRAELI SITUATION
(Information as of 1700, 9 May)
A new clash was reported on the Egyptian-
Israeli frontier as UN truce supervisor Burns commenced nego-
tiations with Egyptian officials on implementation of measures
to strengthen the truce supervisory machinery arranged by
Secretary General Hammarskjold. Burns will attempt to ob-
tain the consent of both sides to the establishment of observa-
tion posts and the operation of mobile patrols. (Press)
10 May 56
Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 7
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